2001: A Space Odyssey - James Clarke

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of my favorite films from Stanley Kubrick. Each "theme" as proposed by Alexander Walker has to do with a transition of mankind. In particular, the exploration of space. Although several manned space flights had occurred before the making of and (presumably) the inspiration for the film occurred, it was not until the year after the film's release that man first set foot on the moon. If a film like 2001 still invokes a sense of awe in audiences today, then in 1968 (when space flight was still new) it must have been even more incredible. At the dawn of our own space exploration, seeing what one could consider hundreds of years of advancement in that field would certainly accomplish the feeling of awe that Kubrick intended.

Using Bowman as a hero that faces dilemmas to reach the target moment, Stanley Kubrick uses 2001: A Space Odyssey as a new myth to replace the old myths about space. This redefined what people thought about space. This myth has carried over into the 20th century, and still will proceed into the 21st century. It shows how new myths can replace old myths and shatter the very foundation the human mentality. For when an archaic belief is suddenly replaced with a new one, it is often a reaction to wonder why the old one was wrong. This often leads to further exploration and discovery in that area. As discovery progresses, the myths change concurrently. This also exemplifies how important myths are to a culture or race of beings. Without myths, there would be no efficient way of communicating the beliefs and philosophies of the time.