Ethical existentials of modern screen culture (on the example of the British TV series “Black mirror”)

In order to create an interpretive model of modern screen culture, the article presents a philosophical and cultural analysis of the films “The Entire history of you” and “San Junipero”, created by British filmmakers as part of the series “Black mirror”. The author explores the phenomenon of virtuality, which becomes an integral part of the life of the series' characters, entering their everyday life and substituting existence for essence. The article translates the idea that the inversion of the bottom (life) and the top (existence) creates a precedent of the value dominant of simulation over authenticity in the screen type of culture. At the same time, the evidence of the agonizing essence, barely noticeable in individuals likened to puppets, is the uncontrolled irrationality and freedom of choice, which leads the heroes either to the final degeneration of personality, or to their spiritual victory.