For the past several decades, technology has grown more advanced and at a very fast pace. With every new concept of technology, it is has been driven by the users- in other words, what would make it easier for the person using it; how could it benefit their daily activities. Ten years ago, people could only imagine the kind of technology we have today! Back then, we had an iPod for music, a mobile phone to only make calls and we had to use a computer for the internet. NOW we have all three devices all in ONE hand held device! HOW CONVENIENT !! The user then, could not have imagined that one day you could have what we have today, they were just thrilled that they had a way to talk, listen to music and search the internet.
Movies show this kinds of new and future technology that seemed so awesome yet unreal, and not possible to come to life. Knowing the kind of technology we have today, it was interesting watching Tron (1982) and The Matrix (1999) years after they were released. It has been over 34 years for Tron, and I find it incredible to see how advance technology has come along since then. These movies were, for sure, extremely advanced for their time. I try to imagine what it would have been like to watch Tron in 1982 for the first time, knowing only what people in the 80s knew. Just like the users 10 years ago with not knowing about the cell phones we have today, I would think that they would have also been mind blown. Watching the Matrix in 1999, was MUCH different than watching it 17 years later. The first time I watched it, I was amazed and in awe. It was pretty fascinating to re-watch it now that I am older, technology has advanced and I have better understanding of the computer and the internet; I have a whole new perspective on both of the movies. And I find it amazing how the movies are almost 20 years apart, on the surface they seem completely different, yet they share very similar themes.
Tron vs. Matrix Common Themes:
Thinking of the users, both movies circled around the concept of a generative system. I understood that the idea of a “generative system” was very important to the characters in both movies. In other words they desired to have an open network, program or system also known as freedom. Freedom to share information, control your own characters, free to chose your own life, etc. In Tron and The Matrix, there was a superior program, or machine- could also be considered the Master Control Program (MCP) - that had ultimate control over how you controlled your character, or in the Matrix, the machine controlled your entire life.
Flynn, from Tron and Neo, from The Matrix both were the chosen hackers to make a generative system a possibility. Their job as hackers were to find a way to beat the program. Hackers can be viewed as stealers and have a bad reputation, but they are not all so bad. Tron and the Matrix showed how important hackers can be; they can be important because they create innovation. Neo and Flynn made it possible to share information, control your own characters, and free to chose your own life. Same goes for some of the hackers in the past several years. Because of hackers, the internet was created; made it free to the users. Now everyone can access information, access any type of information they want to and also share information.
Both movies are set in a Virtual World- a world that is an online community. Flynn and Neo are able to download software to enhance their characters as they interact with other characters in the virtual world. In 1982 and in 1999, the concept of a virtual world was not an idea that could have been grasped easily. It may have not even been a thought to a lot of people and just thought about as part of the movie. I remember when I watched the Matrix, I did not even understand that it was an alternate reality. BUT NOW, in 2016, virtual reality is possible. Technology has advance so much that we have suites that can make us believe we are actual in the game. It is incredible where technology is heading to! Just with in the last 30 years, from Tron, to the Matrix, to Now, who knows what we will have in the next 10 YEARS!
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