Watching this episode of Black
Mirror, you can’t help but notice the theme of violent entertainment. Human
violence, pain, suffering, despair, torture, and failure have always been a
box-office hit. Even before the box office, people loved violence.
One of the earliest documented examples of the fascination
of bloodshed and suffering is the Roman gladiators. The Coliseum was full of
people shouting for the devouring or death of people, either by wild animal or
another human. It was a significant part of the mainstream culture and
entertainment of the Romans.
As we moved through the Middle Ages, people (usually those
guilty of treason or a similar crime) would be joyfully paraded through the
streets to be drawn and quartered, hung, etc. The public was fully aware and
often actively partook in the suffering of others. It became a source of fun
and entertainment as well, such as when The Globe and other theaters at the
time displayed very graphic and gory plays.
As society progressed into modern movies, movies came to
embrace violence as a staple of the story, plot, character development, etc.
War movies, horror movies, even dramas and comedies will use blood or torture
or suffering as a “wow” factor of the movie – and it sells.
This doesn’t change with the people in White Bear Justice
Park. They (presumably) pay an admission and actively participate in the
mental, physical, and emotional suffering of a woman. It’s entertaining. They
laugh, share video footage, and bring their children.
Now, a possible justification would be that the woman is an
awful criminal. Justifications like these have always been around. “It’s okay to
enjoy their suffering – they committed a terrible crime.” Or “They deserve to
suffer - they’re [insert religion, race, etc.].” My view on that is that’s a
very fine line to walk. Some crimes are punishable by death, or torture, or
humiliation, while others just warrant typical jail time…who decides?
“White Bear” isn’t too different of a society from ours, and
that’s the scary thing. People recording things without stepping in to help,
the view of justice as “an eye for an eye,” systematic brainwashing, memory
erasing, etc. It’s science fiction in a way but it’s more of future historical
fiction. What I mean by that is the story is based in some conceivable truth of
the future, but not necessarily absolutely accurate. Views of justice, torture,
human rights, taking video, and punishment are expressed in this episode of Black Mirror, and they are of the utmost
importance to consider.
3 comments:
Well, the bystander effect has existed way before phones and other forms of technology. It does seem, however, that now it's more easy for us to not doing something about a crime or mistreatment of a person when we see it online. How many people saw the video called "One Lunatic, One Icepick"? A lot people who watched it were little kids that did not fully understand how witnessing someone kill another person can change impact their minds but because it was online it seems less real; even if what happened in the video was 100% real.
Chris - Thank you for sharing your insights about the Black Mirror Episode, White Bear. I think it is so important that you pointed out that the theme of violent entertainment is not a new thing. Just as you pointed out that we are unsure who would decide which crimes are punishable by death, torture, humiliation, or jail time, should we have someone in our society deciding what films, video games, etc, are too violent for the public eye?
I agree. There is a fine line when determining what punishment should be used for an individual. The punishment has to fit the crime, but this was extreme punishment.
Post a Comment