it is unfortunate for all interesting readings of matrix 1 that they have to reconcile with the inconvenient decision of making Neo a Special And Absurdly Powerful Prophecy Dude
there’s an entire paper out there laying out the Neo-is-trans reading of the film that unintentionally accidentally makes for a really depressing read of the ending, which it presents as a vision of trans liberation through Neo’s individual self-actualization. which like. bruh, Neo’s only able to do that because Neo’a a Special Prophecy Dude; what are the rest of us supposed to do?
@Lady i’m not sure what to make of that reading
i also do not exactly see what supports the reading in the first place?
@aescling i feel like “the matrix is the american cinemetropolis” is not that controversial of a take??
@aescling people were rioting against the american dream so the structures of power invented pleasant media for them to consume to make them orderly and easy to control??
@aescling you can bend this media landscape to your wishes once you stop accepting it on the terms in which it was handed to you??
@aescling is the backstory of the matrix not literally that the machines fed everyone 90's nostalgia in an effort to quell revolution???
@aescling IF you accept that the matrix is a metaphor for the american mass media landscape, then i feel like “the audience is Neo” follows as a matter of course
@Lady oh i just mean like “oh you’re right”
@aescling you don’t have to agree :P
@Lady i mean at least to the read of the matrix as the american cinematropolis
@aescling * pleasant, but not too pleasant, with moments of spectacle
@aescling Neo is a viewer standin; he is the special prophecy dude because the viewer IS in a privileged position with respect to the medium. that's the point