As communication technologies evolved so have media formats and the entertainment industry (Wang, Yueh-yu Yeh, 2005). From the late 1990s to the early 2000’s the distribution of VHS and DVDs allowed culture to be transported globally, which allowed international media to influence Hollywood productions at a greater rate (Morris, 2004). This growing interest in international media influenced American productions, such as the blockbuster Matrix films. Cultural globalization has influenced Hollywood productions as evidenced by Asian media influencing the creation and development of The Matrix. Cultural globalization and hybridity themes such as multiculturalism influenced the Matrix’s casting, references, and plot points. Furthermore, the Matrix films became an international success in part due to utilizing cultural globalization to appeal to international audiences. Technology has created multiple distribution formats for media, which has allowed for a quicker spread of content across the globe. These distribution formats have led to numerous foreign influences on Hollywood to the point where action cinema becomes an amalgamation of international media.
International Media Influencing ‘The Matrix’
Asian media has been influential in cultural globalization, as evidenced by the internationally successful Matrix films. For instance, ‘The Matrix’ based its iconic stylization and cinematography on various Hong Kong productions, most notably the films of John Woo. The Matrix’s directors, sisters Lily and Lana Wachowski, credit John Woo and Asian media with influencing their film as they stated, “[A] Friend of ours asked us to come up with a concept for a comic book. We Like Kung Fu Movies. We like Japanimation. We like you know John Woo movies and books that are you know science fiction, that’s about the sort of nature of reality.” (Oreck, 1999). The Wachowski’s incorporated Woo’s trademark style into The Matrix, such as by replicating Woo’s style of repeating scenes, slow-motion, and wirework paired with shootouts (Xu, 2010). Woo’s film's wirework was so influential that the Wachowski’s hired renowned Hong Kong choreographer Yeun Woo-Ping to choreograph The Matrix’s action sequences (Blake, 2007). Moreover, The Matrix highlights the circular nature of hybridization in media. While it is true that the Wachowski’s were influenced by John Woo, he was also heavily inspired by Hollywood films (Kehr, 2002). Wachowski’s and Woo’s collaboration is indicative of Hollywood and international media’s symbiotic relationship. Asian and western media have inspired each other throughout cinema’s history, such as samurai and western films trading story elements and visual compositions from each respective genre. For example, the iconic Japanese film, The Seven Samurai, was remade into an American western film, ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (Franich, 2018). The cross-pollination of Eastern and Western influences of The Matrix is another incarnation of how various forms of media trade off cultural influences.
The Matrix was also heavily influenced by the science fiction subgenre cyberpunk popularized by Japanese media (Patten, 2003). First, Cyberpunk is a science fiction subgenre that depicts dystopian and urban societies in which advanced technology is used to control citizens (Chu, 2018). Akira’s manga and anime films were heavily influential in creating Japanese Cyberpunk in 1982, with anime’s such as Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop further popularizing this sub-genre (Chu, 2018). Japanese Cyberpunk influences on The Matrix were so prominent that many noted the similarities between popular cyberpunk anime and manga upon the film’s release (Choo, 2009). One such influence was Akira, which depicts a police-state Japan that controls citizens through technology. In The Matrix, the police state is represented as ‘Agents’ that are machines disguised as humans who seek to keep society under machines’ control. In addition, the Matrix was also heavily influenced by the anime Ghost in the Shell. For example, the Matrix’s iconic binary code imagery was lifted from Ghost in The Shell (Choo, 2009). Also, biotechnological enhancement, imperialism, and technology’s philosophy are significant themes in both Ghost in the Shell and The Matrix. Both films analyze the ethical implications of creating machines with ‘souls’ through artificial intelligence and depict humans struggling to identify what separates them from a machine (Choo, 2009). Anime’s impact on Matrix’s creation and development was so great that during the film’s promotional tour in Japan the Wachowskis made met with the Japanese creators by whom they were inspired (Patten, 2003). Anime’s influence on the Matrix was further evidenced by the Wachowski sisters developing a series of anime short films with the filmmakers that helped inspire their film, such as the filmmakers of Akira and Cowboy Bebop (Patten, 2003). The Matrix’s influences reflect multiple cultures instead of just one (Patten, 2003). Whether it be Manga, Anime, or Hong Kong cinema’s stylings, the culmination of influences within the Matrix has created a product mostly consistent with global appeal due to its vast international influences.
