Source Code

Work Title: Source Code
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 2011
Writer(s): Ben Ripley
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the Source Code, a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack. -- (C) Summit (from RottenTomatoes.com)

  • Self-Written?:
  • Source Name: Rotten Tomatoes
  • Source URL:
Era/Year of Portrayal: near_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

The world in Source Code is almost identical to our modern world with the exception of some technological advancements, i.e. the Source Code device.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Source Code device
  • Description of the technology: An experimental device that allows its user to experience the last eight minutes of another compatible person's life within an alternate timeline. The device is a simulation pod, much like the simulated shuttles used by astronauts in training. (from Wikipedia)
  • Nature of task or activity: The main character uses Source Code to assume the identity of another man who was on board a train that was attacked by a terrorist bomber. He has eight minutes to discover who planted the bomb on the train so he can help prevent the attack and a future attack of larger proportions.
  • Performance of the Technology: The Source Code device works flawlessly throughout the film.
  • Description of creator(s): The Source Code device was created by Dr. Rutledge, a scientist for Beleaguered Castle (a military unit named after the card game).
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): It is an experimental device designed for military missions such as this one.
  • Description of users of technology: The main character (Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is the sole user of the Source Code device. He is a young, healthy male in his late 20's who is a helicopter pilot in the Army.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: For eight minutes the user of the Source Code device assumes the identity of another person. He is mentally placed into the other person's body and experiences the world completely through that person's perspective. If he did not know that he was using the Source Code machine, the only way to become aware of that fact would be to look in a mirror.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: The main character is not aware that he is using the Source Code machine at first. When he first looks into the mirror on the train and sees a person other than who he thinks is himself, he panics. After leaving the alternate person's identity for the first time, he is aware of his use of the Source Code device for the remainder of the film.
  • Valence of experience: At first the experience is frightening because the main character is unaware of what is going on. However once he begins to travel back and forth between his consciousness and the other person's consciousness, he becomes accustomed to the experience and even starts to enjoy the other person's identify because of a certain female character in his life.
  • Specific responses: The main character becomes emotionally attached to a woman on the train while using the Source Code device to assume the other person's identity. He attempts to make a connection with her.
Long-term consequences:

When the main character discovers that he is actually dead and that the military is using his last remaining active brain cells to operate the Source Code machine, he is angry at first but then uses the opportunity to make amends with his father.

Other:

Coder name: Tim Wolfe
Coder email: tud30217@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University