Paper 6: In need of Prayer

Kimberly Ferguson
Dr. Smith: Living in The Matrix
English 101/103 LIB 110
December 3, 2009.
Essay 6
Sleep Dealer is obviously influenced by The Matrix (among other films). What connections do you see to The Matrix and like films? What differences do you see? What do these differences say about issues of race (i.e. Sleep Dealer is ostensibly a Mexican production—what elements or themes in the film mark it “particularly Latino” or “particularly Mexican”? What does Sleep Dealer have to say about the rural life versus urban life?

Sleep Dealers is a 2008 Mexican science fiction film that was influenced by many other American films. From watching Sleep Dealers I have observed similarities from the film The Matrix as well as the story of The Allegory of the Cave. The largest similarity within Sleep Dealers and the Matrix was that the human beings within these 2 films found themselves plugging in to some type of network. After the main character (Memo) father dies he sets off to a city by the name of Tijuana to find work. Here he finds an illegal way to get the node that he will use to plug it transferred into his body. The node is needed in order for Memo to do the job where he has to plug in. To me the job that Memo does is similar to The Allegory of the Cave. Memo’s job entails being plugged in to a network for numerous hours, for so long sometimes the workers fall asleep. In the opening of the movie it looks as if there are people who are all dressed the same plugged in a large chamber being held captive. Memo then states “Sometimes I forgot where I was” and if they look some juice “One became blind”. This gives me the impression that this factory was some type of slave environment. The same way in which those in The Allegory of the cave were treated. Also the Military drone in Sleep Dealer can be compared to the Nebuchadnezzar in the Matrix.
The two films were not always similar. They also held differences between them. Other than subtitles and Spanish dialogue there were more differences among Sleep Dealer and The Matrix. The type of town or should I say setting is a main difference. Sleep dealers is set in a time period close to the one we now live in and in the Matrix it is said to be about 2199. The predominant race in the film Sleep dealers are Mexicans or Latinos living in rural areas. The all Mexican cast marks the film as a particularly Latino. This can be seen as another difference amongst the Matrix. The Matrix had a mostly Caucasian cast (except for Morpheus).
The beginning of Sleep Dealers was set in a rural area. And as the movie progresses that changes into something more urban. Memo easily adapts to this lifestyle since this is where he always wanted to be. At the beginning he always wanted to live somewhere else. And he would make machines to and he would listen to radio transactions or phones and what was going on in the other parts of the world. Through this I believe there was a point trying to be made. In sleep dealers it is seen that urban life is preferred opposed to the rural life. According to the film urban life is “The American Dream” and that is where everyone wants to be. Hence the reason for so many people plugging in to their jobs where there is “Labor without Laborers”. I also think the film was trying to portrait how Mexicans that come to America are labored but in a different manner.

Blog 10

Afterward, reflect back on your own writing process this semester and your draft in progress and report out here to your blog on the types of issues that research writers seem to face. What are the major issues and difficulties? How are they resolved?

During this semester in this course I have gone through a long road with essays and drafts. Recently I did a research project and the most difficult part of it all was finding a topic that you felt comfortable with and sticking with it. Once you actually have a topic of comfort you the next dilemma was analyzing your information and putting it into your own words.

Blog 9

Hmmm...My Final Project topic...

Honestly I am at a lost. I have a few ideas as to what I would like to do. I know I want to do something fun, cool, and interesting. But one of my main issues in doing this is T I M E. I don't have much spare time on my hands to do a project that will require alot of TLC [tender...love...care]. And I do not want to take the easy way out and so something typical and unentertaining. I know for sure I am doing a blog attached with some type of video to it. But I do not know if I want to do a documentary or like justa regular video. Other factors I need to consider for my project are like my resources. Where am I going to get the camera and people I need for my video. And also if I want special effects...This is alot to endure right now but I know have to think fast because before you know it is it will be time to hand in your projects.

Blog 8

Boundaries, Connections, Networks & Clocks

Over the past centuries "human society has moved from wandering tribes of close-knit global citizenry". Some physical boundaries that define me as a person are lotion, perfume, underwear, pants, shoes, shirts, jackets, make-up, watches, jewelery, accessories, and socks. Other Boundaries that can be said to define me as a person are my room, my home, and everything in it that is not electronic. Connections and Networks that penetrate my boundaries are bridges, tunnels, computers, electricity, doorways, and wires. I access the network of information and goods in my life through others. Time structures that dictate the regularity of my every day existence are clocks, schedules, and the sun. (This blog/ section to read was very confusing..as you can see I struggled with this blog)

Blog 7

FINALLY!!! I am done with my Midterm research project and power point. I am so glad to be done with it. I feel around 10 pounds lighter now that I have that burden off of my shoulders. It took a lot of work to get done and a lot of sacrifices. If I could go back in time and do it all again (even though this is something I do not want to to think about) I will probably choose someone or something of more interest and probably get started on my work quicker. Oprah was pretty bland and towards the end of the project I was so fed up of hearing her name. I do not think I will watch another Oprah show again. On a scale from 1-10 I believe I did about a 7...and I was highly upset that my power point decided to go haywire when it was time to present =[But once again I'm glad its over and pleaseeee...no do-overs thanks.=)

Blog 6

The movie “The Truman Show” is about a man whose entire life is a live 24/7/365 television that people watch daily. He never knew that he is being watched that is because he was led to believe that he is living a completely normal life with normal people when he is not. Truman lives on an Island named Seaheaven where all the people he thinks are real are indeed actors. At the end of it all Truman finally learns the truth about his life and from there he tries to leave the island. He has made a few unsuccessful tries but eventually he finally flees the island to begin his new life, one that does not include Seaheaven. Can Truman actually handle living a normal life after 30 years of being surrounded by untrustworthy actors? We all know Truman does not know exactly what to expect for the simple fact that he does not know anything else, but we do know he wants to expect a world with people are not going to lie and play pretend with him. In one way I believe that Truman will not be able to live a normal life is because to everyone else other than those living on the island look at Truman as a big celebrity. So instead of him exploring the world, doing things he has never done, and living a normal life he is going to get star treatment. Another reason I believe Truman will not like or be able to handle life on the other side of the door is because he probably wont be able to handle the reality of how everyday life goes. Other than the death of his father Truman’s life was pretty much perfect. Christof the creator of the Truman show said:

“Accept the reality of the world in which you are presented”

Only problem is that nothing about Truman’s life is real. I think the one thing Truman will enjoy about the reality is finding the woman he has always loved.

Blog 5

I believe every one's life is predetermined by special individual fate. I am not sure exactly why I believe that but I do. What I do not believe though is that your path towards your fate is predetermined. I believe that your life decisions and choices are all up to you but one way or another fate will come. In my life I believe I live free in someways but others I am oppressed by my family and society. In "Fate, Freedom, and Foreknowledge" by Theodore Schick Jr. he states "If you have to do something- if it is not in your power to do otherwise- then you are not free to do it." Which I believe is true within most of lives we live. Everyday we wake up either go to school or work all day, then go home and go to sleep to do it again tomorrow. None of this is really "our choice". After reading this section Schick has brought to my attention that in both The Matrix and the "real world" you are either being controlled by someone or something just in two different ways. So in that case there really is not any point in trying to escape from one or the other because either way your life is not truly up to you. Although in the Matrix it seems to be like it is.