The links that follow are not a formal reading assignment. They are, however, strongly encouraged in advance of the first Reading, Writing, and Discussion which will begin in Week 3. They also serve as a litmus test for your level of interest: if you enjoy these works of art and design about electronic culture, then this is a good course for you.
On the subject of Black Mirror, start with Button-pusher: the Seductive Dystopia of “Black Mirror“ by Emily Nussbaum, television critic for The New Yorker. As of January 12, 2017, Black Mirror appears to be available in its entirety on Youtube: highly recommended. Not convinced? Try this click-bait from The Fader.
Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is a little harder to watch, exacerbated by the fact that there have been at least five different versions of the film in wide release. Critical opinion of the film has also varied over the years: compare the original New York Times review by Janet Maslin in 1982 with Fred Kaplan’s assessment 25 years later. Available for rent on Amazon: also highly recommended.