Digital Culture
An Analysis of TV Show ‘Black Mirror’ and Its Rankings
Like a Black Mirror superfan, I’ve come to develop a love for the show, as well as its message. Through visual representation, the Black mirror shows shockingly realistic expectations of future dystopian worlds. Drawing a close parallel with society today, the show utilizes the “what if?” aspect of our minds. Today, I’ll be rating each episode on a scale of 1-10.
The National Anthem: 2/10
If you’re a newcomer, do NOT watch this episode. Please, just move on to a different one. I won’t go into detail because it’s certainly not something that I’d like to recount, especially on the internet.
Fifteen Million Merits: 10/10
I love this episode. It’s likely one of my favorite stories of all time. Combining a strikingly outlandish concept with a scary parallel to a dystopian capitalistic system utilizes a brain churning futuristic aspect.
The Entire History of You: 7/10
The overall concept of technological advancement so profound that it becomes part of us is exceptionally realistic, giving this episode an inherently considerable weight. While (in my opinion) the storyline is instead a clique, the visuals of the attack are strikingly breathtaking.
Be Right Back: 4/10
While the concept seems interesting in the abstract, this episode is hugely underwhelming. Many watchers tend to find this one quite appealing, but I’ve never really clicked with it.
White Bear: 9/10
One word: WOW. The character development and evolution of this plot is impressive. I heavily recommend this episode, as I feel like the twist at the end is very representative of the overall message that Black Mirror enforces.
The Waldo Moment: 6/10
This one seriously toes the line between realistic dystopia and absolute madness, but I like it nonetheless.
White Christmas: 9.5/10
This episode nearly tops the list of my favorite chapters in the Black Mirror saga. With a mind-bending plot, it’s a beautiful introduction to the fundamental meaning behind Black Mirror.
Nosedive: 11/10
This episode is by far my favorite in the series because it’s likely the most realistic. Set in a society based where your class is based on a social media ranking, it speaks to the impact that phones and technology can have on our lives.
Playtest: 1/10
In all honesty, I never even finished this episode. While this may be a personal bias, I hate the horror genre.
Shut Up and Dance: 8/10
This episode seems familiar up until the end when you’re hit with an unforgettable twist.
San Junipero: 7.5/10
Understanding this episode takes a lot of brainpower, but It’s worth it. I didn’t truly understand the plot until rewatching, but the screenplay is impressive.
Men Against Fire: -/10
I haven’t gotten around to watching this, even after viewing the entire series on two separate occasions.
Hated in The Nation: -/10
Oops, I can’t call myself a superfan if I skip episodes.
USS Callister: 10.5/10
A beautiful combination of reality and fiction that I’ve watched over and over again. This episode is stunning, and I would heavily recommend it to anyone interested in the series.
ArkAngel: 6/10
Another superb concept with a merely decent execution. This episode could’ve been so good, but they ended up focusing on the wrong things!
Crocodile: 3/10
Eh, I wasn’t exactly a fan of this. It seemed relatively normal.
Hang the DJ: 9/10
This episode takes an exciting term on the concept of online dating. The ending (while climactic and thought-provoking) is pretty anticlimactic, as it essentially discredits the whole plot. However, everything besides the story is terrific.
MetalHead: 0/10
I could never get past the color scheme, and that partially ruined the whole episode for me.
Black Museum: 8/10
Made up of multiple stories, this episode is a perfect ending for season 4. Utilizing all the outstanding elements presented in previous stories, it’s enjoyable to watch.
Striking Vipers: 6/10
Interesting, but weird. This episode is generally considered the most uncomfortable one in the series, so I wouldn’t recommend watching it as your first dive into Black Mirror culture.
Smithereens: 5/10
While this story is more on the Black Mirror series’s practical side, it’s too realistic to be substantially attractive.
Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too: 4/10
This episode was pretty disappointing, as it’s not exactly one to remember. I wouldn’t recommend watching it.
Digital Culture
4 Gen Z Card Games to Play with Friends
Gaming has become a trendy pastime for millions of people around the world. However, despite new advancements in PC and console technology, card games are still popular. Statista reports that people from Gen Z showed the lowest levels of enjoyment when playing card games as opposed to millennials and baby boomers.
While this isn’t surprising, as many in the younger generation prefer to play online games like Among Us on their devices, the problem could lie in the fact that they just haven’t found something that appeals to them. With so many games being released today, it’s only a matter of time before they find one that they can enjoy with their friends. Here are some card games that will surely appeal to Gen Z’s taste and sense of humor:
Jungle Speed
An oldy but a goodie, Jungle Speed is a game that requires attention and, as its name suggests, speed. Here, players have to fight to be the first one to grab the totem if someone drops a card identical to theirs, or else they will have to take in all the ones in the discard pile. While there are also special cards, the rules remain relatively the same. If you are looking for something that will get your adrenaline pumping, then this is the game for you.
BONC!
This is a new game that aims to eliminate players one by one. With BONC!, people are given five lives and a deck of cards. When a player drops a card identical to the one put down by the person on their right, that person loses a life. The lower the number, the fewer identical pieces there are of it in the deck. The goal is to eliminate– or “BONC!”– people one by one until a single winner stands. With a few wildcards mixed in, Gen Z players will enjoy this lively game with friends and family.
Incohearent
Gen Z-ers have a catalog of popular memes and quotes in their heads, making Incohearent a funny way to test their knowledge. Here, players are flashed a card with what looks like nonsense words strung together. If said correctly, they form an actual phrase. For example, “hike and even” will become “I can’t even.” These pop culture references will surely appeal to Gen Z and make them laugh as they try to figure out what each card is trying to spell out.
