Memories of the Alhambra (2018)

DECODING MEMORIES OF THE ALHAMBRA: ECHOES OF THE MATRIX (Abbreviated Version)

Part I - Memories of the Alhambra (MOTA) echoes Matrix not only because it is an action filled science fiction thriller, but because it is a fable whose main characters possess similar purposes. Kdrama’s first foray utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) is an ambitious project for a television drama and a refreshingly philosophical and spiritual treasure. While Matrix is a story about control and authority, MOTA serves as a treatise on human behavior. MOTA advances the idea that man must transcend his lower nature by knowing himself in order to benefit the greater good.

MOTA IS A PHILOSOPHICAL. RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL TRILOGY
This hauntingly beautiful drama pairs a video game with AR triggering several philosophical questions as did Matrix. MOTA stealthily delves into branches of philosophy (i.e.- metaphysics, epistemology, axiology and logic). Similar to Matrix, it tackles religious ideology, referencing Christianity and Islam, and employs religious symbolism and iconography. Though the religious symbolism seems very surface initially, a detailed review reveals the brilliance of pairing state of the art technological concepts with ancient principles and wisdom. Gleaned and preserved by Greek philosophers, this knowledge from the Ancient Egyptian Mystery System was eventually carried into Spain by the Moors, who brought Europe out of the Dark Ages. This makes the fact that the drama is initially set in Spain very appropriate.
Just as Song meshes several genre, themes and religions, the screenwriter interlocks the philosophical ideas, such that you cannot consider one without the other. The spiritual ideas are woven seamlessly into the story. Following is an example of the metaphysics used in the drama:
The AR game’s world and the real world of the drama begs questions about the rules of the AR game and its impact on the real world. When questioning rules, we are in the territory of metaphysics. MOTA wastes no time in immersing the audience in a guessing game. Just as the IT Manager Choi Yang Ju, Master Jung Seeju and Yoo Jinwoo, begin to ask how certain things are possible, the audience too questions possibilities when Seeju and Jinwoo interact with the game. Jinwoo presents the audience a third world to be concerned with, that of the “crazy,” which has its on rules.

Part II - MOTA v. Matrix - Characters in MOTA share some of the same features as characters in the Matrix. Jinwoo is MOTA’s Thomas Anderson/NEO. Albeit fearful and youthful Jung Seeju the maker of the game represents the Architect; the teenage Jung Minju represents the Oracle in the real world; Jung Heejoo represents the sacred feminine energy similar to Trinity; and instead of a self-composed, regal Morpheus, the quirky IT Manager Choi serves as Jinwoo’s mentor. Following are a few example of how MOTA echoes Matrix:
1. Jinwoo is “The One”, it’s spelled out in plain sight with his company name, JOne, just as Neo is the One if you change the letters around in his name;
2. When we are first introduced to Jinwoo, he is awakened from sleep by a telephone call. In the Matrix, Thomas Anderson/Neo is shown as being asleep at the beginning of the movie. Sleep symbolizes a state of unawareness or unconsciousness.
3. When Jinwoo was sedated after his injury, Minju tells Jinwoo that he only wanted Heejoo to care for him, no one else. So, in his unconscious state Jinwoo knew how important it was for him to be with Heejoo, but he did not know the reason. Minju also told Jinwoo that she had given him a new nickname, the Master, just as The Oracle talked to Neo about being the One.

Part III - SPIRITUAL MUSINGS: MYSTERY SYSTEMS
So, is MOTA an allegory? Does it have a meaning? In order to make a determination as to whether it has a meaning or not it is necessary to review the symbolism in MOTA. Ancient Egypt birthed the seven Hermetic Laws and teachings of virtues. This too is where we can find knowledge cultivated by secret societies. It is within this information that we decode the meaning of MOTA:

1. Jinwoo inserting the JOne contact lens into his right eye brings to mind Neo peering from his apartment, #101, using his right eye. In Ancient Egypt, the right eye is “The Eye of Ra” a powerful destructive force of the sun. IT Manager Choi asks Jinwoo when he removes the lens, “is it hot?”. On the other hand the left eye is depicted as the “Eye of Horus,” “the all-seeing eye,” of protection. The all-seeing eye sees into the spirit world. So, obviously the JOne lenses represent the all-seeing eye and sees into the AR game world, the spirit world.
2. Jinwoo Knocked off His Square - A square is composed of four 90 degree angles. The four angles equal 360 degrees. In some secret societies it signifies the foundation of all knowledge. In Ancient Egypt, it is also said to represent the higher and lower nature. At the beginning of the drama, after Jinwoo arrives in Granada to test the game, wearing the lenses, Jinwoo watches an Aragon Warrior ride up to him on a horse. The Warrior has been shot in the back with six arrows and falls dead from the horse. The horse with its four legs epitomizes the square. The warrior riding the horse symbolizes a man that has risen above and overcame his lower nature. Obviously, him falling off the horse signifies him having succumbed to his lower nature. This event serves as an omen for Jinwoo. It signifies Jinwoo losing his ability to control his lower nature. In the drama the number six arises at least three times. As stated the Aragon Warrior had six arrows in his back, Jinwoo’s, room number 601, at the hostel is on the sixth floor, and when he and Hyeon-Seok (his old friend and enemy) prepare to duel he mentions that they have had six challenges. Jinwoo eventually falls the six flights down. Once again, the sixes operate as a warning. In some sacred circles, the sum total 666 equals the lower nature. In the Bible six is considered a sign of human weakness and sin.
3. Like Trinity in the Matrix, Heejoo provides the compassion and love that can only be given by the sacred feminine energy that Jinwoo seeks and needs in order to transcend his lower nature. Heejoo is passive and emotional, unlike Trinity, but both women stay in distress in the respective movies. Heejoo worries, runs and cries though out MOTA. Law of Opposites – Principle of Polarity, it is necessary to point-out that MOTA cannot be told without a romance. Some viewers of the drama state that they felt the romance was unnecessary, because they were more interested in the AR game. Heejoo symbolizes the feminine principle and is Jinwoo’s opposite. Throughout the drama on several occasions, Heejoo and Jinwoo stood opposite of and staring at each other. Heejoo embodied the compassion and love that Jinwoo sought. It was when Jinwoo kissed Heejoo for the first time that he accepted love and started operating based upon his heart.

There is more symbolism in MOTA, for example the injuring of Jinwoo's left leg, etc. that tell us about this very thought-provoking drama. Actors, Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye provided excellent performances. My criticisms are that we needed to see more of Park Shin Hye's character in action and explanations for the unexplained phenomena.
I believe this drama is underrated, because several people do not understand its meaning, which goes beyond the AR game. I definitely recommend watching MOTA.

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