REFLECTION PAPER:

BLACK MIRROR: BLACK MUSEUM

SUBMITTED BY: DYLAN DAPHNE R. GUMAPAC

SUBMITTED TO: MS. CHRISTINE POLYANNA ZABARIZA

 DESIRE

Is technology a good or bad influence on our generation today and upcoming generations?
Technology have an essential and beneficial part in our lives, making things easier and more
efficient. However, it is critical to investigate the roots of technology and evaluate the potential
consequences for our social, physical, and environmental well-being. The extraction of natural
resources is frequently used in the manufacturing of technology, and major corporations may
prioritize efficiency and profit over ecological practices due to capitalist motivations. Since it
involves the extraction of elements such as trees, water, and land, it has the potential to degrade
the ecosystem. Deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction are all possible outcomes of
this process.

People sometimes argue whether technology is good or bad. Many people believe that
technology can only ruin their lives and society, and many others strongly defend the technologies
that have made their lives far more relaxing and enriching than they could have been before. Both
of these points of view are accurate to some extent, but I feel that what should be evaluated is not
whether technology is good or harmful in and of itself, but how we as humans use it. But in this
paper, I've want to highlight a movie that we watched regarding the benefits and disadvantages of
rising technology in society.

The episode I watched, titled "Black Museum," is comprised of three interconnected

narrative segments centered around exhibits in a museum. While the initial surprise of the
technological themes intrigued me, the episode ultimately left me disappointed. It highlights the
potential dangers of technological advancements, cautioning that despite their benefits, they can
lead to unforeseen consequences if misused. Even while we need to evolve our way of life with
the help of technology, this does not mean that we may have an easy life. These increasingly
advanced technologies have a significant impact on society, but they may also be a source of
distraction if utilized improperly.

Watching the beginning portion of the story made me realize that technology can save lives
and help individuals survive death, but it can also have a psychological impact on the people who
sacrificed themselves to serve as a trial, test or who employ this technology to see if it would have
a positive or negative outcome. The first part makes me sad because the doctor became hooked
to the implanted technology, to the point where he harmed himself and killed an elderly guy for his
own enjoyment. I believe that everyone has a decent heart to help others; nevertheless, we must
believe in our own abilities and skills rather than relying solely on artificial intelligence. The second
portion of the film deals with the connection of technology and family. A husband who only wants
his wife to live, attempted to use modern technologies proposed by Doctor Rolo Haynes. But why
don't they show more gratitude? I didn't understand at first, but as the minutes passed, I realized
that it was simply because they were only humans, and the advanced technology employed in the
second story did not consider the impact on the customer over time. So for me, they were both
wrong since humans lack faith and patience and simply rely on an easy solution with a short-term
solution. Even it is difficult for Jack on having faith for his wife in a coma situation, he needed to
accept the reality and move forward for his child and not live for a dream that is clearly unrealistic
to workout. In the middle of the novel, I felt a mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness since
what was happening could become a reality in the future world. I understand that these scientists
merely want a world that meets the needs of the people; nonetheless, they are incorrect in
disregarding ethical considerations.

The third section of the movie surprised me and probably my favorite part, because it
became the story’s biggest plot twist, where the doctor resurrects a guy, named Clayton Leigh,
with execution indications in his head as a hologram that the entitled museum visitors might
torture. As a result, this illustrates how our subject, Science, Technology, and Society is related to
this movie in a way that advanced technology eliminates moral principles in today's society
through allowing individuals to exploit others for their own gain, and this is where Nish, the
daughter of the last victim of Doctor Rolo Haynes, takes her revenge for what the doctor has done
to her in destroying her family. Lastly, the episode ends in the destruction of the "Black Museum,"
a symbolic tribute to destructive technologies. This has caused me to wonder if the producers are
encouraging viewers to explore destroying such dangerous devices in the real world, and why they
would wish to transmit such a message. Although "Black Mirror" does not build new deadly
technology, it does investigate the possible risks of existing technologies and imagines the
consequences.

One thing I noticed about the series was that most of the episodes concluded with someone
being punished for their unethical conduct. Although I do not feel that the treatments of
punishment are appropriate, for someone like me who believes in Karma, all the endings may be
tied to it. So, watching the entire series may be disturbing for anyone, it caused me to reflect on
myself. I think that this was a truly alarming issue since it served as a wake-up call for the viewers
to consider what would happen if we entered that type of digital age.

After watching this movie, I've always wondered how it will effect and distract the entire
world, whether it happens now, tomorrow, or in the future. All I can say is that while upgrading
technologies is beneficial, we humans are also the root cause of the problem. We must reject
selfishness and have trust in what is happening in our lives. I believe that we cannot change our
fate by relying on technology. It made me appreciate the old ways that people lived before the
arrival of technology. I appreciate the smart inventors from many countries, but I believe they
should be more aware of how their work will influence the world, particularly humanity. What this
film actually intends, is to convey to the viewer is that we should not rely on technology to make
things easier; all easy ways only serve short-term functions in our lives. That is why it is claimed
that dreams or accomplishments are far more valued if they were achieved through hard work
rather than the easy way.