The Matrix, Baudrillard, Simulatra, and thoughts prior to Matrix Resurrections
By: Charles Lincoln
I have heard a theory that in The Matrix movies the “real world” is not really the real world, but the second level of the Matrix. In a sense another digitized world. This leads to some confusion that the machines may think they are in a simulated world as well. This conforms well with Plato’s levels of the cave in The Republic. However, when Trinity sees the sun, it seems she is seeing reality. Perhaps instead of another level to the Matrix, really the digitized simulated world has merged with the “real” world in that sensors and micro representations have clouded us and we can’t ever actually go back to the real world — except by leaving the electromagnetic cloud field as Trinity does and sees the sun.
Neo seems to be fully aware that he is in the real world, but is able to change the Matrix as well with his actions. Trinity even kisses Neo in the “real” world to bring him back to life.
This is the true Hegelian fashion of Jean Baudrillard’s simulacra — a mixture of many singular simulacrum with “reality” to an extend where reality and the simulara become confused. This is the idea extrapolated from The Mirror of Production. Jean Baudrillard, The Mirror of Production (Mark Poster trans., Telos Press 1981) (1977). though Baudrillard does not discuss Hegel to such an extent. It is arguable that the theories of Hegel can explain Baudrillard. Political economy and dialectical materialism are not the only roots of action and representation in the world, but the merger of character masks with commodity fetishism is what blurs the truth or the edion (noumenon-νούμενον).
Neo is the living embodiment of the Hegelian synthesis of the Simulacra as he is the Messiah of both the “real” world and The Matrix. The Matrix and the “real” world finally are able to have a sustainable balance with each other. Neo becomes the bridge between the Matrix and the “real” world. The Matrix is represented by the machines and the “real” world by the humans who both honor and thank Neo in the end.
If reality and the digital simulacra that mixes the two can perhaps be exemplified by the age of the Matrix. Neo can feel the sentinels in the end of the Matrix Reloaded after the Nebuchadnezzar ship is destroyed, then he can destroy the sentinels. Moreover, if Neo’s conversation with the Architect is true, then this is the sixth Matrix. This then indicates that the history that Zion has been taught is false — though Morpheus does not know the exact year in the first Matrix, he gives an estimation. If what the Architect is taken as truth, then Morpheus could be a couple hundred years off — because it makes sense that Zion has existed for at least several generations for it to be plausible for Morpheus to say they had been fighting the machines for “300 years” in the beginning of Matrix Reloaded (indeed, some such as the senior council member may be descendants directly — in a Da Vinci Code sense — of passing down the secrets of Zion and knowing the truth of the history). The age of the Nebuchadnezzar itself could be fabricated by the machines to show that the humans “think” they know what year it is.
Indeed, mixing reality and having a second level of the Matrix would be an efficient idea to sequester with hyperactive programs from the Merovingian to others thinking that they understand the barriers of reality and are not able to take over the true reality.
Other interesting observations:
It’s interesting to note that the city in the Matrix — Megapolis / Mega City — seems to be next to the mountains. Sort of like a Denver, Colorado or the capital city in The Hunger Games.
Perhaps in the end, the only way to defeat the program Smith was for Smith to become part of Neo in the same way that Smith had to enter Neo when Smith was first liberated from being an agent.
There is also a possibility that the time in The Matrix could proceed differently.
It’s interesting to note that the city in the Matrix — Megapolis / Mega City — seems to be next to the mountains. Sort of like a Denver, Colorado or the capital city in The Hunger Games.
Perhaps in the end, the only way to defeat the program Smith was for Smith to become part of Neo in the same way that Smith had to enter Neo when Smith was first liberated from being an agent.
There is also a possibility that the time in The Matrix could proceed differently.
© Charles Edward Andrew Lincoln IV