The Themes of Cultural Globalization and Hybridity in The Matrix
The Matrix’s casting, references, and plot points reflect cultural globalization themes, such as multiculturalism and hybridization. The Matrix is a hybrid product of multiple cultures due to the wide range of influences that came together. The Matrix is a representation of multiculturalism as depicted by the film's battle against ‘Agents’ and their quest for mono-culturalism. The film utilizes technology to represent fears of oppression, conformity, and enslavement by a dominant group. For example, the film’s protagonists consist of a diverse group of people with the lead characters consisting of a biracial man, a woman, and an African American man, while the villainous Agents are depicted as cisgender white men to represent the threat of forced conformity as they strive to dominate the world and make it homogenous. The Matrix also depicts the last human city as a multicultural and diverse society that contrasts with the Matrix’s homogenous dystopia (Blake, 2007). Also, having a group of characters representing a diverse society appeals to a greater audience by representing cultural globalization. Moreover, Hybridity occurs within the Matrix as the film adopted many cultures due to globalization’s increased spread and distribution of foreign products (Kraidy, 2002). Hybridization is also reflected in the scoring and soundtrack of the Matrix. For example, the Matrix’s score, created by Don Davis, is an ambitious hybrid of modernist classical with indie rock, dance and metal influences (Blake, 2007). Juno Reactor, a trace/ambient band consisting of South African musicians and British frontman Ben Watkins, is credited with contributing to the soundtrack, including additional music for the third Matrix film (Blake, 2007). The climax of the third film combines electronic dance beats with an Indian choir singing in Sanskirt from a Hindu sacred text, Upanishads (Blake, 2007). The Matrix represents hybridization and globalization because how the movie reflects many of the concerns that had spurred from fears of homogenization and how the film has become a product of a variety of cultures in creating a hybrid entity.
While the Matrix was expected to be a modest American success, it surpassed expectations and became a global phenomenon. For example, the film amassed revenue of roughly 500 million worldwide despite being made on a 60-million-dollar budget. This success is partly due to how many cultures and demographics could identify with The Matrix as the variety of media that influenced the creation of The Matrix allowed it to have a global appeal. The Matrix’s international influences allowed the film to cross-cultural boundaries as the film pulls from various cultural influences to the point where it’s not specific to one culture (Wang, Yueh-yu Yeh, 2005). Action cinema still reflects wirework and choreography in America through the John Wick Series and the many superhero films that have dominated the landscape. As time has gone by, the influence of The Matrix has become what is expected in Hollywood; it will remain curious how the series will update themes and consequences to reflect modern times.
When creating the Matrix films the Wachowski’s used various transcultural influences to make a film that would evoke conversations regarding humanity and agency in a digital world. To achieve their vision, the duo incorporated Hong Kong cinema and Anime concepts and imagery into their film. This amalgamation of cultures allowed the Matrix to reflect humanity’s multicultural identity as evidenced by the film’s antagonist representing fears of a society built on homogeneity instead of diversity. Moreover, North American audiences’ content displays a form of hybridity spawning from the numerous influences reflected in their domestic media outputs, to the point where the number of cultures that influenced the Wachowski’s have also been influenced by American cinema. Films serve as a reflection of the filmmakers, mixing various elements and concepts they have taken to create something new. Just like John Woo Americanized his name to appeal to American audiences, the Wachowski’s used his styling to showcase what American action films can be (Kehr, 2002). By drawing upon philosophical themes and iconic Asian media The Matrix forever changed how American filmmakers create action films.
References
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