The MatrixThe Matrix

Baris Bruce DanielleBaris Bruce DanielleJasmine Lily MariaJasmine Lily Maria

OutlineOutline IntroductionIntroduction DichotomyDichotomy Blurring Boundaries of Virtual Reality and Blurring Boundaries of Virtual Reality and

RealityReality Blurring Boundaries of Human and Blurring Boundaries of Human and

MachineMachine Matrix and ZionMatrix and Zion

Conflict Conflict

MythMyth ConclusionConclusion

What is MatrixWhat is Matrix ObsoleteObsolete-The womb -The womb (( 子宮子宮 )) BiologyBiology-A material in which specialized str-A material in which specialized str

uctures are embedded uctures are embedded (( 母體母體 )) Formal UseFormal Use-The environment or context in -The environment or context in

which society or culture developswhich society or culture develops

MathematicsMathematics-A rectangular arrangement of nu-A rectangular arrangement of numbers used to solve Mathematical problemsmbers used to solve Mathematical problems(( 矩矩陣陣 ))

ComputingComputing-A two-dimensional array -A two-dimensional array (( 數組 陣數組 陣列列 ))

The Matrix The Matrix (The film)(The film)A dream world created by AIA dream world created by AIA neural-interactive simulation A neural-interactive simulation Set in the late 20th CenturySet in the late 20th Century

Human gave birth to Artificial Human gave birth to Artificial Intelligence Intelligence

War between Human and AIWar between Human and AI Matrix took over and use Matrix took over and use Human beings as energy source Human beings as energy source

First Design-The Perfect World (Utopia)-First Design-The Perfect World (Utopia)-FailureFailure

Human Begins define reality by misery Human Begins define reality by misery and painand pain

Matrix Mock-MotherhoodMatrix Mock-Motherhood

DichotomyDichotomy

Matrix vs. ZionMatrix vs. Zion Virtual Reality vs. RealityVirtual Reality vs. Reality

Capitalism vs. CommunismCapitalism vs. Communism Technology vs. Human NatureTechnology vs. Human Nature Re-enchantment vs. Re-enchantment vs.

DisenchantmentDisenchantment

Breaking Boundary of Human & Breaking Boundary of Human & Machine (1)Machine (1)

Anti-birthAnti-birth Mock motherhoodMock motherhood

Human beings groHuman beings grown on the field, nown on the field, not in the wombt in the womb Nurtured in tubesNurtured in tubes Man as recycleMan as recycle

BornBorn Deplug (Unplug)Deplug (Unplug) Through the tubeThrough the tube

Fake vaginaFake vagina

BatteryBattery Sensational not trustfulSensational not trustful Lost the natural function as a human Lost the natural function as a human

beingbeing A part of the recycleA part of the recycle

Breaking Boundary of Human & Breaking Boundary of Human & Machine (2)Machine (2)

Control (1)Control (1) Social surveillance Social surveillance

(overall)(overall) TechnologyTechnology Bug Bug Physical controlPhysical control

MouthMouth Monitor/ watchingMonitor/ watching Cube (Buildings)Cube (Buildings)

Control (2)Control (2)

Levels of surveillanceLevels of surveillance Boss – AuthorityBoss – Authority Gatekeepers (Agent)Gatekeepers (Agent)

Firewalls in computer systemFirewalls in computer system The policeThe police

OfficeOffice Glass windowsGlass windows PartitionsPartitions

ComputerComputer

Control (3)Control (3) TelephoneTelephone

Travel through telephoneTravel through telephone OverhearingOverhearing

TappedTapped

II. Blurring/Breaking II. Blurring/Breaking Boundary of Virtual world Boundary of Virtual world

and Realityand Reality

Minority Report and Minority Report and MatrixMatrix

Minority Report (interface the Minority Report (interface the technology)v.s. technology)v.s. Matrix (contagions/ Matrix (contagions/ overtaking reality)overtaking reality)

In matrix- breaking/blurring boundary In matrix- breaking/blurring boundary

*Part of the whole thing(virtual *Part of the whole thing(virtual world)world)

*Human beings are in Matrix *Human beings are in Matrix

Human beings still have power in Human beings still have power in controlling the machine. Interface controlling the machine. Interface the boundary between reality and the boundary between reality and virtual world.virtual world.

