Them human race’s very right to exist is threaten in both feature films: Tron and The Matrix. While it could be viewed as simply the classic battle between good and evil, a more in depth look will reveal a critique of man’s war with his own creations. Throughout history, we have seen time and again man attempt to undo what he has done with his technological creations. The best example of this would the death that has come from the evolution of his various killing machines, primarily nuclear weapons. Both movies use this idea as a primer for their respective movie plots. Both stories involve humans and the machines they’ve created battling for survival, the roles of who rules who lies in the balance.
There are some strong similarities between the Master Control Program and the artificially intelligent machines. Both view humans as being lesser beings than the machine creations who should now serve that which they created. The “programs,” in the movie Tron, (which are controlled by humans and can be interpreted as extensions of humanity) are now enslaved to the machines, as gladiatorial entertainment and humans are used as a source of energy/food in The Matrix.
In both films the human is defined as the hero. Especially in The Matrix as Neo is labeled with the grand title of “the one.” The character Tron takes the lead role as the hero in the movie titled after his name, however Flynn, a human programmer, also performs many heroic deeds such as risking his life for the other characters.
The machine (alien other) challenges humans by not only attacking their right to live, but by threatening complete control/slavery on them. One could make the argument that because the machines and MCP have surpassed the humans as the most intelligent/powerful beings on the planet they have every right to be the highest on the food chain. Nobody ever asked Darwin what if some species evolved to a point beyond that of human beings. Perhaps he would argue that the machines in both movies have every right to exist, to dominate all those under them. The idea of the machines taking over and dominating us is not much different than humans using pigs and cows for food. Those who are best fit to control the “lesser” species rule the planet. But that is a topic for another paper.
As far as the historical context is concerned as it relates to these films this point is difficult for me to argue because I’ve found no documentation that Tron was written as a “message for the times.” So it would be just pure conjecture for me to state that Tron is speaking to society’s future dependence on machines or is some type of warning to future generations. However with that being said I think the movie could easily fulfill that message quite easily. It appears to be a message of warning to make sure we remain in control of that which we create. To not let it become too “self-aware” so that we do not become slaves to the creation.
The Matrix, on the other hand has been thoroughly examined by nearly every critic and armchair philosopher as containing many messages about such topics as Buddhism, Christianity and the nature of man’s dependency on machines.
Neither movie would be as successful if it were not based (somewhat) on the technology of the time. Tron’s plot bases itself in video games and The Matrix with its base in virtual technology and the internet.
Both movies appear to look slightly forward of the time they were written and depict. Tron illustrates the golden age of the video arcade and The Matrix the infancy of the creation of artificial intelligence. When considering these timelines, it could be assumed that the films realistically warn the viewers of man’s dependency on the machines he’s created to make life “easier” as both technologies attempt or succeed at taking over their “masters.”
It should be noted that while humans are portrayed as the hero, not all the technology is evil. Both movies contain machines that help the heroes in their attempts to thwart the plans of taking over or destroying the human race. Perhaps this is to show that not all of man’s creations should be considered “evil” but it’s how they are used that determines their fate.
We learned about the “alien other” in week six of this semester’s readings when we dove into the topic of race as it relates to the sci-fi genre. Cornea uses the film Planet of the Apes to explain how the characters of “Cornelius and Zira who befriend (the humans) and enable (them) to escape the wrath of the leader…Dr. Zaius” (Cornea 181) This is exactly the same situation in Tron and The Matrix where the humans are assisted by a small group of machines who rebel against their counterparts.
Another parallel found in both films is anxiety over man’s ability to reproduce. The Matrix exemplifies this more easily with the fields of men and women being harvested by the machines for food. The following literally illustrates how the machines have turned the tables on mankind in The Matrix. Reproduction is no longer a biological process, but a mechanical one where the machines now harvest humans as a source of energy.
This is very similar to the “technophobia” section we read about in week four of this semester. Not unlike the character of Deckard in Bladerunner there is a clear distinction between human and machine reproduction in all three movies. Tron expressed this idea differently as “programs”, which are extensions of “humanity” are used for entertainment in gladiatorial games and are not all that different from the humans who design them. They have all the same feelings and attitudes of those that they serve. Take for instance the relationship between the characters of Tron and Yuri, which parallels the love of their programmers in the “real world.”
One of human beings main goals in life is to reproduce. When this ability is manipulated or taken away, some may argue that part of our humanity is also taken away. Perhaps since Flynn is the one who originally created the program that evolved into what is known as the Master Control Program it could be viewed as a form of “self-reproduction.” Since Flynn himself created the program you could say that there is a part” of him in his creation.
This argument could be extended to all of man’s creations. Take the idea of technology and weaponry. People could argue that technology has benefited mankind; however the advancement of more and more weapons has hurt or killed millions of people. There could be some argument that from a psychological perspective that is why Flynn is so driven to destroy the machine, because it represents himself.
Reproduction takes on a much different appearance as it relates to the relationship of the character of Trinity and Neo in The Matrix. Amongst all the machines and special effects gunfire, a very realistic “human” love grows between the two characters. In fact, at the end of the movie the sounds of the machines attacking the ship along with immanent death, the background explosions quiet as she professes her love for Neo.
Reproduction takes on a much different appearance as it relates to the relationship of the character of Trinity and Neo in The Matrix. Amongst all the machines and special effects gunfire, a very realistic “human” love grows between the two characters. In fact, at the end of the movie the sounds of the machines attacking the ship along with immanent death, the background explosions quiet as she professes her love for Neo.
It is this human love of theirs that can also be viewed as victory over the artificially intelligent machines.
Perhaps it is through these examples of Flynn taking on the MCP and Trinity and Neo falling in love in the face of certain death that the humans are able to challenge the machines they stand up against. They are using that which the machines will never have, passion, be it romantic or just plain old determination.
Works Cited
Cornea, Christine. Science Fiction Cinema, Between Fantasy and Reality. New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2007.
Dyer, Richard. Modern Classics. London, England, 1999.
Perhaps it is through these examples of Flynn taking on the MCP and Trinity and Neo falling in love in the face of certain death that the humans are able to challenge the machines they stand up against. They are using that which the machines will never have, passion, be it romantic or just plain old determination.
Works Cited
Cornea, Christine. Science Fiction Cinema, Between Fantasy and Reality. New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2007.
Dyer, Richard. Modern Classics. London, England, 1999.
