• The Matrix: etymology of “matrix” and the film in a nutshell
    • Etymology
      • Comes from the word “womb” in Latin, also “source, origin” from word mater in Late Latin
      • Gained its meaning from the womb enclosing and giving origin (birth) to something
      • Developed its modern meaning by the 1640s
    • Themes of reality/non-reality, deception, enslavement, good/evil
      • Virtual reality is the matrix, 1999 simulation, while actual reality is a post-apocalyptic world near 2199
      • Machines enslave and farm humans for power
      • Humans are deceived and brought into a false reality so they relax and can provide energy for the machines
      • The good human rebellion attempts to take down the evil machinery
  • The look of The Matrix
    • Focuses on time; real world is set in the 22nd century while it represents the 1990s thoughts on virtual reality/AI
    • Inside the matrix, there are many green hues in highlights, shadows to represent computer text
    • Outside the matrix, the Earth is razed, and the movie uses more blue colors (cold desolation)
    • THe loading program is filled with white, represents a medium that isn’t affected by the matrix or reality
    • The Matrix also uses some colors to “pull you out” (such as the woman in red)
  • The Matrix as a philosophical and genre patchwork
    • Philosophical references
      • Plato and the Cave; “know thyself”
      • Rene Descartes - how do you know that you’re awake rather than dreaming?
      • George Berkeley and immaterialism - the world is made up from your mind; all reality is immaterial
        • Relates to scene with the spoon
      • Immanuel Kant - Freedom is necessary for happiness
      • Jean Baudrillard
    • Genre references
      • Comics, cyberpunk, Japanese manga + anime (Ghost in the Shell), Hong Kong action + martial arts movies (Hard-Boiled), video games
  • Do you want to know what the Matrix is?
    • Morpheus poses question to Neo, asks if he really wants to know what the Matrix is because Neo might not be able handle the truth (that he is enslaved)
  • Bluepill or redpill?
    • Scene with Neo taking the redpill from Morpheus’ hand, reflected in glasses
    • Bluepill = stay in world of beliefs, dreams; redpill = knowledge, know what the world around you is
  • Plato’s Cave and The Matrix: similarities and differences
    • Agents turning into code at end of film; represents enlightenment, shows understanding of distinction between reality and non-reality (Forms vs. particulars)
    • Cypher represents a “released prisoner” who chooses to come back to the Cave
    • Plato’s Cave is continuous; the real world is outside of the cave, while imitations of the real world are inside of the cave
      • The Matrix’s two worlds are discontinuous; the matrix is simulated and takes place in 1999, while the real world is set in 2199 and is completely destroyed
    • Knowledge of the Good vs. Self-Knowledge
      • Released prisoner must understand the Forms and the Good; abstract knowledge
      • Neo must understand knowledge about himself; the truth is within him and around him
    • Senses and vision
      • Both Neo and the released prisoner find that their senses aren’t adequate and easily deceived
      • Both need to learn to see (“Why do my eyes hurt?” - Neo)
  • Jean Baudrillard: Simulacra and Simulation
    • Simulacra are copies of things that EITHER had no originals to begin with OR no longer have originals
    • Copies which take on their own reality, the “hyperreal”
    • “Welcome to the desert of the real”
  • Two Qs from the Cave, two As from the Matrix
    • Questions
      • Who are the puppeteers and why are they carrying the artifacts?
      • What/who starts the process of enlightenment?
    • Answers
      • The agents and the machines use humans as a power source
        • Implies that the puppeteers might be political oppressors who want to keep humans chained and enslaved by shadows of the real
      • Morpheus and Trinity free Neo because he is the One
        • Implies that the liberator in the cave might be a teacher, similar to Morpheus or Socrates
          • Cypher complains about having no freedom, as Morpheus tells him what to do (compulsion)
        • Socrates notes that someone/something forces the prisoner to stand up, but WE compel the prisoner (second person, includes Socrates)
  • Let’s have fun with names again!
    • Morpheus - he who forms/shapes, also the Greek god of sleep (sleep, wake, dream)
    • Neo - anagram of One and prefix meaning “new”, also refers to a club that housed the goth subculture of the 80s and 90s
      • Anderson: son of Andrew, Greek word Andreas means “man”
    • Trinity - refers to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
    • Cypher - alternate spelling of Cipher, 0s and 1s in computer code, decoder in cryptology
  • Qs for further thought