Dystopia and Media, The Matrix Film - Essay Example

Dystopia and Media People have always tried to create a perfect society. However, many were disillusioned by the reality and such concept as dystopia came into being. Dystopias were especially common in the twentieth century when people acknowledged negative outcomes of the technological progress. The same trend is still persistent in the twenty-first century. It is possible to trace the way people see the technological progress through analysis of some of the most popular dystopias created during 20th and 21st century. Clearly, one of the major concerns of writers has been the influence of authorities on people and the role media play in this process. It is possible to consider such works as George Orwell’s 1984 (1948), Matrix (1999), Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake (2004) to trace the way people see media and authority. It is necessary to note that media played a significant (and sometimes decisive) role in shaping people’s worldviews in the 20th century. People understood that and totalitarian regimes in Nazi Germany and the USSR (as well as many other totalitarian countries) made use of media for propagandistic purposes. George Orwell saw how dangerous that was and how more dangerous it could become in the future. The writer revealed his concerns in his famous book. The protagonist of the book works in the Ministry of Truth that is involved in creating news (or as “the official phrase had it” ‘rectifying’ them) and reshaping public opinion (Orwell, 2013, p. 44).1 The slogans given at the beginning of the book provide a clear description of the society where media are almighty and they creates the reality. The major ideological concept of the dystopian society is formulated as follows: “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” (Orwell, 2013, p. 6). The third ‘truth’ is deeply rooted in the way media affects people. Thus, people in Oceania tend to trust media more than their own eyes and ears. Another way to shape public opinion in Oceania is Two Minutes Hate and the notion that Big Brother is always there watching everybody. People’s minds are affected by evoking video clips. People’s dissatisfaction and all negative emotions that inevitably develop in such a society are directed to other nations or particular individuals. The ruling party (as well as some individuals) learn how to “switch ones hatred this way or that by a voluntary act” (Orwell, 2013, p. 16). The authority controls people’s minds and their emotions. Many people understand that but are too much afraid to stand up to the system and those who do are severely punished. Clearly, Orwell creates a very pessimistic picture of the world ruled by an authoritarian government that uses media to control people’s lives. Creators of the film The Matrix are even more pessimistic. It is noteworthy that the film is created at the very end of the twentieth century and can be regarded as certain kind of summary of people’s ideas and fears. In the dystopian future of Matrix, people do not even imagine that they are totally controlled by a kind of authoritarian regime. Only some people can feel that “there is something wrong with the world” (Silver, 1999). People in the world of the Matrix are “born into bondage” but they do not even notice that (Silver, 1999). More so, some people are often unready to be liberated and freed. The Matrix is also based on the principle stipulated in Orwell’s dystopian world (ignorance is strength). Morpheus stresses that “the mind has trouble letting go” and it is more convenient not to be awakened (Silver, 1999). However, apart from the issue of the authority and total control over people, the film also touches upon another important issue. Many people focus on this aspect of the story and miss one important concept. The film shows the viewer the way media (especially the Internet) affects people. Again, media become the tool used by the authority to keep control. The filmmakers reveal people’s dependency on the World Wide Web. Neo appears sleeping in front of the computer screen and it is clear that he prefers living in the digital world rather than the real world.3 At present, millions of people also tend to escape from the real world issues hiding in their digital realities. Social networks, video games as well as many other tools are all used by contemporary people. In the film, the digital world appears to be the only reality people have and it seems that contemporary people start perceiving it in the same way. People are now all plugged and they are a part of the system. This system is social networking as people look for ties in the digital world rather than develop them in the real world. It is possible to note that views of artists in the 21st century are somewhat different from the two paradigms mentioned above. Margaret Atwood creates a dystopian world that is almost uninhabited due to devastating activities of the human. It is also noteworthy that media also play a very important role in this destruction.4 People are also quite dependent on media as they prefer watching various programs rather than spending time playing games or doing sports. In the first place, it is necessary to state that Atwood’s dystopian world is quite similar to the societies of the 21st century. Richer people try to live in a closed areas and people like watching different things (fights, pornography, executions) to get distracted from the reality. It is not stated explicitly but the society is also ruled by certain authoritarian regime. Atwood’s dystopian society is governed by scientists. These people decide what is good and appropriate for the entire humanity while people working in the propaganda departments make the rest of the world share this worldview. Again, there are specific roles people perform without questioning the world order. Everybody seems to be satisfied with the world (everyone apart from the protagonist). People often underestimate the power of media and only some individuals make use of this ignorance. Notably, Crake, the principal villain of the dystopian society, once tells his friend who is involved in propaganda and marketing, “Nobody’s going to kidnap you for what’s inside your skull. You’re just doing the ads, remember?” (Atwood, 2004, p. 304). At the same time, Crake understands that his friend plays the central role in the process as he makes people buy the product. Importantly, media are able to make people buy something that will eventually kill them. There are numerous examples of that in the contemporary society. People want to buy fast cars, cigarettes and drugs and other items that kill them simply because media promote these products by creating an alternative reality where people are happy with these things. In conclusion, it is possible to note that the analysis of the three works created in 20th and 21st centuries reveal people’s pessimism about the future of humanity though all the three authors still have a frail hope. It is noteworthy that the three works underline the exceptional impact of media on development of people’s worldview. Clearly, people are becoming more dependent on media and are becoming more absorbed by the digital world. The three works also show that the humanity is likely to end up living in an authoritarian society ruled by some kind of a dictator (be it a political party or machines). At the same time, people still believe that there will always be those who will not fit into the system and will be able to escape. Free minds will still appear from time to time. Finally, it is clear that people have become more optimistic as Orwell’s world remains the same while later works show the change that is crucial for the human society. Notes 1. Orwell provides a detailed description of the process of rectifying news to reveal its absurdity and potent impact on people’s minds. 2. Morpheus tells about the authoritarian rule of the Matrix before Neo is truly awakened. 3. Neo communicates with Trinity online and he seeks for meeting this digital acquaintance rather than spending time with his peers. 4. The protagonist helps market the drugs that lead to almost complete extinction of humanity. Reference List Atwood, M. (2004). Oryx and Crake. New York, NY: Ancor. Orwell, G. (2013). Nineteen Eighty-Four. New York, NY: Penguin Classics. Silver, J. (Executive Producer). (1999). The Matrix [DVD]. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. Read More