THE SOCIOLOGICAL MATRIX
Julie C. Dodd
COMP3134-R51-S12C
Professor Lydia Carter
March 14, 2012
The Sociological Matrix
The movie “The Matrix” covers several different sociological terms,
theories, and hypothesis. Sociology is the study of human social interaction.
Depending on how you look at this movie there are two primary forms of social
interaction (Dictionary, 2012). The first exists to those inside the Matrix solely
within the mind of the humanity. There is no real physical social interaction as
we would interact with other members of society like our family or friends. The
second occurs in a very physical social interaction between characters that
have escaped the Matrix and interact against the Matrix.
The Matrix is a highly advanced
industrial, technical society, from a
functionalists perspective it is a highly
efficient, stable, and orderly society. Its
existence depends on the energy gained from
human brain functions which send electrical
pulses throughout our body and creates thermal discharges. The Matrix
manufactures humans, programs their reality, adds or removes stimulation as
needed to generate brain functions, and recycles humans when they are all
used up or burnt out.
In a very literal interpretation of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis computer
language shapes not only humanities understanding of reality, but their reality
itself. The Matrix uses its programming language to shape and transform
pg. 2
mankind’s world. If a bump or hiccup occurs, the Matrix just modifies its
program to suit its needs, constantly adapting and reshaping reality for
humankind. Everything that mankind learns, it learns from the Matrix. So the
Matrix ultimately chooses how humanity develops. While this example is not
what Sapir & Whorf meant when they came up with their hypothesis that
language shapes our reality (Marshall, 1998), in computer terms it is a very
realistic example.
“The Matrix” is written from a conflict perspective in that it is man against
machine. The Matrix and humanity are different distinct groups in a constant
struggle for control. The people of Zion are a counterculture that rejects the
society formed by the Matrix and struggle to free the rest of humanity and to
maintain their existence. Knowledge and skills are directly programmed into the
pg. 3
brain when needed not attained by years growing, ageing, and learning in
schools. It could be argued that since the Matrix controls all humanities
learning, interactions, and culture that it also created the beginnings of this
conflict or the desire to conflict. It could also be said that the Matrix was
conflicted between its own self-existence and being the protector of humanity.
Neo experiences culture shock when he meets Morpheus. Morpheus is
the captain of the Nebuchadnezzar and leads the
crew on a mission to find the one foretold to free
humanity. Morpheus has spent his entire existence
searching the Matrix and frees Neo because he
believes that Neo is “the one”. Neo is awakened to
the reality of what his life has been up to this point;
an illusion, a dream, a program running in the
background of his mind. He is overwhelmed by the knowledge that all his past
experiences never really happened. Everything he believed to be real and true
was programmed into him by a machine, the Matrix.
Morpheus’s interaction
with Neo from this moment on is an attempt to convince and prove to Neo that
his belief in him is true.
Cypher is a person who was previously freed from the
Matrix. He is cynical and jealous of Neo, jealous of the bonds
he quickly forms with the crew, and especially of the fondness
growing between Neo and Trinity. He betrays humanity
pg. 4
because he cannot have what he wants in the real physical world. He strikes a
deal with agents of the Matrix to hand over the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar so
they can find Zion and destroy the last human society in exchange for
reintegration into the matrix. He wants all his memories of real life to be erased
and a successful life filled with money, women, and bliss to be programmed in its
stead. He wants to live in the Matrix’s ideal society completely unaware.
Neo faces a role conflict in that he believes he is just an ordinary person,
but Morpheus believes he is the one to free humanity
from the Matrix. The idea, nay belief that Neo is the one
to free humanity, is constantly handed to him. Neo is
relieved when Morpheus takes him to see the Oracle
who is supposed to be the oldest and wisest among
them, an ageism that all old people are wise and should be revered and sought
after for guidance (Macionis, Chapter 15: Agining and the Elderly, 1995). She
tells Neo “what he needs to hear”; confirming Neo’s belief that he is just a man
not the savior of mankind.
