The Dehumanization of Contemporary Society Through Social Media in “Nosedive” and “Smithereens”

Abstract

“Nosedive” and “Smithereens”, two different episodes from the British science fiction television series called Black Mirror, focus on contemporary world’s obsession with social media which takes advantage of humans’ insatiable greed for getting attention from others. In these episodes the borderline between the real and the virtual seems so blurred that people do not seem to differentiate one from another. Nosedive and Smithereens vividly explore and analyze the worst nightmares of contemporary world social media can ultimately bring into being. They examine the consequences of extreme dependence on new media technologies by illustrating with characters immersed into the depths of artificial world these new technologies ensure. Drawing a parallel to what French sociologist Jean Baudrillard asserts in his criticism of postmodern era, “boundaries between science fiction and science fact are fast collapsing” , this study aims to explore and deconstruct the crucial threat posed by social media culture aggravated by latest media technologies that play a fundamental role in shaping and constructing contemporary society, which has been remarkably proved by Black Mirror episodes.

Keywords

• Social media
• dehumanization
• dystopia
• simulacra and technology

“Nosedive” ve “Smithereens”de Çağdaş Toplumun Sosyal Medya Aracılığıyla İnsandışılaştırılması

Öz

“Nosedive” and “Smithereens”, two different episodes from the British science fiction television series called Black Mirror, focus on contemporary world’s obsession with social media which takes advantage of humans’ insatiable greed for getting attention from others. In these episodes the borderline between the real and the virtual seems so blurred that people do not seem to differentiate one from another. Nosedive and Smithereens vividly explore and analyze the worst nightmares of contemporary world social media can ultimately bring into being. They examine the consequences of extreme dependence on new media technologies by illustrating with characters immersed into the depths of artificial world these new technologies ensure. Drawing a parallel to what French sociologist Jean Baudrillard asserts in his criticism of postmodern era, “boundaries between science fiction and science fact are fast collapsing” , this study aims to explore and deconstruct the crucial threat posed by social media culture aggravated by latest media technologies that play a fundamental role in shaping and constructing contemporary society, which has been remarkably proved by Black Mirror episodes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• dehumanization
• dystopia
• simulacra and technology
• social media

Kaynakça

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