Sensing Transgender: The film The Matrix as Trans Masterpiece

Cáel M. Keegan PhD, Discussant Francisco Gonzalez MD, Moderator Reyna Cowan, PsyD, LCSW

Friday Oct 8, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

When The Matrix (1999) exploded onto movie screens at the end of the 20th century, no one could have predicted how deeply its storytelling and special effects would become woven into popular culture. Twenty years after its release, references to The Matrix are everywhere. From music videos, to memes, to scripted television, to alt-right chat rooms, The Matrix is indeed "all around us." And yet, the meaning of The Matrix continues to evolve: What audiences initially experienced as a dystopian sci-fi epic now appears to predict the rise of 21st century transgender politics. This talk revisits The Matrix as a trans-authored masterpiece, one that offers today's audiences a surprisingly radical vision of transgender liberation.

CE Credits offered: 1.5

Course Objectives

After completing this course participants will be able to:

1. To develop a basic framework for how psychoanalytic theory speaks to questions of gender and sexuality
2. To establish some foundational concerns of trans studies, and explore its resonances and tensions with psychoanalysis

pincsf.org/events – 415-288-4050 — 530 Bush St, Suite 700, SF CA USA — pincsf@gmail.com

The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PINC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Visit pincsf.org/policies for policies and disclaimers.