a.Deception of senses a.Deception of senses

b.Simulation- Jean Baudrillb.Simulation- Jean Baudrillard ard

Subject in the worldSubject in the world (human beings) and ob (human beings) and object (artificial things/ simulacrumject (artificial things/ simulacrum 擬仿物 擬仿物 ) )

---> ---> (simulacrum-->stimulation) -object has (simulacrum-->stimulation) -object has repreplaced the subjectlaced the subject(the position of human bein(the position of human beings) gs)

““ 物”既非動物也非植物物”既非動物也非植物 ,, 但是它給人一種大量繁但是它給人一種大量繁衍與熱帶叢林的感覺。這種由人而產生的動植物衍與熱帶叢林的感覺。這種由人而產生的動植物 ,,像可惡的科幻小說中場景一樣像可惡的科幻小說中場景一樣 ,, 反過來包圍人為反過來包圍人為困人困人

4 levels of the image4 levels of the image 1. Image/sign 1. Image/sign reflects the realityreflects the reality -good appea -good appea

rance/ e.g.rance/ e.g. 忠實再現真實忠實再現真實 2.Image/sign 2.Image/sign conceals and distortsconceals and distorts the realit the realit

y-evil appearance (e.g.convey stereotype)y-evil appearance (e.g.convey stereotype) 3.signs which 3.signs which dissimulate(dissimulate( 掩飾掩飾 ) that there i) that there i

s nothing (god-ritual)s nothing (god-ritual)4. Signs have nothing to do with reality (Mat4. Signs have nothing to do with reality (Matrix) - the split of signifier/signified/ the realitrix) - the split of signifier/signified/ the reality/ the virtual world y/ the virtual world 影像具有生命可獨立存在影像具有生命可獨立存在（（ the order of the order of simulationsimulation ））

Simulation might be a mutated image Simulation might be a mutated image (( 突變的影像突變的影像 ). ). 雖然雖然影像影像在真與假之間有在真與假之間有所區隔所區隔 ,, 因而仍在一種再現因而仍在一種再現 (representatio(representation)n) 的問題意識下操作著的問題意識下操作著 ,, 擬像擬像 ((simulatiosimulationn)) 卻使所有真與假的區分發生短路卻使所有真與假的區分發生短路 ((Abbas,Abbas, 1990:2 1990:2))

迪士尼之為擬像，不僅在於它複製於無，迪士尼之為擬像，不僅在於它複製於無，更在於它劃出一個虛擬區域，讓人相信孩更在於它劃出一個虛擬區域，讓人相信孩童化只存在於這人工樂園，掩飾在此以外童化只存在於這人工樂園，掩飾在此以外其實洛杉磯以至美國就是迪士尼本身，以其實洛杉磯以至美國就是迪士尼本身，以及整個世界也在全面幼稚化的事實。及整個世界也在全面幼稚化的事實。一如一如監獄，監獄讓人相信在此以外自由的存監獄，監獄讓人相信在此以外自由的存在，掩飾其實整個社會也是一座監獄的事在，掩飾其實整個社會也是一座監獄的事實。實。

c. Hyper reality c. Hyper reality

Hyper reality Hyper reality 真實的虛構化（真實的虛構化（ film, images..film, images.. ）） -->--> 虛構的真實化（虛構的真實化（ simulationsimulation ）） *Jean Baudrillard--> symbol/signs had *Jean Baudrillard--> symbol/signs had

already dispelled the reality, and eventalready dispelled the reality, and eventually ually replaced the realityreplaced the reality. .

*The world had been occupied by *The world had been occupied by flfloating signifiers.oating signifiers. The boundary of ill The boundary of illusion and reality has been gone.usion and reality has been gone.

Morpheus- the real is simply electricMorpheus- the real is simply electrical signals interpreted by brains al signals interpreted by brains

d. Symbol of Mirror/ TVd. Symbol of Mirror/ TV Mirror- the reflection self and real Mirror- the reflection self and real

self self

which one is real ? Or both which one is real ? Or both of of them ? them ?

Mirror- experience the “breaking” Mirror- experience the “breaking” boundary between virtual world boundary between virtual world and real world. and real world.

TV- Framework(self-reflexivity ) TV- Framework(self-reflexivity )

The world exists in TV The world exists in TV stimulation stimulation

and the real world.and the real world.

((blurring boundary-blurring boundary- but this real but this real world is also just a fragmental world is also just a fragmental information of their program).information of their program).

