Projecting visuals of paranoia: Visual representations of paranoia in Black Mirror’s ‘The Entire History of You’

Abstract

This thesis examines how the notion of paranoia is represented in terms of visual style in TV series Black Mirror’s third episode The Entire History of You. Using textual analysis as the primary research method, three key elements that make up the mise-en-scené – the use of space, the use of reflective surface (glass and mirror), and cinematography – are put under focus of analysis in order to understand how they depict paranoia in the episode. Findings show that the three visual aspects cleverly creates the omnipresent surveillance gaze which serves as a condition to paranoia in Liam, the protagonist of the episode, as well as exquisitely visualizes Liam’s psychological manifestation of paranoia. This thesis provides a deeper understanding of the episode as well as contributes to the ever-growing knowledge of mise-en-scené by being the first study to look at how paranoia is represented through visual elements comprising the mise-en-scené.