Joking Hazard
This game is quite similar to Cards Against Humanity. Players are tasked to fill in the blanks of a comic strip, and whoever has the funniest adlib wins. Created by Cyanide and Happiness, this is a raunchier game best suited for older members of the generation. Bringing in dark and dirty humor, Joking Hazard will be a blast to play with friends on a chill night in.
Other honorable mentions not listed in this article are Coup, Uno, and What Do You Meme. Choosing the right one to play can vary on whether you want something intense and will get your heart racing (like Jungle Speed and BONC!) or something more geared towards lighthearted fun (like Incohearent and Joking Hazard). But there’s no doubt that there surely is a card game out there for every member of Gen Z to enjoy.
Digital Culture
Why Facebook Plans On Changing Their Name
Facebook is the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook (the social site), and Oculus VR. Recently, there have been many rumors storming the internet suggesting that Facebook could change the name of its parent company. The announcement of this new name is expected at the company’s annual connect conference that will take place on 28th October 2021.
With a new name, Facebook (the social site), Instagram, and the other platforms currently under Facebook (the company) will now be managed by another Umbrella company. We have already seen this happening with other companies, including Google’s rebrand to Alphabet Inc in 2015 and Snapchat to Snap Inc in 2016.
We also saw Apple rebrand from Apple Computer to Apple Inc in 2007, when Steve Jobs wanted people to see Apple as a company that offers tech solutions and not just a computer company.
Currently, the new name that we expect Facebook to reveal is known by just a handful of people internally. Even some of the senior executives at Facebook don’t know what to expect. However, most people hope the name to have something related to Horizons.
Facebook has not yet made an official statement about this rumor, so the reason for this change is still unclear. However, the most apparent reason for this change is to make the company’s intention clear to everyone; Facebook wants to be more than just a social media company that we know today. They want to be looked at as a tech company with the potential to disrupt any industry using its tech innovations.
The company already has over 10,000 employees building consumer hardware devices, including AR/VR glasses. Mark Zuckerberg, the current CEO of Facebook, believes VR and AR will soon become a big thing, and the only way of making this a reality is by creating the best VR/AR hardware to take advantage.
In July 2021, Mark Zuckerberg said he wants Facebook to be looked at as a Metaverse company. Metaverse refers to some form of digital reality that integrates aspects of social media, digital reality, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and cryptocurrencies. Facebook intends to venture into all these technologies to allow users to do much more virtually beyond texting and sharing images.
The rebrand could also take some pressure off Facebook due to the privacy-related scandals they’ve heard in the last decade. Facebook is no longer that “darling brand” that everyone loved during its early days. Thus, changing the name to something different could rejuvenate the brand popularity they enjoyed during their first 5 to 10 years in the tech business.
Digital Culture
What Do Gen Z Need to Know About Online Casino Games?
It wasn’t so long ago that online gambling and casino games were illegal across the US. Gen Z is likely to be the first to live most of their adult lives in a world where they can legally bet real money on games like poker and on sporting events. The change is happening slowly but it is inevitable at this point.
Gen Z have largely been left to figure out the ins and outs of online gaming on their own, but what do they need to know before they get started?
Sports Betting is Huge.
Ever wonder who benefits from some of the strange promotional boxing events that keep popping up? Sure, the boxers get a decent paycheck, but the real money is in the betting that happens on the side. Many states have legalized sports betting in the past few years, opening up a whole new side of the gaming industry. Expect to see more and more sites pop up to help Gen Z explore this new frontier of gambling as it becomes readily available in more states.
Online Poker is Making a Comeback.
Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Michigan are the only states that have legalized online poker right now. But the matter is being discussed in several other states, and just a few years ago, Nevada and New Jersey were alone. Of course, we’re still not to the levels we were at pre-2011 when online poker played with real money was banned, but it seems that the industry is slowly recovering.
Depending on how the wind blows, this could be an excellent opportunity to get in early when it does arrive in your state. It may take several more years to reach the player levels we were at in the poker boom of the 00s, but that does seem to be the direction its headed now.
Other Games Won’t Be Far Behind.
Poker is the most popular game to play online, but it often leads to people trying a wider variety of games. Slots as well as other table games like blackjack are likely to follow on sites that offer sports betting or online poker. This creates the possibility for complete online casinos to pop up across the web and, with them, the chance for the industry to really find its footing.
What will online casinos look like in the future? That really depends on how the industry is willing to change. It is unlikely that physical venues will be replaced entirely but it wouldn’t be a stretch to expect sites to carry the brands of well known and established venues like Caesars’ Palace or The Bellagio into the digital world.
The Future Looks Different.
The future of online casinos will be full of innovation. With this much money to be made, brands will start to fight for customers, taking advantage of how new tech continues to drop in price. It wasn’t long ago when VR goggles were reserved for the most dedicated of fans, but now they’re becoming more and more commonplace. The same is happening with AR glasses. Expect online casinos to become fertile ground for cryptocurrency, which is thriving at the moment.
The casino industry is notoriously slow to change and adapt, but the events of the past few years have given them more cause to embrace emerging technologies.
Much of the online casino industry will be left up to Gen Z to explore on their own. It is important to approach these changes with caution, but they represent an exciting realm of online entertainment. We all just have to wait to see how quickly those changes come about.
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