In class BCM325, we have once again been asked to analyse two films in the context of course content and themes. These two films being Mamoru Oshii’s animated Sci-Fi masterpiece, Ghost in the Shell, and the Wachowski’s 1999 mind-bending and ground-breaking blockbuster, The Matrix. These two films explore similar themes of AI and share the same cyberpunk DNA (The Matrix even pays homage to Ghost in the Shell with the famous green coding opening).
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Firstly, we were asked to watch Ghost in the Shell, and view it through a lens of the Cyborg. The theme of cyborgs and cybernetics as a whole is a great topic to view this film through. The core of this movie is cybernetics. Cybernetics and our ever evolving technology can spread through all aspects of our individual and social lives meaning it is apart of us now whether we like it or not. Ghost in the Shell asks us, is this a next stage in human biology or are we becoming less human because of it? Here is what I had to say about it:
- 1 iconic “making of cyborg” opening credits show the “shell” being made, bringing to mind the ship of Theseus thought experiment, are we really human if our body is completely cybernetic/artificial? What makes us human? A soul/ghost?
- 2 The title perfectly describes what Kusanagi is, Ghost in the Shell, the shell being her completely cybernetic body including her brain and the ghost being her consciousness. Does this still make her human?
- 3 A scary thought to imagine the idea of someone being able to hack into someone else’s consciousness.
- 4 I told ChatGPT that I’m currently watching ghost in the shell and its brings to mind the ship of Theseus , I asked what is your opinion on being human if your body is fully cybernetic?
- ChatGPT – The Ship of Theseus is a classic philosophical problem that raises questions about identity, continuity, and change. In the case of Ghost in the Shell and the idea of having a fully cybernetic body, similar questions arise about what it means to be human. From a philosophical standpoint, being human often involves a combination of physical, psychological, and social elements. These elements include having a biological body, consciousness, emotions, relationships, and a sense of self. If one were to replace their entire biological body with cybernetic components, it raises questions about whether they would still retain their humanity. Some might argue that as long as the individual retains their consciousness, memories, emotions, and ability to interact with others in a meaningful way, they would still be considered human. Others might argue that the loss of the biological body fundamentally changes the essence of humanity, as there is a unique connection between our physical bodies and our identities. In the world of Ghost in the Shell, the characters grapple with these questions as they navigate a future where technology blurs the lines between human and machine. Major Motoko Kusanagi, for example, struggles with her own identity as a cyborg and what it means for her to be human. Ultimately, the answer to whether one can remain human with a fully cybernetic body is subjective and may vary depending on individual perspectives and philosophical beliefs. It’s a question that invites deep contemplation about the nature of humanity, identity, and the impact of technology on our understanding of ourselves.
- 5 touching back on this after the puppet master hacked into the garbage mans ghost. The ability to simulate dreams and create an entire false past for someone make this idea all the more scarier. In a world like this id wonder why every human wouldn’t be going through an existential crisis. Not only having to deal with the fact people are becoming more machine than human, biologically at least, but the idea that your very existence could be a false reality.
- 6 I love this shot and what Kusanagi says after it. Even though her body is 100% cybernetic, she still has human emotions. Fear, anxiety, isolation and hope. When she floats to the surface she imagines becoming someone else which she has already done by giving up her original body, but yet something still remains that makes Kusanagi, Kusanagi.
- 7 The puppet master doesn’t even have a body, is purely consciousness that hacks into minds and uses them for his own purposes. Would this make him an evolved human? If Kusanagi can still be considered human what would that make The puppet master?
- 8 “longing to remain yourself will constrict you” Does the absence of individuality make Kusanagi less human or just a higher evolved one?
- 9 Modern cybernetics like neural link come to mind when looking at and hearing Kusanagi communicate without speaking as well as being constantly connected to the net. Cochlear implants are another example of modern cybernetics.
- 10 The puppet master states its form is incomplete as it cannot reproduce or die. it wants to be diverse and individual, It seems its longing for death shows its desire to be human.
