The Matrix Relaundered

In the 1999 film, “The Matrix,” we are introduced to a world in which AI has enslaved humanity with an immersive simulated reality. Nearly all humans are unaware that human civilisation was destroyed long ago. But the movie’s heroes do, and their mission is to wake humanity up.

In the 2003 film, “The Matrix reloaded,” we learn that humans have actually had the choice to wake up all along. The fact that they have free will is what allows them to accept their prison. Other versions of the matrix cause revolts. Only a small number do rebel — a small price to pay for the otherwise smooth operation of the Matrix.

I live in a low-income neighbourhood whose residents are terrified of being driven out of their flats by gentrification. There have been plenty of protests and banners. One sign of the outcome is the construction of a series of Lego-style buildings, the flagship of which has an appearance that can only be described as, “The Ministry of Truth.”

If you want to know who the heroes of the gentrification war are, follow the sounds of chanting. If you want to know who is winning the war, you’ll need to look in the registry of deeds and the tax office. That doesn’t mean heroes are irrelevant; they are actually a critical part of the gentrification process. If protests were forbidden, there would be a risk of escalation and real property damage. Given the choice of protest, few choose to do so. The few protesters that exist are a small price to pay for the otherwise smooth operation of capitalism.

This is the most chilling realisation for a young person to make, and arguably, the point after which one is no longer young.