Comments on: The real and the simulated http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2008/06/02/the-real-and-the-simulated/ Blogging on Philosophy and Politics Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anti Citizen One http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2008/06/02/the-real-and-the-simulated/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Anti Citizen One Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:48:46 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/?p=299#comment-515 Yes indeed good story. The Matrix has this replacement of real with symbolism as a theme running throughout the movie. <blockquote>Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.</blockquote> and later: <blockquote>Cypher: If I had to choose between [the real world] and the Matrix, I choose the Matrix. Trinity: The Matrix isn't real. Cypher: I disagree, Trinity. I think the Matrix can be more real than this world. All I do is pull the plug here. But there, you have to watch Apoc die.</blockquote> There are many other subtle references and imagary. The bleakness of the real world and questioning the drive to seek objective "truth" is central to the plot. And although I can't stand the two sequels, they strongly hint that the "real world" is only another layer of symbolism (as in the film eXistenZ). AC1 Yes indeed good story. The Matrix has this replacement of real with symbolism as a theme running throughout the movie.

Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

and later:

Cypher: If I had to choose between [the real world] and the Matrix, I choose the Matrix.
Trinity: The Matrix isn’t real.
Cypher: I disagree, Trinity. I think the Matrix can be more real than this world. All I do is pull the plug here. But there, you have to watch Apoc die.

There are many other subtle references and imagary. The bleakness of the real world and questioning the drive to seek objective “truth” is central to the plot. And although I can’t stand the two sequels, they strongly hint that the “real world” is only another layer of symbolism (as in the film eXistenZ).

AC1

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