In Chapter 3 of the book, we discussed network communications. The development of phone and tech usage has had many impacts on real-life society, from addiction to many other things, such as censorship [1]. In Passengers(2016), the characters don't have access to such technologies in the same way we do, as this movie is based on a spaceship in the future. Still, there are themes in the movie that can be related to real life.
The film introduces the theme of social media and online advertising through the persuasive tactics employed by the Homestead Group. Jim's immediate acceptance and recitation of their slogans highlight the efficacy of these advertisements, showcasing how they influenced his decision to venture onto the Avalon for a new life on Homestead II [2]. Censorship emerges as a prominent theme as the narrative unfolds, particularly evident in how the Homestead Group controls all data provided to Jim and Aurora aboard the spaceship, filtering and regulating public access to material deemed sensitive by the Homestead Group. Scenes showing the limitation of information about how to repair ‘fail-proof’ technology inside Avalon underscore the extent of this censorship and its impact on the characters' understanding of their situation [3]. Drawing a parallel to the real world, China's Great Firewall filters out sensitive information, leading to gaps in historical knowledge and awareness of technological issues [4]. These themes resonate throughout the film, offering a nuanced exploration of the interplay between technology, influence, control, and trust, all within the context of a futuristic setting aboard the Avalon spacecraft.
Themes like Spam, Internet Interactions, Text Messaging, Freedom of expression, Children and Inappropriate Content, and Internet Addiction are notably absent in the film. The futuristic setting on a spaceship limits the characters' access to real-life technologies as we know them today. While characters in the movie do criticize the Homestead company's technology, their means of communication are restricted to the confines of the spacecraft. This limitation leaves the theme of freedom of expression relatively untouched, as there is no mechanism for them to transmit their opinions widely or engage in interactions as we understand them in the present day.
