2. Key Facts
The matrix was released in 1999. It’s a science
fiction film written and directed nu Larry and Andy
Wachowski.
Box office info The film earned $171 million in
the US and $460 million worldwide.
Producer Joel Silver
Themes: The blurred line between humans and
machines; fate vs free will; the relationship
between body, brain and mind.
Protagonist: Neo (a.k.a Thomas A Anderson)
3. Theory + Postmodernity
In Postmodern thought the Martix often
references Baudrillard’s philosophy to
demonstrate that the movie is and allegory for
contemporary experience in a ‘heavily
commercialized, media driven society.’
Bricolage is a key postmodern feature due to a
host of art forms, genres and influences being
demonstrated.
4. Explain how the matrix is
postmodern…
There are many reasons the matrix is a post-modern text.
Perhaps all centred around the concept of challenging
reality and questioning what is real. This theme has been
referenced to the controversial theories of Beaudrillard. He
tends to question peoples acceptance of the ‘truth’ and
asks as to whether something is true and real to someone
who does not directly witness it. This supports his theory
that the same event is different to every individual and that
our acceptance of reality is completely true only to
ourselves.
Co-incidentally an inter textual reference is also made in
the first film as the lead character Thomas Anderson a.k.a
Neo is shown reading a book by Beaudrillard. This
comparison shows one way that the matrix conforms with
an idea of post-modernism by supporting and even
referencing a renowned theorist.
5. Continued…
The film itself focussed around typical science fiction
elements, concentrates on a future where humans are
in war with machines, similar to the long running
Terminator film series, which has been a major
success and iconic in sci-fi film history. A major selling
point of the series is the extreme stunts and action
scenes. Although fairly insignificant on the surface,
the thought behind it was to include seemingly
impossible events and theories.
This is a challenge on the perception of reality with
the concept of two worlds. The real world, a desolate
wasteland operated by machines. Or a virtual world
called the matrix which its inhabitants perceive as
real, but is in fact a fictional representation based on
memories of the human race.
