Tron isn’t really known for its philosophical discussions on the meaning of life, but more for its unique visual style and music. But you know me. I like to look at movies differently than the norm. So I’d like to discuss what Tron has to say about standing out and fitting in.

Behind the Curtain

Have you ever found it strange that we all come into this life with no memory of anything that might have come before, but many of us feel compelled to pursue a distinct purpose? As if we have always had certain desires and skills and simply needed an outlet for them. I’ve always loved writing. Other people have an aptitude for medicine, education, acting, music, art, or a hundred other things.

For example, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy, writing beautiful music from the age of 4. His father recognized his genius and had the resources to train him properly and help him on his journey to becoming a legend. But he didn’t create that genius. He simply cleared the way to let it shine. Tron gives us some insight into what might actually be happening behind the curtain.

Tron vs. Flynn

At the very start of the movie Tron, we get to see the creation of a program called Tron. Like us, he comes into his world with no memory of any existence before his birth. But he knows that he has a mission in life, and everything he does is in an attempt to fulfill that mission. He never gets to see his creator, who he calls Alan 1, but he has faith that his creator exists outside of the digital world. Tron was created in the image and likeness of his creator, and his goals in life mirror those of Alan Bradley.

By contrast, we also see a human named Kevin Flynn get transported into the digital world as a program version of himself. He retains all of his memories, which enables him to overcome seemingly impossible scenarios that he himself programmed. He does everything differently than Tron, and he’s never as smooth and polished as that program. He has seen and talked to Tron’s creator Alan in the real world. As a creator (or user) himself, he is eager to team up with Tron to take down the Master Control Program and restore peace and justice to the digital world.

Standing Out and Fitting in

From the first time we see Tron, he stands out. His fellow programs even recognize him as different, saying that Tron “fights for the users.” He’s seen as a religious nut by his jailers for his “superstitious” belief in the users. Despite the name-calling and prejudice against him, he persists in standing out, and it’s his uniqueness that enables him to win followers and eventually defeat his enemies.

From the first time we see Flynn, he is trying to blend in. He doesn’t want his program Clu to get caught while looking for a file in the MCP, and he wants to be underestimated as a goofball instead of as a genius programmer to pursue his goals uninterrupted. When he becomes a program, he does his best to blend in, even taking on the color of his enemies at one point. He reluctantly receives wards who never stay around long. In the end, he becomes a follower of Tron and gives him the support he needs to destroy the MCP.

Doing What It Looks Like You’re Supposed to Be Doing

At one point, the differences between Flynn and Tron come to a head, and Flynn admits that he’s what the programs call a user. He also says something profound about his actions up to that point:

“You guys know what it’s like. You just keep doing what it looks like you’re supposed to be doing, no matter how crazy it seems.”

Isn’t that interesting? It sounds a lot like the way we all live our lives. As children, we’re told that things are the way they are just because. When we grow up, we begin to question things and look for deeper meanings.

For instance, you might say to yourself, “If we’re all told that the way to succeed in life is to get good grades in school and get a good job, why do I feel a desire to drop out and go to work for myself in a field I enjoy?” Or there might be many other positive paths you could feel compelled to go down to find fulfillment.

Following Different Paths to the Same Goal

The point is, it’s okay to be like either Tron or Flynn in your pursuit of a higher goal. You can be different than what you’re told is good and normal. Or you can blend in and look like everyone else. I’ve chosen to do a little bit of both. I steer clear of as many worldly influences as I can while raising my children with my wife, which can be seen as standing out. But I do all of this quietly, paying off all my debt and living simply without any flashy indicators to call attention to myself.

My goals are the same as both Tron and Flynn’s: to resist evil, see peace and justice restored to the world, have my faith in a Higher Power be vindicated, and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Which path do you take, and do you have similar goals to Tron and Flynn? It can be easy to go with the flow and live a life seemingly without purpose. But I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I suggest taking the harder path that leads you on a collision course with Recognizers, tanks, the Command Ship, and even the dreaded MCP. Whatever insurmountable challenges these represent in your life, I promise they can be overcome with a little user power.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

The video clip and all images are the copyright of their owner.

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