The Sociological Matrix

Julie C. DoddCOMP3134-R51-S12CProfessor Lydia Carter

March 14, 2012

The Sociological Matrix

The movie “The Matrix” covers several different sociological terms,

theories, and hypothesis. Sociology is the study of human social interaction.

Depending on how you look at this movie there are two primary forms of

social interaction (Dictionary, 2012). The first exists to those inside the

Matrix solely within the mind of the humanity. There is no real physical

social interaction as we would interact with other members of society like our

family or friends. The second occurs in a very physical social interaction

between characters that have escaped the Matrix and interact against the

Matrix.

The Matrix is a highly advanced

industrial, technical society, from a

functionalists perspective it is a highly

efficient, stable, and orderly society. Its

existence depends on the energy gained

from human brain functions which send

electrical pulses throughout our body and creates thermal discharges. The

Matrix manufactures humans, programs their reality, adds or removes

stimulation as needed to generate brain functions, and recycles humans

when they are all used up or burnt out.

In a very literal interpretation of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis computer

language shapes not only humanities understanding of reality, but their

pg. 2

reality itself. The Matrix uses its programming language to shape and

transform mankind’s world. If a bump or hiccup occurs, the Matrix just

modifies its program to suit its needs, constantly adapting and reshaping

reality for humankind. Everything that mankind learns, it learns from the

Matrix. So the Matrix ultimately chooses how humanity develops. While this

example is not what Sapir & Whorf meant when they came up with their

hypothesis that language shapes our reality (Marshall, 1998), in computer

terms it is a very realistic example.

“The Matrix” is written from a conflict perspective in that it is man

against machine. The Matrix and humanity are different distinct groups in a

constant struggle for control. The people of Zion are a counterculture that

rejects the society formed by the Matrix and struggle to free the rest of

humanity and to maintain their existence. Knowledge and skills are directly

programmed into the brain when needed not attained by years growing,

pg. 3

ageing, and learning in schools. It could be argued that since the Matrix

controls all humanities learning, interactions, and culture that it also created

the beginnings of this conflict or the desire to conflict. It could also be said

that the Matrix was conflicted between its own self-existence and being the

protector of humanity.

Neo experiences culture shock when he meets Morpheus. Morpheus

is the captain of the Nebuchadnezzar and leads

the crew on a mission to find the one foretold to

free humanity. Morpheus has spent his entire

existence searching the Matrix and frees Neo

because he believes that Neo is “the one”. Neo

is awakened to the reality of what his life has

been up to this point; an illusion, a dream, a

program running in the background of his mind. He is overwhelmed by the

knowledge that all his past experiences never really happened. Everything

he believed to be real and true was programmed into him by a machine, the

Matrix. Morpheus’s interaction with Neo from this moment on is an attempt

to convince and prove to Neo that his belief in him is true.

Cypher is a person who was previously freed from the

Matrix. He is cynical and jealous of Neo, jealous of the

bonds he quickly forms with the crew, and especially of the

fondness growing between Neo and Trinity. He betrays

pg. 4

humanity because he cannot have what he wants in the real physical world.

He strikes a deal with agents of the Matrix to hand over the crew of the

Nebuchadnezzar so they can find Zion and destroy the last human society in

exchange for reintegration into the matrix. He wants all his memories of real

life to be erased and a successful life filled with money, women, and bliss to

be programmed in its stead. He wants to live in the Matrix’s ideal society

completely unaware.

Neo faces a role conflict in that he believes he is just an ordinary

person, but Morpheus believes he is the one to free

humanity from the Matrix. The idea, nay belief that

Neo is the one to free humanity, is constantly handed

to him. Neo is relieved when Morpheus takes him to

see the Oracle who is supposed to be the oldest and

wisest among them, an ageism that all old people are wise and should be

revered and sought after for guidance (Macionis, Chapter 15: Agining and

the Elderly, 1995). She tells Neo “what he needs to hear”; confirming Neo’s

belief that he is just a man not the savior of mankind.

