Final

Nawrocki
15 May 2009

Tron vs. The Matrix: Humans beware!

The human race’s very right to exist is threatened in the films: Tron (Lisberger, 1982, USA) and The Matrix (1999, Wachowski). While both movies 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 technological creations. Throughout history, we have seen time and again man attempt to undo the repercussions caused by his technology. The best example of this would the death and destruction that has come from the evolution of machines of war. 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. As spectators we are not only visually entertained but get the unique ability to watch (and not be destroyed along with everything else) as humans and machines battle for superiority with the fate of the world at stake.
There are some strong similarities between the Master Control Program (in Tron) and the artificially intelligent machines(in The Matrix). Both present humans as inferior to the machine creations and it is the machines who feel the humans 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, and must serve as gladiatorial entertainment. Humans are used as a source of energy/food in The Matrix and are kept in a form of suspended animation to keep them under control. .
In both films the human is clearly 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 along with other humans, also perform many heroic deeds such as risking their lives 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. Those who are best fit to control the “lesser” species earn the right to rule the planet.
That is what is so interesting about movies such as these; we get to play out the fantastic scenario of the human race being taken over by artificially intelligent machines without having to go through the terrors of enslavement and death. As I mentioned earlier, we are not only treated to a visually entertaining spectacle of science fiction lore, but also faced with unique philosophical questions about man’s right to rule the planet and evolution itself.
This line of thinking parallels the anxiety over man’s ability to reproduce that is addressed later in the essay. Once faced with extinction, all that man has created in our history is threatened with annihilation. There is no longer a next generation of human’s that will inherit all we have created. The survival of the species now takes the highest importance. All else takes a back seat, because of this we would see an unity amongst all the people on the planet. This theme has been used in many science fiction films besides the two mentioned in this essay. The films Independence Day (Emmerich, 1996, USA) and the Star Trek (Roddenbery) movies depict the human race as putting aside their petty differences and coming together to face greater evils.
As far as the historical context of these films is concerned, this point is difficult for me to argue because I’ve found no documentation that Tron was written as a “message for the times.” It very well could have been designed simply as a new interpretation of the hero “coming of age” in an entirely new way. So it would be just pure conjecture for me to state that Tron is speaking to society’s 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. It appears to be a message of warning to make sure we remain in control of that which we create. To not become too dependant on technology appears to be safe, sound advice for anyone open to the message. It would be best to look at technology as just another tool to help humans be more efficient and effective at whatever task is at hand. But the pursuit of faster, more intelligent machines could easily lead us down this path of dependence.
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 dependence on machines.
Neither movie would be as successful were it not based (somewhat) on the technology of the time: Tron’s plot bases itself in the motif and style of the golden age of video games. The Matrix bases itself in virtual technology and the internet.


Both movies appear to look slightly ahead of the times in which they were written and how they depict humanity. Tron illustrates the age of the video arcade and The Matrix explores the infancy of artificial intelligence. When considering these timelines, it could be assumed that the films realistically warn the viewers of man’s dependence 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. The character of “The Oracle” in The Matrix serves as a guide for the characters and supports the human resistance even though she is a program inside the matrix. Tron features an “elder program” that guides and protects the characters of Tron and Yuri from those that wish to capture them. 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 the manner in which they are used that determines their fate.
ers 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 screen capture 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 (1982) there is a clear distinction between human and machine reproduction in all three movies. Humans (and all of the “good guys” in both movies) show positive emotions such as love and kindness while the machines only illustrate negative ones like hatred and anger. It is this distinction that illustrates how even though the machines may be intellectually superior to their human creators, they are still emotionally inferior.
Tron expressed this idea differently as “programs”, which are extensions of “humanity” are used for entertainment in gladiatorial games and resemble the humans who designed them. They have all the same feelings and attitudes of those that they were designed to serve. Take for instance the relationship between the characters of Tron and Yuri, which parallels the love of their programmers in the “real world.”




This screen capture most accurately represents the fact that because they are on the side of good they are able to experience one of the most positive emotions of all, that of love. We never see “Agent Smith” or the Master Control Program fall in love. That is because they are the bad guys in their corresponding movies and are emotionally inferior to their human creators.
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. People could argue that technology has benefited mankind; however the advancement of 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 the evil in 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.



It is this human love of theirs that can also be viewed as victory over the artificially intelligent machines. As mentioned earlier, the machines are still inferior to the humans emotionally and may never be able to experience the full range of human emotions, thereby preventing them from truly being “alive.”
Perhaps it is through these examples of Flynn taking on the MCP in Tron and Trinity and Neo falling in love in the face of certain death in The Matrix 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 to win the day.
It is through these fictional stories that we are not only entertained, allowing us to forget the “real world” and live our some fantasy, but also able to look at the world in a new way. Technologically speaking, both movies were representative of the times of which they were written, and therefore offer some social commentary on man’s infatuation/dependence on technology. They also serve as a critique of the forces of reproduction and how it can be perceived by human beings. Through these movies we are able to explore philosophical questions without risking death and/or enslavement.


Works Cited
Cornea, Christine. Science Fiction Cinema, Between Fantasy and Reality. New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2007.
Dyer, Richard. Modern Classics. London, England, 1999.