The Black Mirror Project 4H

The Black Mirror Project 4H

Introduction

Every year, technological devices become faster, smaller, and smarter. Your cell phone holds more information than the room-sized computers that sent a man to the moon.

In this project we are going to "examine" modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies through dark and sometimes satirical themes.

"If technology is a drug – and it does feel like a drug – then what, precisely, are the side effects? This area – between delight and discomfort – is where Black Mirror is set. The 'black mirror' of the title is the one you'll find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, or a smartphone."

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor black mirror

Starter

 

In pairs choose and discuss 5 of the following questions. Make notes of your opinions. When finished with your discussion, answer the questions in writing. Make proper English sentences and make sure you do not only answer with yes or no, but follow-up with arguments and examples.

1. How has social media helped solve and create problems in countries all over the world?

2. How do social media, texting, cell phones, and the Internet make the world bigger? Smaller?

3. When does it become morally wrong to genetically engineer your child?

4. What are new ways people can use technology to change the world?

5. Does the Internet need controls or censorship? If so, what kind?

6. To what extent is the development of new technologies having a negative effect?

7. How will technology change our lives in twenty years?

8. Should people get identity chips implanted under their skin?

9. Since it is now possible to sequence human genes to find out about possible future health risks, is that something everyone should have done? What are the advantages or disadvantages?

10. If people have genetic testing, who has the right to that information? Should healthcare companies and employers have access to that information?

11. If parents have genetic information about their children, when and how should they share it with the child?

12. What sort of genetic information should parents seek about their children and how might this influence raising that child?

13. Would having cars that drive themselves be a good or bad idea?

14. How might travel in the future be different?

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor cloning

 

White Bear

A) Let’s watch….

In a bedroom, a woman named Victoria Skillane wakes up in a chair to find she can't recall anything about her life. Apparently the result of a failed suicide attempt, Victoria is surrounded by images of a small girl whom she assumes to be her daughter — as well as photos of her and an unknown man…..

B) Let’s continue the story…

At a certain point the video will be stopped. It is your job to write the conclusion of the story the way you see fit. Write in English, use proper sentences and try to really create a suitable ending.

C) What actually happened….

Let’s see how the story actually ended. Afterwards have an English debate in small groups. You could think of the following items to discuss:

 Did you expect this turnout of events?

 What was different? Similar?

    Is this a society you want to live in?

 Give your opinion.

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor white bear netflix

 

Be Right Back

 

Be right Back

A) Imagine… (Either 1 or 2)

1) After a school day you go home and your dad is waiting for you at the door. He tells you to come inside and sit down. He gives you a glass of water and says the following: "I’m sorry love, but I am afraid you have to stop coming here. It has been days now. Your mom is really freaking out! You know you have been in a terrible accident and you know you did not make it. The funeral is next week. This is your last chance to let us know what arrangements you would like to make concerning your body and what sort of funeral or mourning procedures or rites you would like carried out. Why? Be as specific as possible". Write your own funeral instructions, obituary and eulogy.

2) If you were reasonably certain that you had only one more year to live, how would you try to spend it? Be as specific as you can: people (names and relation to you); books, places to visit; activities; type of things to write or make; way of handling your death with those you meet, family, friends and strangers; decisions about hospitals and drugs etc. What if you had only one month? What if you had one day? Why aren't you doing some of these things now? Write your Bucketlist!

B) What if….?

 Martha and Ash are a young couple who move to a remote house in the countryside. Ash is a social media addict and compulsively checks his phone for updates on his social network pages. The day after moving into the house, Ash is killed returning the hire van. At the funeral, Martha's friend Sarah tells her about a new online service that lets people stay in touch with the deceased….

 While watching make notes of the plot twists. A plot twist is a radical change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation. Some "twists" are foreshadowed. When a plot twist happens near the end of a story, especially if it changes one's view of the preceding events, it is known as a surprise ending. Sometimes people use a plot twist to describe a sudden change of a situation in real life.

 After watching write a summary, but…replace a plot twist with your own twist and rewrite the story!

　

C) Discuss in pairs : cloning.

 What is cloning?

 What are the advantages of cloning?

 What are the disadvantages of cloning?

 Do you think animals should be cloned?

 Do you think vegetables should be modified?

 What are the ethical concerns about cloning?

 Are you against or in favor of cloning? Why?

 How does cloning affect our lives?

 Can you name some animals that have been cloned?

 What do you think about eating the meat from cloned animals?

 What is your opinion on the episode you have just watched?

D) Formal Letter

Situation:

 Martha and Ash were a young couple who moved to a remote house in the countryside. Ash was a social media addict and compulsively checked his phone for updates on his social network pages. The day after moving into the house, Ash was killed returning the hire van. At the funeral, Martha's friend Sarah told her about a new online service that lets people stay in touch with the deceased….

Assignment:

 Martha used the services but isn’t quite happy with the end result. Imagine you’re Martha. You decide to write a letter to the company expressing your dissatisfaction.

A) Write a paragraph explaining how you came to use the services.

B) Write a paragraph explaining the events while using the services.

C) Write a paragraph explaining why you are not satisfied with the services provided.

 Use the formal letter conventions

 Address:

AI Company

41 Woodbury Drive

Sutton

SM2 5RA

United Kingdom

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor be right back netflix

 

The Waldo Moment

A)

This episode ends rather bleak. The world Jamie now lives in, is a dystopian one. Waldo now apparently has global power to influence people via advertisements and you’re not allowed to say anything bad about him (Jamie is arrested when he angrily throws a bottle at one of the advertisement screens).

* What would the USA look like if Donald Trump had unlimited power? Describe an average day in the life of someone living in the USA.

Or...

* Describe an average day in the life of someone living in the dystopian version of the UK, the world Jamie now lives in.

 

B) Formal Letter   

Situation:

The Waldo Moment tells the story of Jamie, a failed comedian who is the performer of a blue cartoon bear named Waldo, who comically interviews politicians and other authority figures. One day, Jamie's producer decides to make Waldo enter the ongoing election to become the town's Member of Parliament, as a way to get public attention; however, the joke takes unexpected proportions.

 

Assignment:

  • Jamie isn’t quite happy with the end result. Imagine you’re Jamie. You decide to write a letter to the government of a “still free” country expressing your dissatisfaction and to warn them.

     

  1. Write a paragraph explaining how this situation came to be.
  2. Write a paragraph explaining the events.
  3. Write a paragraph explaining why you are not satisfied now and why you want to warn them.

     

  • Use the formal letter conventions

     

  • Address:

     

    Utopia Government

    26 Salisbury Lane

    Brentwood

    SM2 5RA

    United Kingdom

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor waldo netflix

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    Auteur
    Marra Aarsen
    Laatst gewijzigd
    2017-06-28 16:27:16
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