“2001: A Space Odyssey” by Stanley Kubrick

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Book
The Film
Similarities
Disparities
Film and the Story Presentation of the First Contacts between Humans and Aliens
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” is considered the pinnacle of science fiction as far as the film is concerned. This film was brought to life through the combined efforts of Kubrick and the British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.

The Book

In “The Sentinel”, the narrator recalls of an incident that occurred one morning as he went on with his normal duties. In fact, this time he was frying sausages when he saw a glittering metallic object that was revealed by the morning sun on the rocky mountains of Mare Crisium. He and his compatriot went to the mountains only to discover the sentinel. He believes that it was left there strategically by aliens who wanted it to act as a warning to alert them of the existence of human intelligence (Clarke, 1948, p.3). The quest of where the transmissions it produced were directed is explored in Kubrick’s film “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

The Film

This film explores the story of Clarke in a more detailed manner. The story pans from the history of humankind to the most sophisticated of the human race. A scientist goes to the moon to identify a monolith that is believed to have been left there by aliens. When they uncover the monolith, a signal is transmitted to the direction of the planet Jupiter. A spaceship by the name Jupiter is sent to spy on the recipients of the signal in Jupiter. The mission is not completed since it comes under the sabotage of the computer HAL 9000. A key astronaut after destabilizing the computer makes it to the base of the monolith but he is catapulted to an intergalactic journey which sees him die and reborn as a star child which is probably the next step in human evolution. As Scruton (2008) points out, the two mediums show a number of similarities and differences in telling their story (p.5). This claim stands out right from the plot, setting, characterization as well as the point of view as highlighted next.

Similarities

As far as plot is concerned, the film’s sequences on the moon correspond to Clarke’s short story. A scientist in the movie, Dr Heywood Floyd, travels to the moon to look for the monolith. In the story sentinel, a geologist; Wilson, discovers a pyramid shaped sentinel on the mountains. The setting of “The Sentinel” is in the moon’s plains of the Mare Crisium-the sea of Cries. The scenes in the movie as it is the case with the descriptions of the sceneries in the short story are clear indication of Clarke’s portrayal of logical scientific explorations in his writings as well as Kubrick’s eye for details in building complex sets. Similarity in characterization too stands out in the two compositions. According to Adler (1997), both the writer and the film director and producer as it is evidenced in their work are cold when it comes to characterization (p. 12). Clarke is simply indifferent of people in his work in that his characters are merely names in the story. In the same manner, Kubrick is cynical when it comes to humanity in characterization. In the film, the first twenty minutes pass without any human character appearing. Addressing the issue of viewpoint in both the film and the short story, the ideas of evolution are considered in relation to the possibility of similar intelligence in the past. The sentinel elaborates the human intelligence in the sense that man has been able to reach a point where he is concerned about the welfare of the universe. A similar case is explored in the film through the space explorations elaborated. However, there stands out significant differences between the two based on the aforementioned parameters: Plot, setting, characterization, and viewpoint.

Disparities

There are also disparities between the two form used in telling the science fiction story in regard to the above mentioned prospects of plot, the setting, characterization as well as the point of view. “The Sentinel” is limited in that the story ends with the discovery of the sentinel as opposed to the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” where the story continues from the moon to Jupiter. This clearly brings out the fact that the short story is a limited medium in respect to giving details. This is a result of the basic tenets that make the form, which include brevity. The film is a better form in that it gives in depth details of the story therefore advancing the plot. The film integrates other forms such as music in plot development. “The Sentinel” happens to be an introduction to the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” in that it is set in the moon’s surface as it is with the first sequel of the film. Details of the setting in ‘Sentinel’ are not as elaborate as they are in the movie. This fact places the film medium on a higher scale as far as descriptions of the setting are concerned. These descriptions are important in that they create a sense of identity between the audience and the piece of work. The only disparity in characterization between The ‘Sentinel’ and ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ comes in the sense that Kubrick’s characters seem to be more rounded than those of Clarke are. This is probably due to the exposure they get to the audience because of the length of the story in the film. The short story ‘Sentinel’ is narrated in the first person which gives the story a sense of authenticity compared to the movies third person point of view.

Film and the Story Presentation of the First Contacts between Humans and Aliens

Clarke in ‘Sentinel’ reveals that humans had initially no idea of the possibility of the existence of a more advanced technology than theirs. This is clear through the doubts posed by the geologist who seems to content his fears by simply dismissing the strange machine he discovers on the moon’s surface as simply formations that formed during the times when the moon was still young. Clarke however seems to acknowledge the existence of more intelligent beings. However, he doubts whether these beings could be of any assistance to humans. In ‘Sentinel’ the narrator says, “Perhaps they wish to help our infant civilization. But they are very, very old, and the old are insanely jealous of the young” (Clarke, 1948, p.23). In the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”, Kubrick’s idea about the contacts between the humans and the aliens is cynical. The cut from the bone to the spaceship in the film is a clear indication that Kubrick views the technological advancements made by man as inferior compared to the aliens. He brings out the idea that the most sophisticated of man’s technology has no big difference from the first tools that he made during the first days of his evolution. His portrayal of the conflict between man and a computer is a clear indication that man is simply strangled by his advancements in technology. According to Tuck (1974), the film contents that despite the advances that man makes to perfection, he is lowly placed in the order of superiority as far as technology is concerned (p.13). It is suggested that man has a long way to go as far as evolution is concerned.

Conclusion

The two mediums seem to complement each other in telling the story as experienced in the science fiction. Jack and Jon (2001), state that in “…the advancing technology where anything can be visualized in the motion picture (p.4), the film medium seems to be the best in creating a relation between the work and the audience due to the advantages that it poses.

Reference List

Adler, R. (1997). The Screen: 2001 is up Books. New York: Word Press. Print.

Clarke, A. (2001).The Sentinel: The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Britain: Longman Publishers. Print.

Jack, H., and Jon, C., (2001). Spaceship Handbook: Rocket and Spacecraft Designs of The 20th Century. Oxford: Oxford UP. Print.

Scruton, H. (1998). The Space odyssey: The New Science. Britain: Rutledge. Print.

Tuck, H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: AdventPress. Print.

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