08 January 2013

Cultural Artifact #1-"The Matrix"


            The movie “Matrix” was released back in 1999 telling the story of a rebel group’s fight against an artificial intelligence(AI) that took control over the human population. Humans are plugged into a system that turns a dream into real life inside their minds. Morpheus, the leader of the rebels, makes it his destiny to find the “one” who would bring humans back into the light of the real world.
            Matrix is the system used by the AI to blind the humans to the systemic growing of humans as an energy source powering the AI. Morpheus successfully finds Neo(the “one”) who is prophesized to save the human race from the matrix. Neo goes through a process of figuring out what he believes is real and what the real truth is.
Morpheus uses training to shift Neo’s eyes towards the frame that had been constructing his reality. Once Neo discovers the painful truth of his past, he starts constructing the path of his fate. Circumstances are put in Neo’s way to develop his fate.  The oracle is used to test what Neo chooses to believe. Neo discovers he is the “one” when he saves Morpheus from the agents. Breaking the Oracle’s prediction taught him to believe. By believing he created his fate that would eventually fulfill the prophecy. Neo becomes the redemption meanwhile evil is represented as the artificial intelligence in the movie.
The ending of Matrix is a happy one, yet it makes me wonder what’s next in the series? Neo ends with a promising dialogue for the future. Neo is a great example of redemption against a reality pulled over societies eyes. What other symbolism(possibly biblical) might be present throughout the tales of the Matrix?


1 comment:

  1. I like your last question, Matt, and would like to see you begin to work out some suggestions here, since your post is mostly a summary of the film. What does The Matrix suggest about what is controlling us, as the audience of the film? How are the directors commenting on contemporary society?

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