The Matrix: Links
Associate
Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology
I am
compiling the “best” links I can find that explore the worldview of The
Matrix. The discussion guides and articles listed below deal with biblical,
theological, and philosophical matters. Please send your suggestions to me at: gmatties@cmu.ca
·
Read Mercer
Schuchardt, “The Matrix – We’re Caught in a Trap and We Can’t Walk Out”. A
Shoot-the-Messenger Review.
·
“The
Matrix Revolutions” and the irrationality of God,” by Steve Lansingh
·
Preaching
Peace in Hollywood: on mimetic theory and The Matrix, The Lord of
the Rings, Terminator 3.
·
The Matrix:
Discussion and Bible Study. Ideabank 03/2000.
·
The Matrix Movie Discussion
Sheet. Click on the reviews link on the right side of the
page.
·
Jonathan Stanton-Humphreys, A Discussion Guide
·
A Discussion between Peter
Chattaway and Don Smith . The conversation covers three topics: Neo's role
as a Christ figure, the many religious references in the film, and the ethics
of the film with respect to reality, truth, and faith.
·
James L. Ford, “Buddhism,
Christianity, and The Matrix: The Dialectic of Myth-Making in
Contemporary Cinema,” Journal
of Religion and Film Vol. 4, No. 2 - 2000.
This essay analyses the film from the perspective of contemporary myth-making.
It explores the resonance between the movie and the fourth century (CE)
philosophical school of Buddhism known as Yogacara.
·
Read Mercer Schuchardt, “Identity in a
Paradox World”. A creative, interactive site.
·
Doug
Mann and Heidi Hochenedel, “Evil Demons, Saviors, and Simulacra in The Matrix”.
This essay explores the philosophical trajectories arising from R. Descartes
and J. Baudrillard.
·
Paul
Fontana, “Generation Exile and Neo Restoration: A Study of Messianic Hope in
the Matrix.” An extensive essay written by someone connected to Harvard
Divinity School. The first part of the essay applies micro-analysis to the
film’s Christian symbolism. The second part applies macro-analysis by
interpreting the whole film in the light of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic
expectation.
·
The Matrix: A Cyberpunk Parable. This and the next
link are identical, but in different formats. The second one allows you to
access the article (which is 56 pages long) section by section.
·
The Matrix as Cyber-Punk
Parable
·
The Matrix as Messiah
Movie: Neo/Christ Parallels in The Matrix. This site is
part of a web-ring, which allows you to move to a variety of Matrix sites, many
of which take an allegorical approach to interpreting the movie. Click here for an Introduction to those sites.
·
Dave Hart, “Matrix Theology”
·
The Matrix: Warner Brothers’ Home
Page
·
Dew’s
Matrix Fan Page. Includes a variety of Matrix links,
suggestions for discussion, essay topics, and articles (e.g. names, numbers, religious
symbolism, themes, concepts, colors, Plato’s allegory of the cave and the
Matrix, character analysis, The Matrix transcript, etc.). See Dew’s statement
of purpose.