The sci-fi television series “Black Mirror” features different stories each episode, exploring technological advancements in our society and what the impacts of technology on our future may look like. Season 3, episode 4, “San Junipero,” presents a more optimistic view of what could happen with the evolution of technology. This episode offers a new, creative approach to queer representation in the media.
Storyline
Yorkie is a shy woman who suffered an accident at the age of 21 and was quadriplegic all her adult life. Due to this, Yorkie never got an opportunity to explore love and her sexuality. Kelly is an outgoing woman who was married to her husband for many years but who always knew she felt an attraction for women as well as men.
Now, Yorkie and Kelly both are dying of old age, but in this modern world have an opportunity to immerse themselves in a simulated reality in the bodies of their younger selves. In this virtual world, Yorkie and Kelly fall in love and reflect back on their lives.
The Value of Queer Love Stories
This queer love story shows the complexity of age, sexuality, identity, and love in a creative way. It shows love between two women in a way that doesn’t include negative stereotypes or bias. The more queer content like this in the media, challenging norms, the more future generations can be educated on LGBTQ+ issues and better understand themselves and others when it comes to gender identity and sexuality.
This episode explores the concept of queer theory. Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz and Julia T. Wood (2018) defines queer theory as the, “Critique of conventional categories of identity and cultural views of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal,’ particularly in relation to sexuality” (p. 49).
The usage of music and style in this episode is significant in the way the story is told. Music is played throughout the episode capturing the emotions the characters and audience may be feeling. Through this creative lens, the audience can better understand Yorkie and Kelly’s relationship and their own sexuality and gender expression. Yorkie and Kelly’s story is told across decades, starting with them meeting in the 1980s. The 80s was a very important time for the queer community, as the AIDs epidemic affected thousands of Americans, and the LGBTQ+ community continued their work for civil rights.
In the episode, the audience sees the character Yorkie trying on different outfits before seeing Kelly. She tries on feminine outfits, more promiscuous outfits, and more masculine outfits. As stated in “Gendered Lives,” queer theorists have said, “There are many different ways of being a woman or man, various ways to express masculinity and femininity, and multiple ways of being gay, straight, or trans” (Fixamer-Oraiz & Wood, year, p.49). Yorkie trying on different outfits and personas is a way of her exploring various ways of expressing her sexuality and gender identity.
In the episode, a song called “Living in a Box” plays which reflects the idea of being in the closet and Yorkie’s feelings on finally being able to express herself. Music and fashion are used as metaphors for sexuality and gender identity throughout the episode.
As the episode continues, Yorkie and Kelly move through the decades going to the 90s, when queer theory was first developed, and then to the 2000s. In the 2000s, the first designated Pride Month happened, same-sex marriage was legalized, and marches like the Millennium March and the National Equality March raised awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. As Yorkie and Kelly’s relationship evolves, we see them travel to decades where queer culture also evolved.
Another element explored in this episode was Kelly’s sexual orientation. As we see with Kelly’s relationship with her late husband and with Yorkie, Kelly does not identify with a monosexual identity, meaning she doesn’t only feel attraction to one sex/gender. This is something rarely accurately portrayed in the media. News website Vox explored this issue in one of their articles, calling out this misportrayal.
Often, people who do not identify with a monosexual identity are labeled with stereotypes, as we see with a lot of bisexual and pansexual characters in television like on Sex and the City, The L Word, 30 Rock and many more. In this episode, however, Kelly is accepted as someone who has the capacity to be attracted to more than one gender. This representation can educate people on non-monosexual identities within the LGBTQ+ community and help those exploring their own identity.
This episode also includes not only queer characters but also two female characters, one of whom is a person of color. In an article by The Washington Post, the president and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, of GLAAD, a non-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, stated, “If film studios want to stay relevant to today’s audiences and compete in an industry that is emphasizing diversity and inclusion, then they must urgently reverse course on the diminishing representation of LGBTQ women and people of color.”
Supporting the Creation of Queer Content
“San Junipero” includes a happy ending for the two women, something rarely seen with queer characters in film and TV. As stated by an article by Refinery 29, “San Junipero has stolen the hearts of viewers, particularly queer female watchers, for its romantic, and hopeful happy ending, a rarity on Black Mirror, and for queer characters.” The reaction from audiences and the fact that this episode won an Emmy is enough to support the claim that we need more media like this. This episode not only educates others about LGBTQ+ relationships and demolishes stereotypes, but it’s also validating for queer audiences and brings the community together.
It’s important that audiences take action to support the creation of more content like “San Junipero.” One way this can be done is through the use of social media where audiences can show support for queer content. After the episode aired, many fans took to social media showing their support for the episode.“If you’re a queer girl (or really, if you’re anyone) check out San Junipero. THAT is representation.” (@erikaheidewald) Another fan stated, “When BLACK MIRROR can manage a complex but happy story about queer women, it proves writers on other shows are heartily full of shit.” (@Donroomba) Social media has the power to reach wide audiences and get more people involved in and educated about issues regarding representation in the media.
Another way to support the creation of more content like this is to hold creators accountable. Many shows lack representation of the queer community or promote negative stereotypes. Audiences can email studios, make phone calls or send letters calling for more diversity and representation. GLAAD, a non-profit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, has advocated for major film studios to include more LGBTQ+ characters in recent years. Supporting this organization and others like it can also help make a difference in representation.
Future generations deserve to grow up watching and consuming media that is inclusive of all communities and makes them feel accepted as themselves in society. The more queer content we have like this in the media, the more people are educated on LGBTQ+ issues and the better they can understand themselves and others.
References/Links:
Baila, Morgan. “Queer Women Love This “Black Mirror” Episode & for Good Reason.” Www.refinery29.com, November 7th, 2016 www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/11/128935/black-mirror-san-junipero-queer-women-reaction.
Coyle | AP, Jake. “Diversity of LGBTQ Characters in Film Declines, Study Finds.” Washington Post, July 16th, 2020 www.washingtonpost.com/national/diversity-of-lgbtq-characters-in-film-declines-study-finds/2020/07/16/5529e07e-c76e-11ea-a825-8722004e4150_story.html.
Framke, Caroline. “How Bisexuality on TV Evolved from a Favorite Punchline to a Vital Storyline.” Vox, 16 May 2018, www.vox.com/culture/2018/5/16/17339992/bisexual-representation-tv-callie-rosa-darryl.
Wood, Julia T, and Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz. Gendered Lives : Communication, Gender, & Culture. 13th ed., Australia, Cengage Learning, 2019.