tyler O
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2000
- Messages
- 165
Having had a rather deprived childhood, my father never allowed 2001 to be shown in in our house. As a result, my first exposure (due to poor earnings while in college) to what I consider to be the true pinnacle of cinema as art and the first truly transcendent piece of film (and possibly the only (as far as my rather limited scope of the art extends)) was via a rented p&s vhs tape. I was, at the time in a quite different state of consciousness, and while I did not run up to the TeleVision speaking my beliefs of what exactly was contained in that 1/4" piece of plastic and put my arms splayed out trying to hug the infinite, I understand why the famous hippie did so. Nothing has ever moved me (with the humble exception of my wife of course) to anything close to the extent that this movie has. In fact, it has brought about a new, true love of cinema that has blossommed into a horrible affliction, considering my limited means. IMHO, 2001 is perfect. It is a microcosm that not even the best books (and the Clarke book does nothing but try to scientifically explain that which is beyond the infinite) could hope to capture. If not for this film, I feel that I would never have created the world view which I still carry with myself to this day. 2001 is my monolith. It has pushed me to the next level of evolution and taught me to continue reaching. Thankfully, I chose not to start smashing my friends around me with the closes phallic tool in joyful gratitude of this realization. Every time I have the pleasure to sit through the film, I see something new. I take different things out (As I bring different things in). No other film has quite moved me so. I just wanted to offer my gratitude to Kubrick and Clarke (mostly to my most revered of cinematic masters however) for creating such a work. I can think of no better place than this to do so.
Also, IMHO, the Monoliths were put there in a perfect systematic way.
1) Give to primates whose neurological structures are most suited to higher learning and the ability to use tools and create. The leopard fails in this respect, as well as anything other than being an excellent hunter. This does not make a species great.
After the primates have been imprinted/swayed toward the use of tools outside of themselves in order to achieve mastery over this world there is only one logical thing for a species to do. Look outside their world.
2) Give to aforementioned species, since if they died out, the next that take precedence would not evolve with quite the same type of abilities, whose neurological structures are most suited to the collection and interpretation of data the ability to discover another hidden (to the eye) monolith. This one will be found in a location suitably off planet, but still based in a land formation. It will be obviously non organic, and must have the ability to be discovered by means that only rational beings could implement using tools outside of themselves. This occurrs only by fulfilling the conditions set forth by the first monolith.
a) Use tools
b) Escape the atmosphere
c) Explore and master your environment to the best of your physical abilities.
d) Use your knowledge to continually seek, first closest to earth (which is why the monolith had to leave earth to fully test we primates) intelligence and rational beings with whom to share and take their place in the pantheon of heaven.
When these are all satisfied (because what is the closes non earthly body to earth?) the monolith tests the primates yet again. It gives them a direction to go in order to go to the next step.
3) Having notified it's brother that the primates have discovered it, the second monolith has served its purpose: to push the primates further out. They must go past the furthest reaches that they have traveled (or the third monolith would have been found, probably easier than the one on the moon). They must travel into a realm fully dependent on the tools they have created. They must see the fallability of not only tools, but of the thought process. They must see the imperfection of their entire way of existence. They must strive forward. They must want for more. If they do so, then they must die.
4) With physical death comes the release of the primate to travel, one more time if it so desires, via the fourth monolith, into a new form of existence. This form of existence requires no tools to do what it needs or desires. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law (and the new beings have enough common sense to do it with no harm intended towards anything). This form can exist, even as a babe, whole and unharmed floating without air and can do as it pleases without tools. Thusly the primate is no more. Thusly it is reborn after it's death using tools left by benevolent creatures. Will it create more?
Or maybe they are just four big black things.
And that's only going into the monoliths. Please don't get me started on the rest. Not that any of it is truly independent from the rest. Interconnectivity at its finest.
I have wasted enough of your time. Thanks for reading if you have. Feel free to post thoughts if you are so inclined. I did. (I just hate having to use tools to do it...) Speaking of tools, forgive any grammatical errors and misspellings I surely did spew forth from my perfectly imperfect mind.
------------------
Share and Enjoy - The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.
Also, IMHO, the Monoliths were put there in a perfect systematic way.
1) Give to primates whose neurological structures are most suited to higher learning and the ability to use tools and create. The leopard fails in this respect, as well as anything other than being an excellent hunter. This does not make a species great.
After the primates have been imprinted/swayed toward the use of tools outside of themselves in order to achieve mastery over this world there is only one logical thing for a species to do. Look outside their world.
2) Give to aforementioned species, since if they died out, the next that take precedence would not evolve with quite the same type of abilities, whose neurological structures are most suited to the collection and interpretation of data the ability to discover another hidden (to the eye) monolith. This one will be found in a location suitably off planet, but still based in a land formation. It will be obviously non organic, and must have the ability to be discovered by means that only rational beings could implement using tools outside of themselves. This occurrs only by fulfilling the conditions set forth by the first monolith.
a) Use tools
b) Escape the atmosphere
c) Explore and master your environment to the best of your physical abilities.
d) Use your knowledge to continually seek, first closest to earth (which is why the monolith had to leave earth to fully test we primates) intelligence and rational beings with whom to share and take their place in the pantheon of heaven.
When these are all satisfied (because what is the closes non earthly body to earth?) the monolith tests the primates yet again. It gives them a direction to go in order to go to the next step.
3) Having notified it's brother that the primates have discovered it, the second monolith has served its purpose: to push the primates further out. They must go past the furthest reaches that they have traveled (or the third monolith would have been found, probably easier than the one on the moon). They must travel into a realm fully dependent on the tools they have created. They must see the fallability of not only tools, but of the thought process. They must see the imperfection of their entire way of existence. They must strive forward. They must want for more. If they do so, then they must die.
4) With physical death comes the release of the primate to travel, one more time if it so desires, via the fourth monolith, into a new form of existence. This form of existence requires no tools to do what it needs or desires. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law (and the new beings have enough common sense to do it with no harm intended towards anything). This form can exist, even as a babe, whole and unharmed floating without air and can do as it pleases without tools. Thusly the primate is no more. Thusly it is reborn after it's death using tools left by benevolent creatures. Will it create more?
Or maybe they are just four big black things.
And that's only going into the monoliths. Please don't get me started on the rest. Not that any of it is truly independent from the rest. Interconnectivity at its finest.
I have wasted enough of your time. Thanks for reading if you have. Feel free to post thoughts if you are so inclined. I did. (I just hate having to use tools to do it...) Speaking of tools, forgive any grammatical errors and misspellings I surely did spew forth from my perfectly imperfect mind.
------------------
Share and Enjoy - The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.