Superheroes, Salvation & the Architects of Utopia

Throughout time, people have dreamed of utopias or ideal communities beyond their current realities. Whether it is in the form of ancient legends, cartoons, literature or films such as The Matrix, the longing for a hero and a better world is a common sentiment among the religious and non-religious, especially during times of personal and national crisis. Visions of ideal societies have offered hope to the despondent. They have influenced the establishment of colonies, cities, immigration patterns and the aspirations of marginalized people around the world. However, utopias seldom turn out to be such ideal paradigms, as The Autobiography of Moon County reveals. Utopian enterprises often morph into dystopias due to bad leadership and ideology, especially when they combine to personalize problems rooted in politics and policy. This Matrix Map will provide opportunities for you to explore various utopian arrangements, both real and imagined, and why they succeed or fail. Also, it reveals how heroism, faith and hope continue to assuage discontent and inspire re-creations in spite of a long record of global tragedy.