It isn’t until he is faced with an impossible situation that the Oracle also
foretold does he face his fears and begin to
believe. His doubts begin to fade as he faces
the enemy agents of the Matrix with the aid of
Trinity. He is able to perform several
seemingly impossible feats and when faced
with death manages to triumphs over it. The validation of his existence and his
pg. 5
role in life is given to him in a whisper of hope from Trinity. The Oracle had
foretold she would fall in love with the one to free humanity and she was in love
with him. The combined beliefs of Trinity, Morpheus, and the Oracle made him
believe in himself in a self-fulfilling prophecy (Definition, 2012).
I enjoyed this movie and have it in my home collection. I also enjoy the
simplistic complexities of computers. It is easy for me to see how this movie
could be dreamed up. Mankind is constantly advancing forward, moving more,
and more towards technology. The more we become entranced by technology
the more we tend to draw back from our physical social interactions. It is far
easier to communicate thoughts and ideas to a blank screen that does not
respond back than it is to face live people in circumstances where we could face
intimidation, rejection, anger, and fear.
pg. 6
Terms:
Sociology - the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and
collective behavior of organized groups of human beings. (Dictionary,
2012)
Functionalist – Functionalists seek to describe the different parts of a society
and their relationship through the organic analogy. The organic analogy
compared the different parts of a society to the organs of a living
organism. The organism was able to live, reproduce and function through
the organized system of its several parts and organs. Like a biological
organism, a society was able to maintain its essential processes through
the way that the different parts interacted together. (Department of
Anthropology, 2009)
Matrix - situation in which something develops: a situation or set of
circumstances that allows or encourages the origin, development, or
growth of something; in computing, a network of circuit parts such as
transistors and resistors (Dictionary, 2012)
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - argues that (to quote one of its authors) language ‘is
not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas, but is itself a
shaper of ideas, the program and guide for the individual's meaningful
activity’. In short, language determines (or shapes) our perceptions of
reality (Marshall, 1998).
pg. 7
Conflict theory - society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for
limited resources. Those who have perpetually try to increase their wealth
at the expense and suffering of those who have not (Cheney, 2009).
Counterculture - cultural patterns that strongly oppose conventional culture.
Members of countercultures are likely to question the morality of the
majority group and engage in some form of protest activities (Macionis,
Chapter 3: Culture, 1995).
Culture shock - the personal disorientation accompanying exposure to an
unfamiliar way of life (Macionis, Chapter 3: Culture, 1995)
Role conflict - the incompatibility among roles corresponding to two or more
statuses (Macionis, Chapter 6: Social Interaction in Everyday Life, 1995)
Ageism - prejudice and discrimination against the elderly (Macionis, Chapter 15:
Agining and the Elderly, 1995)
Self-fulfilling prophecy - any positive or negative expectation about
circumstances, events, or people that may affect a person's behavior
toward them in a manner that causes those expectations to be fulfilled
(Definition, 2012).
pg. 8
Works Cited
Cheney, P. (2009). Chapter 03 - Social Theories. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from
Intro to Sociology.
Definition. (2012). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Business Dictionary.com:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/self-fulfilling-prophecy.html
Department of Anthropology. (2009). Anthropological Theories. Retrieved March
14, 2012, from The University of Alabama:
http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Functionalism
Dictionary. (2012, March 7). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Merriam-Webster:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sociology
Dictionary. (2012). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Bing:
http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+matrix
Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 15: Agining and the Elderly. Retrieved March 14,
2012, from Sociology:
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter15/objectiv
es/deluxe-content.html
Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 3: Culture. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from
Sociology:
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter3/objective
s/deluxe-content.html
Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 6: Social Interaction in Everyday Life. Retrieved
March 14, 2012, from Sociology:
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter6/objective
s/deluxe-content.html
Marshall, G. (1998). Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. (A Dictionary of Sociology)
Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Encyclopedia.com:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Theory_of_linguistic_relativity.aspx
pg. 9