[lit-ideas] Re: Decisions, decisions

  • From: Eric Yost <NYCEric@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 12:49:23 -0400

M.C. Well, in fact it *is* quite a big deal. As the Chosen One, Neo has
realized the *real* situation of human beings, i.e. that they're living
an illusion, and he's also realized that since he's living an illusion
he can modify the content of that illusion in almost any way he wants.

_____

That's what I found so unsatisfactory: it doesn't go any further than 
control of the propaganda arm of the state. There isn't effective use of 
the propaganda arm of the state either. Personal realization is never 
translated into social consciousness--just as in our own world.

Most of the "rebels" have been freed by other rebels, just as Neo was, 
and they have the plugholes in their heads to prove it. Yet rather than 
actually do something--i.e., organize large groups of rebels to destroy 
the means of control or at least confront it directly--the plot remains 
on the level of illusion, the Matrix, which is personal perception.

That's exactly why personal realization is never translated into social 
consciousness. Liberation becomes a question of style--wearing 
sunglasses and trenchcoats--rather than a question of substance, which 
would be overthrowing the machine dictators. The Matrix heroes merely 
achieve a different form of consumerism.

What I would have liked was not an '80s shoot-em-up movie, but a new 
type of movie where individual perception gets translated into social 
reality. But that would have been too radical, too subversive. It would 
require that personal liberation transcend the Matrix of consumerism.

Eric

------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. lit-ideas
  3. Archive
  4. 10-2004