If
humans had been replaced by artificial intelligence copies
to bring about a rational world, what would uncloned humans
do? This is the premise for the sci-fi film The Matrix,
directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, though we are supposed
to understand that it is the 21st century, and that the machines
waged war on the humans and won. The remaining humans, of
course, would try to get control of the world back from the
machines, as the tagline of the film reads, "On April 2nd
[the date when the film opened], the fight for the future
begins." Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity
(played by Carrie-Anne Moss) realize that the abilities of
Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) provide the best hope for humans
to wrest control of the world from the agents who control
nearly everything on the planet. Morpheus and Trinity are
among the few humans who have escaped the matrix to go to
Zion, and they rescue Neo, a human who was working alongside
(but oblivious of ) the humanoid-looking machines. They inject
something into Neo’s body in order to prepare him for the
ultimate fight. Agent Smith (played by Hugo Weaving) keeps
appearing with fellow agents to keep humans from tampering
with the matrix. The outcome of this incredible trip through
simulated reality is less interested than the trip itself,
with simulated reality, choreography, and even incomprehensible
dialog. The basis for the film comes from poststructuralist
Jean Baudrillard’s 1981 essay "Simulacra and Simulations,"
which argues that capitalism survives by creating a fake reality
that is so much more appealing than the actual reality that
humans have decided to jettison the real world in order to
live in a more exciting world where they can massage their
fantasies. In short, the public is brainwashed to believe
that there is no discrimination, no poverty, no medical or
social malpratice, and the public—especially those who see
The Matrix—responds by abolishing bilingual
education, poverty programs, and the like based on catchwords
and phrases that are more pleasing to hear than the reality
that injustice is rampant everywhere while capitalists get
rich and buy officeholders to reduce their taxes. The film,
of course, follows its own path of fantasy, but the popularity
of the film proves Baudrillard’s point that contemporary humans
really do not want to live in any world but the fantasized
existence of Star Wars, The Matrix,
and the like. MH
I
want to comment on this film
