Ulrich Beck's Risk In The Matrix

Ulrich Beck's risk society is composed of two parts, one in which social institutions are responsible for spreading the consciousness of risk and another in which populations become complacent to risk allowing the risk to further pervade their lives due to. In the film, The Matrix film technology produces risk through its revolt against its creators which led to the enslavement of man and use of their "bioelectricity" to power machines. This risk is unknown to many who like Neo believe they are living in the year 1999 which is when the war initially begins. Within the matrix, the illusion created by machines, there is no consciousness of risk and although the general population is unaware the risk still exists despite their ignorance. This
is shown through their dependence on technology which according to Morpheus makes the population their "slaves". I believe the writers of The Matrix intended to make a statement about the use of technology and the risks of becoming complacent or overly dependent on technologies. Although this idea was executed in a specific way with the creative license for the sake of the medium I believe the writers would adree Ulrich Beck's use of risk society aligns with a less intense version of The Matrix. The shift of Neo's perspective after he swallows the red pill would be what Beck refers to as the foundations of life or the ways one thinks about risks and life after risk. Where Neo once viewed technology as something that he manipulated this realization shifts as he realizes his entire life has ben constructed by technology. As for his life, by the end of the film, Neo has assumed the role of the chosen one and committed to defeating the machines which are miles from his position as a mild manner programmer in the beginning.