Zion vs. MatrixZion vs. Matrix

Communism/Communism/

Communist SocietyCommunist Society

a.a. united system—united system—centralize centralize resourcesresources

b.b. underground, underground, cavescaves

c.c. Food—shareFood—share

d.d. Clothes—no rankClothes—no rank

Capitalism/Capitalism/

ConsumerismConsumerisma.a. distinct social level: distinct social level:

fierce competitionfierce competition

b.b. buildings, cubes: buildings, cubes: corkscrewcorkscrew support capitalismsupport capitalism

c.c. commodities: commodities: FedEx, FedEx, cell phones...etccell phones...etc

Myth (Mythology)Myth (Mythology)

What is Zion: Mythical originWhat is Zion: Mythical origin protect Magdalena (motherhoprotect Magdalena (motherho

od)od) Underground,warm,darknessUnderground,warm,darknesswombwomb Contrast to mock-motherhood(Matrix)Contrast to mock-motherhood(Matrix) The human beings The human beings maternal society, maternal society,

feminine imagefeminine image

Symbol of NamesSymbol of Names

MorpheusMorpheus god of dream god of dream NeoNeo new,one new,one TrinityTrinityunity,harmonious balanceunity,harmonious balance CypherCypher”0””0”resistant power to one resistant power to one

(computer language:”0”,”1”)(computer language:”0”,”1”)

TrinityTrinity

(Father)

(Son) (Holy Spirit)

Neo

Previous Life

Faith

Zion vs. MatrixZion vs. Matrix

Zion:Zion: Symbol of motherhoodSymbol of motherhood Worship of female Worship of female

conceptionconception Matriarchal systemMatriarchal system Protection for true Protection for true

humans, last origin humans, last origin for all that’s naturalfor all that’s natural

Matrix:Matrix: Mock-motherhoodMock-motherhood Existence of Matrix= Existence of Matrix=

deprivation of female deprivation of female functionfunction

Patriarchal systemPatriarchal system Uses Matrix as a way Uses Matrix as a way

to control humansto control humans

Patriarchal system creates mock-motherhood to eliminate threat from matriarchal system

Resolution of the conflictResolution of the conflict

Trinity (importance as Trinity (importance as female, lover)female, lover)

Love →return to Love →return to human instincts, human instincts, passionpassion

Rebirth of NeoRebirth of Neo Revival of human Revival of human

nature to fight against nature to fight against the artificialthe artificial

Human survival as Human survival as theme of sci-fitheme of sci-fi

2 Myths2 Myths

Zion: mythical presentationZion: mythical presentation

American heroism mythAmerican heroism myth

Mythical presentation of Mythical presentation of ZionZion

Mythical allusion/ biblical allusionMythical allusion/ biblical allusion Symbolic languageSymbolic language AmbiguityAmbiguity

→→the one, the savior, reincarnation, the one, the savior, reincarnation, oracle, Zionoracle, Zion

Mythical presentation of Mythical presentation of Zion (cont.)Zion (cont.)

Dual quality of the resistance from Dual quality of the resistance from realityreality

Zion vs. Matrix=Mythical story vs. Zion vs. Matrix=Mythical story vs. MatrixMatrix

→→irony: where/ what is the reality???irony: where/ what is the reality???

American heroism mythAmerican heroism myth

White centered myth, savior of all White centered myth, savior of all mankindmankind

Hollywood, American heroismHollywood, American heroism

ConclusionConclusion

disenchantment vs. re-disenchantment vs. re-enchantment enchantment

-- this movie -- this movie disenchantment disenchantment

-- real life -- real life re-enchantment re-enchantment

-- man plays the role of God -- man plays the role of God

ConclusionConclusion

a. Free willa. Free will no free will in this movieno free will in this movie -- red pill and blue pill-- red pill and blue pill

ConclusionConclusion

No free willNo free will -- Morpheus, “I did what I did because -- Morpheus, “I did what I did because

I had to”.I had to”.

b. you only choose when you have optiob. you only choose when you have optionsns

ConclusionConclusion

c. Neo at the phone booth c. Neo at the phone booth ““[…] A world without rules and contro[…] A world without rules and contro

ls, without borders and boundaries. A ls, without borders and boundaries. A world where everything is possible. Wworld where everything is possible. Where we go from there…is a choice I lehere we go from there…is a choice I leave to you”.ave to you”.

ReferencesReferences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix ix