Matrixmatrixmatrix

[gfish]

I'm not going to bother saying too much about Revolutions, except I seem to be in the minority by thinking it was quite good. (The first 15 minutes are pretty choppy, but it gets better.) (Oh and a little non-spoiler rant: AAAAAAAAA PLEASE DON'T GRIND THE EXPLOSIVES IN A METAL MORTAR WITH A METAL PESTLE!)

I've been thinking more about Zion's power structure. I still like the image of the elite manipulating the religion of the plebians to form power structures based on the popularity of their personal cult. This led me to something important while watching Revolutions: The most powerful people we see in Zion all have jacks, but their children won't. Unable to enter the matrix, they would be prevented from holding many positions. Unable to learn new skills instantly, they would be at an amazing disadvantage compared to fresh recruits. Likewise, the powerful are all first generation freed humans. Their only connection to Zion is one of desperation, with little to no cultural values shared with the people around them. Terminal cases of future shock.

These would have to have profound sociological implications. What priority would education get, if the children of the elite never have a chance of being powerful themselves? How much of the stability and self-improvement of civilization is due to power people wanting their children to be powerful? How much of it is due to the powerful feeling a deep and personal connection to their society? I don't know, but I suspect quite a bit. Zion would have none of that.

So the question is, are there positions of power for people without jacks? Is it established either way if the council members have jacks? I'll note that they seem remarkably willing to leave the ship captain's autonomy untouched. I'm completely unclear on what the relationship there actually is, much less what it is supposed to be.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

That sounds to me like an innately unstable situation, ripe for revolution... except that they have such an overwhelming threat facing them that they cannot afford squabbling.

Depending on the metal, it might be better to use metal than ceramic. Definitely do not use copper or silver with any acetylide or fulminate derivatives, though.

[adularia.livejournal.com]

I thought it was ceramic. xmurf commented that it could be granite. Zee's not that bright, but not THAT dumb.

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Revolutions much more than Reloaded, in that there was a lot more narrative tension and some really great scenes. The Merovingian does, indeed, throw a better class of rave. And the actor playing the guy possessed by Agent Smith did an amazing job of impersonating Hugo Weaving as Smith.

I was frustrated, however, because Reloaded made it pretty clear that Zion and everything else is as fake as the Matrix. So who cares what happens? And, if it isn't fake, we're back to: what is the history we don't know that allows Neo to blow up machines with his mind? I certainly can't do that.

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. That's an interesting point you make about Zion society, assuming that it's real enough to be worth discussing. I can't say that I'd noticed that dichotomy when I watched the movies.

What I wonder is why Cipher didn't quit the army and stay there if he was sick of fighting the war? What about this society, which was real as far as he knew, made it so much less appealing than the Matrix that he commited treason to get back? (I know, jealousy played a role, but something kept him on the Nebuchadnezzer despite his loathing for it.)