I’m actually quite proud of my analysis of this movie. I absolutely love and adore Ghost in the Shell and will often come back and revisit it pretty often. Its such a heady and existential watch and looking back at my analysis I can really tell how much I engage with the ideas of not just the movie, but the theme of cyborgs as well. The Ship of Theseus point I brought up as well as ChatGPT’s response to the prompt I gave it sums up my overall interpretation of the film and its themes. If the major has replaced all biological components of her body and replaced them with a fully cybernetic one, does that still make her human? Is being human more than just having a biologically human body? Is a soul or consciousness or “ghost” what makes us human? Is the major still the same major because she has kept her ghost? These are all extremely engaging questions which are so interesting to explore. As I state in a later comment, Kusanagi still has human emotions ie fear, anxiety, and hope, so in essence, I still consider her human. This is what makes this film such an interesting watch and why the viewing point of cyborgs is so engaging to watch it through. The lines between what makes someone human becomes increasingly blurred, and with our ever evolving landscape of technology, this movie becomes more prominent in the conversation.
The Matrix
The second film we were asked to watch was The Matrix. The concept we viewed this film through was that of the “decision”. Decisions are a key aspect of this film, the red and blue pill are core to our hero’s journey, and the subsequent decisions of breaking free of the AI controlled world he was living in. Here is what I had to say about it:
- 1 Reality is questioned in this 1999 dystopian sci fi blockbuster directed by the Wachowskis, which still has a lasting effect on not only the cinema of today, but on people’s philosophies and world views.
- 2 The book Neo hides things in is titled Simulacra and Simulations, A theme heavily explored in the film. The idea that we are just living in a simulation and our current reality is not our actual reality. This coupled with the line “do you ever feel like you’re not sure if you’re awake or still dreaming” is a strong introduction to simulation theory. The idea that humans are likely living in an extremely powerful computer program, directed by an entity outside of our physical comprehension. Considering this film came out 1999 at the dawn of the internet and was already dealing with this theme is impressive.
- 3 The simulated reality of the matrix can be seen as a mirror to not only 1999 but our current world, with people feeling like they’re stuck in a world that they don’t belong in and which feels unreal. Emphasized by the color palette and the production design, we are (as we were back in 1999) stuck in a world that puts monetary gain over all else. It’s no wonder people believe this can’t be our reality.
- 4 The dichotomy between the red and blue pill is amazing and is still used in metaphorical terms to this day. A choice between a blissfully ignorant “reality” and a painful truth of seeing the world for what it really is.
- 5 The choice of free will and determinism. Neo’s journey so far has been that of gaining free will in a world that chains us with determinism through vices and distractions.
- 6 I love that the film uses Alice in Wonderland as a metaphor for the film’s actual reality. Following the white rabbit, the rabbithole, and the actual reality.
- 7 On a side note, I’d have the biggest existential crisis and panic attack of my fucking life if I watched this movie high
- 8 Neo waking and seeing the real world, Humans being used as energy sources. From slavery in one world in the form of monetary exploitation through taxes and debt to harvesting the energy from every human being. Same but different.
- 9 A heap of cyberpunk themes here. The aesthetics of the real world, the ship, hacking, the construct which allows hackers in the simulation to gain enhanced abilities. AI is also a key theme here with it playing the main antagonist
- 10 Unchecked artificial intelligence grew into something uncontrollable and threw the world into chaos. Without the energy (solar power) from the sun they now use humans for energy sources. Once again for a movie made in 1999 to be dealing with these themes when in 2024 we have the advancements of AI is crazy.
Once again, I’m pretty happy with what I had to say during my live analysis. The dichotomy of the red and blue pill and how that metaphor is still used to this day to describe reality and ignorance. I also love the choice of free will comment I brought up. Once again, this touches on the decisions topic we viewed this film through, and how Neo’s choice to undergo a journey to discover reality, and in turn himself and his place in the world, instead of staying in a blissfully ignorant false reality. Being a huge fan of cinematography and production design, I brought up the colour palette of the film and how it reflects the lifeless nature of the matrix and the way it places profits over all else, just like the current world we live in. I do wish I touched more on the decisions topic and the arguments between free will and determinism, and overall the choices Neo makes but I at touched on the crucial one. The red and blue pill.
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