Metropolis (1927)

 Metropolis utilizes biblical references to emphasize class conflict; notably does not use god to "punish" man but rather the structures of society and the struggle and exploitation of the working class to demonstrate the dangers of technology and its monopolization. The dangers of machines in this film are not ascribed to the technology itself but rather the use of the technology by those in power as a means for the exploitation of one's fellow man; Man-made Maria's mission to destroy the workers, as well as the wealthy, was instilled in her by Jon Frederson and the inventor Rotwang.  

    Unlike our modern fears about technology, the autonomy of the machine is not the thing the film is warning us of. While now we worry that machines will gain autonomy and choose evil, Metropolis highlights the fears of machines being operated by evil men. In both cases, we fear the harm a machine is capable of; but the critical difference is the motivation of the device. Additionally, the film highlights the still-present fear of technology taking on the likeness of a human being to harm us. 

    Furthermore, the current discourse surrounding technology often emphasizes our dependence on it. While Metropolis depicts the flooding of the Machine District and the citywide blackout after the Heart Machine is destroyed, the film doesn't depict human beings as useless and helpless without technology as people often say humanity would be were we to lose cell phones, cars, etc.    

    Most striking to me, personally was the use of Death, the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Whore of Babylon. Freder's visions of Death and The Sins serve to further the conversation within the film about humanity's self-made end. During the scene where the cathedral statues come to life, while he moves first, death follows the sins as the last one to leave his spot, demonstrating that while death is inevitable, humanity's tendency to commit sin brings death about sooner. 

    In Metropolis, The Whore of Babylon is not sent by the devil. Rather, she is made of metal and wires, forged by the hand of man in his desire to play god. Rotwang's motivation in building the Machine Man was to resurrect Hel and destroy Jon Frederson's society. Contrastly, Freder, and Maria are motivated by their humanity to improve things for their fellow man and they utilize their humanity to emphasize peace rather than subverting technology to manipulate and exploit others as Rotwang and Jon Frederson do.