Sci Fi

 Zeitgeist - The 'spirit of time' 

Allegory - A metaphor that makes a broader comment on society 

Humans Allegories:

• Modern slavery 
• Sweatshop culture 
• Feminist theory - woman doing all the housework - typical stereotype of housewife 
• Servant - master relationship being explored
• Idea of technology

Aspects of Humans:

• Sexualisation 
• Sexual exploitation 
• Modern slavery 
• Capitalism 
• Nuclear family 

Key Theory - Steve Neale

Genres all contain instance of repetition and difference, difference is essential to the economy of the genre 

Binary Oppositions in Humans

• Humans vs synths 
• Individual vs group 
• Chaos vs Order 
• Freewill vs Programming 

The representation of Women, The representation of Cyborgs 

• mother 
• caregiver 
• prostitute 
• maid 
• butler 
• friend 
• slave 
• rebel 
• object 
• sex object 

Textual Analysis: 

• The woman is being sexualised. She's being shown in a vulnerable position 
• The close up shot of her face shows a blank expression with her eyes
• Stereotypical 'blokey' looking guy coming into the brothel 
• The non diagetic sound of the synth theme building up towards the end 
• Contrast of blue and red as binary opposition 

Madonna/Whore Complex:

Sigmund Freud developed theory of men's anxiety towards women's sexuality, Madonna (woman he admires and respects) and the Whore (women he is attracted to and therefore disrespects)

Madonna is virtuous, nurturing, saintly and sexually repressed 

Whore is sensual, sexualised and desirable without purity 

Judith Butler:

• identity is a performance, and it is constructed through. aeries of acts that we do every day
• While there are biological differences dictated by in sex, our gender is defined through acts. Things like how we walk and dress 
• There is no gender identity behind these expressions 
• Gender performativity isn't a singular act but a repetition and ritual. It's outlined through dominant patriarchal ideologies.

Bell Hooks:

• Argues that feminism is a struggle to end patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination. And that the position of the underrepresented is by class and race as well as gender

• creation of sentient synths by male David Elster - initially to replace his wife 
• Laura is replaced by a synth (domestically, maternally and eventually sexually) because she is struggling with the house work and seen is seen as imperfect by her family. The decision is made by Joe who is impressed by Anita who initially acts as a babysitter 
• the salesman is a male - selling a woman - as are the corporate figures who dictate their use 
• the majority of ethnic actors are synths. Emphasises Stuart Hall's notion of the black stereotype. This is seen with Fred as he is fruit picking which has overtones of "cotton picking"
• The attitude of males - using women who are clearly not equal - particularly the brothel scene 
• The physio synth Simon is hyper-masculine. Replaces Pete Drummond in Jill's affections
• Gemma Chan said the show should be praised for its promotion of female representation and diversity - even if all of the non white actors on the show play synths

Van Zoonen:

• Argues that gender is constructed and that its meaning is dependent on cultural and historical context 
• She suggests masculinity and feminity is constructed - and that the codes used to construct men as a spectacle are different

Leo masculinity traits:

• Active protagonist 
• Rarely smiles or shows emotion 
• Often running or fighting 
• A combatant 
• Survivor figure 
• The leader 
• Relied on 
• Relatable through age and costume rather than erotic gaze 

Erotic Gaze - dehumanisation of human body by focusing solely on one's build and form 

Postmodernism - critique modern views 

Modernism - science and theories can explain everything

Simulacra in Humans:

the synths themselves may be seen as simulacra - copies of "perfect" humans which do not really exist

Jean Baudrillard

“It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real”

In postmodern culture the boundaries between the real world and the world of media have collapsed

Metanarratives 

breaking rules - break fundamental rules of making media

BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL​

INTERTEXTUALITY​

STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE​

SCREENS, MONITORS, AND STORIES WITHIN STORIES​

challenges perceptions of modern values

THEMES OF IDENTITY AND THE LOSS OF THE SELF​

REJECTION OF HIGH CULTURE​

CRITICISM OF METANARRATIVES

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