Amateurs of photography who have yet to watch Black Mirror should begin with a specific episode as their introduction.
In the seventh season of the dystopian anthology series Black Mirror on Netflix, the episode "Eulogy" stands out for its focus on quiet desperation and emotional depth. This thought-provoking episode, recommended for photographers, delves into the complex nature of memory and loss, and the intersection of technology with human emotion.
The story revolves around Phillip, played by Paul Giamatti, a lonely man asked to contribute memories of his deceased ex-girlfriend Carol to her digital memorial, created by a tech company also called Eulogy. As Phillip reluctantly embarks on this journey, he revisits and shares memories of Carol, exploring his emotional attachment and unresolved feelings towards her.
Unlike many Black Mirror episodes that emphasize shock or horror, "Eulogy" presents a quiet, thoughtful meditation on grief and technological mediation of memory. It examines the tension between personal, intimate memories and how technology mediates or commodifies them, particularly through digital afterlives or memorials. The episode reflects on how people cope with grief in an increasingly digital world and critiques the ways technology can commodify or distort the essence of human relationships.
Thematic Significance
Memory and Identity: The episode explores how memories constitute personal identity and relationships, and questions the authenticity of memories preserved or mediated by technology.
Digital Immortality and Grief: The episode critiques the rise of tech companies offering digital afterlives that can depersonalize or commercialize memory, transforming mourning into a corporate product.
Loneliness and Connection: Through Phillip’s perspective, it portrays isolation and the human need for meaningful connection, even as technology intervenes in these processes.
Reflection and Perspective: The story prompts viewers to consider how the past is revisited and reinterpreted, especially when filtered through others’ recollections or digital interfaces.
The Art of Memory
The technology used in Eulogy allows people to step inside their old photographs and explore them as three-dimensional spaces. The team used specific lenses for different photo formats: Cooke Speed Panchros for Polaroids, Super Baltars for point-and-shoot cameras, and Canon K-35s for 35mm reflex shots. Each photographic format in Eulogy functions as a different kind of memory palace.
The cinematographer, Álvaro Gutiérrez, paid obsessive attention to detail in the photography effects, making each memory feel photographically authentic. The visual effects in Eulogy make photography feel visceral and alive. The VFX team at One of Us brought the concept of Eulogy to life with incredible technical wizardry.
In summary, "Eulogy" uses Phillip’s task of contributing to Carol's online memorial to probe deep themes of memory, loss, and the intersection of technology with human emotion. It offers a poignant exploration of grief and technological mediation of memory, without relying on dystopian or shocking elements. This quiet, thoughtful meditation invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of memory, identity, and human connection in an increasingly digital world.
[1] Eulogy (Black Mirror). (2020). In Netflix. [2] Bacon-Smith, C. (2020). Black Mirror: Eulogy. Den of Geek. [3] Thompson, A. (2020). Black Mirror: Eulogy review – a quiet meditation on grief. The Guardian.
- The episode "Eulogy" in the seventh season of Black Mirror on Netflix, despite being part of a dystopian anthology series, deviates from its usual shock or horror themes, offering a quiet, thoughtful meditation on grief and technological mediation of memory.
- The story revolves around a man named Phillip, played by Paul Giamatti, who is asked to contribute memories of his deceased ex-girlfriend, Carol, to her digital memorial, created by a tech company named Eulogy.
- The episode "Eulogy" raises questions about the authenticity of memories preserved or mediated by technology, exploring the complexities of memory and identity.
- The technology used in "Eulogy" allows people to step inside their old photographs and explore them as three-dimensional spaces, using various types of lenses for different photo formats.
- The cinematographer, Álvaro Gutiérrez, paid meticulous attention to detail in the photography effects, making each memory feel photographically authentic.
- The visual effects in "Eulogy" make photography feel visceral and alive, thanks to the extraordinary work of the VFX team at One of Us.
- Reviewing "Eulogy" as a news article or a part of a review in movies-and-tv or entertainment sections might provide a valuable insight into the art of memory, human connection, and the intersection of technology with personal relationships.
