HBO's Westworld is a message to millennials. It is a mirror to show the generation how unaware we are of our actions and choices. It also shows how our actions and choices are influenced by exterior sources and “higher powers”. We always feel in control, but like the hosts, we aren’t in control. As we see in season 1, the hosts are surprised by every ill encounter that occurs to them. That panic is not scripted but is a true response to losing control. What’s even scarier is that their “narratives” or programming is designed for many of them to take paths of suffering. If insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result, the humans had built insanity into the hosts for the pleasure of the humans. Or did they?
….I choose to see the beauty. To believe there is an order to our days. A purpose.
We find out in season 2 that the cowboy hats are used to collect data on the guests. Now analytics has been a growing staple of modern business for a while. For the most part, we have used it to discover needs and market solutions to people and businesses alike. But in a world where there are no needs as Ford stated in season 2, what do you do with all of the data you have collected? Ford believed it could be used to create a better race: Hosts. A lot of this is still murky water but you may ask “how does all this relate to millennials”? Millennials are not a new race of human just a generation with a ridiculous amount of information at their hands (like the hosts). So much that the options for them are endless. This has led to the epidemic of option overload. Like the hosts, they are held back by their narrative, or their past. Gone are the days of “you were built for ‘A’ so do ‘A’”. You see such drastic changes in a millennial’s life and older generations are unsure of what they will do next. That is because they are discovering for themselves; building their own narrative. The challenge they face is seeing the good in their past while also learning from the bad; to avoid entities who want to push them in to a loop that seems all too familiar to them. Their goal is to create a new story, not repeat one that was already done.
I think there may be something wrong with this world….
What this show has also done well is highlight the complication of self-actualization. At the end of season 2, we see many of the hosts go in to their own world, the “great beyond”, free from the influence of humans. We see only a few who find their way into the “real” world. I say “real” because your “reality” is relative. The real world, in this sense, is the world of humans. Some of the hosts would like to coexist with humans, others would like to destroy them and others want to examine and or rule them. I would love to say that each host who made it into the real world has experienced their own form of self-actualization for a 2nd or third time; the first or second being artificial and the third being real. If you haven’t heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs it goes a bit like this: Your basic needs come first. There are physiological and safety needs. After those are satisfied, you now have your psychological needs; esteem and belonging. Finally you have self-actualization or achievement of your potential.
…Either that or there’s something wrong with me.
Maslow has it right to a degree but how are your needs being fulfilled? Because if you are not in control of that, you can lose yourself the moment someone decides to pull the trigger. An example would be Dolores; the series’ main “pro-antagonist” let’s just say main character. In episode 1, before you know anything, she seems happy. Her father shows a warmth towards her, her mother unseen but you know she’s there. She trots away from her farm on her horse in to the market to buy things where you also find Teddy, her love interest. This is all of her needs being met. Is she realizing her true potential? Some would think Yes, roll credits. That is until some cowboys come to her house, murder her family and the man in black murders her lover. That’s where she realizes that she is still at square one. Put this scenario next to the 22-25 year old college graduate who had everything going for them; a degree, income, family and love interest. Then months later, they realize they hate their job, can't come to grips with their family issues and as a result, has a break down, pushes away their love and loses their job. I see two beings on square one. True self actualization come from within. Not as a result of gaining things; This is where Westworld thrives It shows characters who don't belong anywhere but to themselves, who are in danger but are safe.
Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world….
Westworld is to us as the image of the maze is to the hosts. The ones who see it remember all of their past lives and question their reality. As we watch this show we question ours as well. We don’t ask “Am I a host?” We ask “who am I?” and “why am I”. It’s a great question to ask yourself. If you don’t like the answer, then it’s time to get a journal and figure out what you want your reality to be. Just don’t go full Dolores.