I am not sure if I am late or right on time. I recently watched a few episodes from Black Mirror. As a pop culture fanatic, I was vaguely aware of the show, however, it wasn’t until this past weekend that I actually sat down and watched a few episodes. My thoughts: WOW 

I watched some episodes from season six. The title caught my attention as I was doing a quick scroll through shows to watch. Jane is Awful…mmmmm seemed interesting. This show seems like a foreshadowing of what’s to come, not just for trained actors, but also for the rights of everyday people like you and me (spoiler alert) The show follows the plight of an average, everyday working woman whom discovers her life has made it to the big screen through a subscription based streaming service. She only later finds out the famous actress playing her in this show (Selma Hayek) is not the actual actress at all, but rather a computer generated image of the actor. Hayek signed over rights to her image for acting jobs-completely at the mercy of studio executives.

I mentioned earlier that I wasn’t sure if I was late the Black Mirror, or if my discovery of this well written show (stand alone episodes) has been timely given the current writers’ and actors’ strike happening right now. There has been a halt in all productions of shows, movies, press runs (outside of Broadway) as writers and actors have united against the machine we call Hollywood. Due to the change in which we, the consumers, consume content, many writers have found their livelihood in peril as their income dries up.

The use of AI has also had an impact of the entertainment industry. We have all probably heard AI created songs performed with what sounds like artists’ both dead and alive. This use of technology has many excited to the possibilities of what the future holds for us all, while others are weary of the rapid growth and its impact; not just in the world of entertainment, but within society at large.

Science based-lab created, computer manipulated intelligence has permeated throughout all parts of our society. From chicken created from lab grown cells to cheaper routes for those struggling with fertility, the future is NOW as ethical and moral questions arise. What’s right? What’s wrong? Where dear reader are WE headed?