Title: The Matrix
and the Alice Books
Author: Voicu
Mihnea Simandan
Genre:
non-fiction / movie studies / literary criticism
Synopsis:
The Matrix and the Alice Books presents aspects of
intertextuality in three primary sources: the script of the motion picture The
Matrix written by directors Andy and Larry Wachowski, and the books Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll.
Intertextuality is a set of relations with other texts,
which can include direct quotations, allusions, literary conventions,
imitation, parody and unconscious sources amongst others. In The Matrix there
are few explicit references to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
and Through the Looking-Glass.
This book by Voicu Mihnea Simandan presents both the
explicit references and the less direct ones, giving evidence from primary and
secondary sources. In doing so, it makes use of a literary construction
developed from Gérard Genette’s structuralist theory of transtextuality as a
framework to present how a web of intertextual relationships is clearly formed
between the Alice books and The Matrix.
Author’s bio
Voicu Mihnea Simandan is a Romanian writer and freelance
journalist who was born in 1978 in Arad, a small city in Transylvania. He has
published short stories, non-fiction, and books for children. He has been
calling Thailand home since 2002 and he has been a member of the Bangkok
Writers' Guild since 2009 and a member of AP Writers since 2012. He is now
teaching Language Arts and Social Studies at an international school in
Bangkok. His upcoming debut novel, The Buddha Head, a suspense thriller set in
Thailand, is scheduled for publication in late 2013. He loves archery, martial arts
and travelling.
Excerpt
“In The Matrix, Neo comes from the Oracle a bit disappointed
with what he had just found out, but Morpheus tries to show him the way: “Neo,
sooner or later, you’re going to realize, just as I did, that there’s a
difference between knowing the path... and walking the path...” Alice wakes up
only when she is ready to face the real world, just as Neo has to understand
that, in order to defeat the agents and end the war, he has to face his demons
and take control of his own life. […]
In The Matrix, Cypher confesses his regrets to Neo over
getting unplugged. “You know, I know what you’re thinking, because right now
I’m thinking the same thing. Actually, I’ve been thinking it ever since I got
here... Why, oh why, didn’t I take... the blue pill?” The repeated phrase shows
hesitation and the intensity of Cypher’s emotions. Neither Alice nor Cypher
understand the new world they have entered, and both have second thoughts about
remaining there. But, while Alice tries to unlock the secret of wonderland and
eventually is able to control it, just as Neo does in the end, Cypher betrays
his crew members in a desperate move to be reinserted into the Matrix.
Despite an ever-changing environment and logic, both Alice
and Neo continue to deal with the challenges that beset them. No prior
experience in wonderland or the Matrix can teach them about what to expect in
their next undertaking; nevertheless they manage to get through each encounter,
ready to face new situations.”
Giveaways:
For each tour stop, the author will give to the most
engaging commenter an e-copy of The Rage of a New Ancestor, a collection of
short stories set in Asia, where Voicu Mihnea Simandan also has one
contribution.
The author will be awarding a $10 grand prize to a randomly
chosen commenter during the course of the tour.
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