Dan Lindley
Second Unit
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2000
- Messages
- 396
Hi,
although I think whether or not the blue stuff was in the original is a kinda neat techie question, I have been feeling a bit of the lurker/freeloader angst. So here is a brief thought - my views - on the religious implications in 2001.
I think there are basically two views of religion, one in which all is determined and another in which freedom of choice is allowed. 2001 represents the latter, with reservations to follow.
Freedom of choice is that of control for good (life and more wisdom/contentment/etc) or evil (death/sadness/etc). BTW, I'm not sure about this personally. Without sadness, there may be no wisdom, etc. In any case, 2001 = some FOC, and also the recognition that humans must be saved from their own folly. Hence the limits on FOC.
The monolith helps evolution, but note how progress -- defined as control over one's environment -- is also matched by increased ability to destroy or to falsely assume control when it does not exist.
Thus, the monolith, whatever progress/advancement/god it represents does not only offer increased control, but also makes things more serious/dangerous. Progress cuts both ways. UNTIL the space baby comes along. This is rescue, both in the original end of the movie (destroying the orbiting nukes) and in 2010 (a more subtle way to end the Cold War).
In the original, the space nukes were destroyed by the space baby. Now, think about Strangelove and Childhood's End. Nukes are big for Kubrick, and evolution and its limits are big for Clarke.
Unfortunately (or not), I am infected by much of Clarke and Kubrick, so maybe I read too much into 2001. But I think the film says: Gods like to run experiments, until the experiments tend suicidal or dead end, in which case they are either helped or let run their course.
In 2001 and Childhood's End, humans have hope. In 2001, in some views, humans are saved. In seeing the film alone, that may not be as clear as in the movie + book + Agel Making of + 2010 + Childhood's + etc...
I suppose this implies an implicit endorsement of getting additional info in addition to seeing the film (which some critiqued before). Perhaps, but who cares? You will bring to 2001 whatever baggage you have. That's my baggage. See the film, and have fun.
What does progress mean? To what end our actions and life?
Best, Dan
although I think whether or not the blue stuff was in the original is a kinda neat techie question, I have been feeling a bit of the lurker/freeloader angst. So here is a brief thought - my views - on the religious implications in 2001.
I think there are basically two views of religion, one in which all is determined and another in which freedom of choice is allowed. 2001 represents the latter, with reservations to follow.
Freedom of choice is that of control for good (life and more wisdom/contentment/etc) or evil (death/sadness/etc). BTW, I'm not sure about this personally. Without sadness, there may be no wisdom, etc. In any case, 2001 = some FOC, and also the recognition that humans must be saved from their own folly. Hence the limits on FOC.
The monolith helps evolution, but note how progress -- defined as control over one's environment -- is also matched by increased ability to destroy or to falsely assume control when it does not exist.
Thus, the monolith, whatever progress/advancement/god it represents does not only offer increased control, but also makes things more serious/dangerous. Progress cuts both ways. UNTIL the space baby comes along. This is rescue, both in the original end of the movie (destroying the orbiting nukes) and in 2010 (a more subtle way to end the Cold War).
In the original, the space nukes were destroyed by the space baby. Now, think about Strangelove and Childhood's End. Nukes are big for Kubrick, and evolution and its limits are big for Clarke.
Unfortunately (or not), I am infected by much of Clarke and Kubrick, so maybe I read too much into 2001. But I think the film says: Gods like to run experiments, until the experiments tend suicidal or dead end, in which case they are either helped or let run their course.
In 2001 and Childhood's End, humans have hope. In 2001, in some views, humans are saved. In seeing the film alone, that may not be as clear as in the movie + book + Agel Making of + 2010 + Childhood's + etc...
I suppose this implies an implicit endorsement of getting additional info in addition to seeing the film (which some critiqued before). Perhaps, but who cares? You will bring to 2001 whatever baggage you have. That's my baggage. See the film, and have fun.
What does progress mean? To what end our actions and life?
Best, Dan