It isn’t until he is faced with an impossible situation that the Oracle

also foretold does he face his fears and begin

to believe. His doubts begin to fade as he

faces the enemy agents of the Matrix with

the aid of Trinity. He is able to perform

pg. 5

several seemingly impossible feats and when faced with death manages to

triumphs over it. The validation of his existence and his role in life is given to

him in a whisper of hope from Trinity. The Oracle had foretold she would fall

in love with the one to free humanity and she was in love with him. The

combined beliefs of Trinity, Morpheus, and the Oracle made him believe in

himself in a self-fulfilling prophecy (Definition, 2012).

I enjoyed this movie and have it in my home collection. I also enjoy

the simplistic complexities of computers. It is easy for me to see how this

movie could be dreamed up. Mankind is constantly advancing forward,

moving more, and more towards technology. The more we become

entranced by technology the more we tend to draw back from our physical

social interactions. It is far easier to communicate thoughts and ideas to a

blank screen that does not respond back than it is to face live people in

circumstances where we could face intimidation, rejection, anger, and fear.

pg. 6

Terms:Sociology - the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction,

and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings.

(Dictionary, 2012)

Functionalist – Functionalists seek to describe the different parts of a society

and their relationship through the organic analogy. The organic

analogy compared the different parts of a society to the organs of a

living organism. The organism was able to live, reproduce and function

through the organized system of its several parts and organs. Like a

biological organism, a society was able to maintain its essential

processes through the way that the different parts interacted together.

(Department of Anthropology, 2009)

pg. 7

Matrix - situation in which something develops: a situation or set of

circumstances that allows or encourages the origin, development, or

growth of something; in computing, a network of circuit parts such as

transistors and resistors (Dictionary, 2012)

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - argues that (to quote one of its authors) language

‘is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas, but is itself a

shaper of ideas, the program and guide for the individual's meaningful

activity’. In short, language determines (or shapes) our perceptions of

reality (Marshall, 1998).

Conflict theory - society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for

limited resources. Those who have perpetually try to increase their

wealth at the expense and suffering of those who have not (Cheney,

2009).

Counterculture - cultural patterns that strongly oppose conventional culture.

Members of countercultures are likely to question the morality of the

majority group and engage in some form of protest activities (Macionis,

Chapter 3: Culture, 1995).

Culture shock - the personal disorientation accompanying exposure to an

unfamiliar way of life (Macionis, Chapter 3: Culture, 1995)

pg. 8

Role conflict - the incompatibility among roles corresponding to two or more

statuses (Macionis, Chapter 6: Social Interaction in Everyday Life,

1995)

Ageism - prejudice and discrimination against the elderly (Macionis, Chapter

15: Agining and the Elderly, 1995)

Self-fulfilling prophecy - any positive or negative expectation about

circumstances, events, or people that may affect a person's behavior

toward them in a manner that causes those expectations to be fulfilled

(Definition, 2012).

pg. 9

Works Cited

Cheney, P. (2009). Chapter 03 - Social Theories. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Intro to Sociology.

Definition. (2012). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Business Dictionary.com: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/self-fulfilling-prophecy.html

Department of Anthropology. (2009). Anthropological Theories. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from The University of Alabama: http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php?culture=Functionalism

Dictionary. (2012, March 7). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Merriam-Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sociology

Dictionary. (2012). Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Bing: http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+matrix

Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 15: Agining and the Elderly. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Sociology: http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter15/objectives/deluxe-content.html

Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 3: Culture. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Sociology: http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter3/objectives/deluxe-content.html

Macionis, J. J. (1995). Chapter 6: Social Interaction in Everyday Life. Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Sociology: http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/macionis7/chapter6/objectives/deluxe-content.html

Marshall, G. (1998). Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. (A Dictionary of Sociology) Retrieved March 14, 2012, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Theory_of_linguistic_relativity.aspx

pg. 10