The Matrix and Survival
The film deals with the concept of survival in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity as we currently know it has been replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many television shows and films deal with this concept, particularly the idea of conspiracy theory and 'truth' being hidden from the populace. While the Matrix is science fiction, in the same vein as most good sci-fi films, it builds upon elements already in existence in society and hyperbolises them into a ‘what if’ scenario that offers a view of the future that potentially could come to pass if the world continues on its present course. The survival of humanity is at the heart of the Matrix. The dominance of the machines reflects the very real fear in contemporary society that computers will ultimately outstrip people in terms of their capacity to think, strategise and carry out actions. Mass production has already meant the mechanisation of many jobs, leaving people unemployed. Cars have been invented that do not need a driver, devices can track weight, fitness, food choices and sleep patterns and online services and industries have replaced many face to face services and physical places. Looking around the world now, it is easy to see how connected people are to their electronic devices. Smartphones, ipads, apple watches, computer games etc are potentially eroding the capacity to communicate on a real, personal, individual level. It does not take much imagination to move from being connected, to being interconnected to being part of the computer system itself. In the Matrix, human beings have become nothing more than fuel for the machines. Humans exist to service the Matrix, not the other way around. If Morpheus and Neo do not succeed, humanity will not survive. The film also provokes questions about the definition of survival. Whilst existence in The Matrix provides only the illusion of autonomy, the 'people' in this computer construct believe they are living lives that have choice, autonomy, satisfaction and direction. It is 'the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth' but the truth is that they don't know any better and believe that their lives are real and they seem to be content. Does this mean they are surviving? Morpheus and his crew, on the other hand, exist in a dark and dangerous world where they are constantly under attack from the sentinels. They have inadequate food and clothing and exist only for the purpose of destroying the Matrix. Physically, they are surviving, but this is tenuous and can be altered at any moment. However, they have intellectual knowledge of what the world is really like, they have spiritual resilience and emotional intelligence and, knowing the reality of their world, are able to make real choices. Is this what it means to survive - for humanity and what constitutes humanity, to survive? 'If you die in the Matrix, you die in the real world'. This suggests the power that AI has in this futuristic world. The survival of humanity depends on being able to destroy the machines 'Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems is not without a sense of irony'. The audience is then led to question the extent as to which humanity is responsible for its own destruction. We set the wheels in motion by privileging technology and the result is that we are ultimately subjugated to its power. The message here is clear - it is a foreshadowing, a warning to society, a manifestation of the dark fears that already exist in the world and which have been pervasive long before 1999 when The Matrix was first released. Reminiscent of Isaac Asimov's science fiction short stories, in particular ". . . That Thou Art Mindful of Him" (1974) (see button) and films such as Ridley Scott's 'Alien' The Matrix perpetuates the belief that human survival is likely to be challenged by technology of our own creation. |
The symbolism of Plato's Cave is evident in the early mis-en-scene of Trinity, facing the wall, with her back to her attackers and haloed by light.
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