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?

@aescling but we are all the Special Prophecy Dudes to our own personal Matrixes?

@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

@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??