Mariana Morales
ENG-112
A Black mirror is a famous series movie packaged in five seasons. The third episode of the fifth season involves two sisters, Rachael and Jack, who live with their father. Rachael is an excellent fan of Ashley O, a very famous singer whom she idolizes so much. She spends most of her time watching her videos and photos on social media. Rachael is a follower just like others who may not have met Ashely O in person but intensely admires her. The effect of social media in the life of Rachel led to her obsession with the renowned singer who actually did not know her. Rachael follows Ashely through Instagram so much that she can’t concentrate on her studies. Elements of social media are used in the third episode of season five of this movie series to show how powerful it can be in terms of connecting people. Although Ashely and Rachael have not met physically, the strong bond created through social media led to Rachel risking her life to save her.
The entire obsession begins when Ashley develops a technological doll that she names Ashley Too. The doll is so advanced that it carries a small percent of Ashley’s real brain. Rachael begins to admire the doll so much that she requests her dad to buy it for her birthday gift, which is just around the corner. She spends a lot of time browsing photos of Ashely too. When they are in the vehicle, Rachael admires the doll’s images and shows Jack the one she would post on Instagram. Luckily enough, she receives the toy as her 15th birthday gift, and it guides her through training for her singing and dancing competition, which does not end so well for her.
Racheal is still in love with her Ashley doll until her jealous sister hides it and claims that she threw it away because it consumes all of her attention. The truth is that Racheal is obsessed, and even after failing her competitions, her love for Ashley is still intact. There is enough evidence that the impact of social media controls Ashley’s actions.
First, when Rachael goes to school, she spends most of her time watching and listening to Rachael’s music. She constantly follows Ashley on Instagram and admires everything about her. Her concentration in studies goes down to the extent that when her father asks her how the school was, she answers that it was good and adds the phrase, “I guess.” It is evidence enough to prove that her mind is far away from school, although she was physically there the whole day. Her behavior reveals the negative effects of social media obsession. Being that Instagram is a place to find Ashley’s photos and videos, she has to spend most of her time there. With the zeal Racheal has, I guess she couldn’t hesitate to visit any social media site that provided any information concerning Ashley. She was up to date with her latest songs and listened to them all the time. The negative effects of social media are seen when Rachael spend little time to read and do her homework and spend more time on social media.
Secondly, Rachael discovers through social media that Ashley has developed a doll known as Ashely too. She can’t hesitate to request her dad to buy it for her during her birthday. She treats the doll as if it is Ashely and submits to her teachings and instructions. Her trust in the doll makes her think she has been trained enough to go to the competitions. She turns out to fail terribly when she fell off the chair and gets so embarrassed during the competition. It teaches us a lesson that we should not trust everything we see in social media more than we believe ourselves. The best versions of ourselves may be much far better than machines operated by artificial intelligence. She is taught by a machine and ends up falling off the chair, a machine she saw on social media.
Thirdly, by following Ashley on Instagram, Rachael has reached a point she is obsessed even by the hairstyle and dressing style of Ashley. When she goes for the dancing competition, she weaves her hair just as Ashley’s. Jack, on the other hand, is so disturbed by her sister’s obsession that she cannot be herself. Instead, she is trying to model herself to act and appear like somebody else, an attempt that only results in a significant failure and disappointment. A lesson that can be learned here is that it is vital to remain ourselves rather than trying to fit into other people’s shoes. Social media fuels such desires to look or act like somebody else, just as it is in the case of Rachael. It is, therefore, vital that we take care not to be obsessed with such levels because we are robbed of our personality.
Fourthly, Rachael is moved to assist Ashley; as a result of the connection, she established through social media and with the doll. She realizes that Ashely is in danger of being exploited by her niece Catherine and convinces her sister to help her accomplish the mission. They are guided by the doll, and they successfully escape with Ashley. One fantastic thing is that Ashely did not know them, but Rachael answered that she is one of her fans, a true fan indeed. Ashley had no idea that Rachael spends most of her time on Instagram and other social media platforms liking, watching, and viewing her photos. Through that obsession, she risks her life to save Ashley, who is exploited by her selfish niece. Later, the three becomes music partners who perform in great concerts and moves the crowd. Jack did not fear to play her guitar in front of people anymore. Although Rachael spent most of her time on social media, it later provided a connection that introduced her to large platforms. I could say her dream came to pass, to meet Ashley, and perform with her as a team. Social media platforms can be used to create connections that can see an individual fulfilling his/her vision.
Social media has both positive and negative outcomes. Rachael ‘s education is affected as a result of her obsession with Instagram. The doll was not smart enough to teach Rachel, and she ended up falling on the stage. Ashley puts on a weave and dress that resembles Ashely, whom she idolizes so much. However, her obsession turns positive when she risked her life to save Ashley.
REFERENCES
https://www.netflix.com/browse (Black Mirror — Season 5, Episode 3)