Narrative Strategies on Digital Platforms: Analysis of Virtual Universe Narratives in Upload and Black Mirror Series

Abstract

ABSTRACT Themes of virtual reality and virtual worlds have become more prominent in recent years, with various platforms addressing these themes in diverse ways. Productions such as Upload (Amazon Prime Video) and San Junipero (Netflix) center around the concept of digital immortality, focusing on the transition of an individual's consciousness to a digital existence after physical death. The representation of this transition, however, varies according to platform-specific approaches, exhibiting differences in strategies, social representations, and narrative structures. Both Upload and San Junipero explore the effects of the digital age on individuals, offering distinct examples shaped by the current narrative strategies of their respective platforms. This study compares the approaches of both platforms, revealing significant differences in their narrative structures, representations, and technological possibilities. and technological possibilities. © 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing.