William Irwin, author of “The Matrix and Philosophy,” discussed Friday night why the “Matrix” trilogy should be considered more than just Hollywood entertainment. According to Irwin, the films raise important philosophical issues that parallel the real world.
Irwin began by imploring the audience not to dismiss the value of the sequels.
“I was disappointed in ‘Reloaded’ and ‘Revolutions,’” he said. “But should I have been? After all, it’s a pretty safe bet a sequel won’t be as good as the original. And the more sequels we make, the worse they tend to get. Plato predicted this and Xerox has confirmed it.”
Despite his preference for the first movie, Irwin insisted that all three movies say something important about modern life.
“There is, I think, one theme they consistently treat well—control,” he said. “And it is the key to the enduring popularity of ‘The Matrix’ trilogy.”
Irwin described the ways that members of our society are subject to control by some outward force: the government, the media, the entertainment industry, advertising, consumer culture, jobs, education, diets, gender roles, race and ethnicity, family, religion, drugs.
The two-part event that included a screening of “The Matrix” on Thursday and a lecture and discussion on Friday, was organized jointly by the Film and Philosophy Departments. Speakers also included Assistant Professor of Film Scott Higgins, and Philosophy Professors Mary-Hannah Jones and Elise Springer. Higgins helped bring Irwin to Wesleyan.
“The idea was to organize a philosophy event that crossed all disciplines,” Higgins said. “Philosophy is the way we live, our everyday existence. I don’t think we should separate it, treating it like an exalted discipline.”
Friday’s forum was based on Irwin’s book, which is an anthology of 20 essays by different writers on various philosophical aspects of Andy and Larry Wachowski’s “The Matrix,” released in 1999. Irwin, an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, wrote for the book and edited it. He has also compiled anthologies on “Seinfeld” and “The Simpsons.”
“’The Matrix’ is the all-time best film to use in a philosophy class,” said Steven Horst, Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy. “It parallels classic philosophical issues and metaphors. Where Plato’s Cave and Descartes Evil Demon may seem too wild, seeing relevant issues from ”The Matrix“ can present it in a more plausible way,” According to Irwin, many people do not realize that they are being controlled. He defined a form of control as any system or structure that forces or causes dependence, and focused on the example of two-party politics.“
”Structurally, Americans seem forced to vote for either the Democrat or Republican for President,“ he said. ”Any third party candidates have so little chance to win that a vote for them seems wasted. But truly it is not. To depend on a two-party system, to accept it as inevitable, is to be controlled by it, to fall victim to the trap.“
According to Irwin, the only way to counter such control is to follow through with one’s rebellious impulses.
”[You must] take the red pill,“ he said.
Despite Irwin’s arguments, many students remained critical of the ”Matrix“ sequels. Although students like Jesse Brenner ’05 consider the sequels trashy, they can excuse the movies’ shortcomings.
”There’s so much trash in the movie industry,“ Brenner said. ”The Wachowski brothers had to make a trashy movie to reach the masses. The ideas had to be sugarcoated. It’s hard to please everybody, plus, the movie wouldn’t have sold without the action.“
When asked what draws him to films and television shows, Irwin remarked on their ability to bridge gaps.
”Pop culture helps me make connections with students,“ he said. ”It’s a common language, a touchstone in a society that is more and fragmented.“
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