The Meaning of Stanley Kubrick's
2001: A Space Odyssey
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Errata on Errata on Errata on Errata
All of my understanding of 2001: A Space Odyssey
comes from a few places. Firstly, there is my brain. 2001:
A Space Odyssey was the first film that I ever saw. I was
about four-and-a-half. Our family did not have TV. It was
the year of the first moon landing. You can guess the rest.
To this date I have seen the film a lot more than forty
times at the movies. On VHS and DVD, even more, and even
more than that, if you count watching 20 minutes here and
there. Oddly enough, I find watching it piecemeal a very
interesting process. While it may repulse a purist I find
that it helps me see things within films that I might
otherwise have missed due to fatigue or the sweep of story.
All up... a lot of times. I heartily recommend it.
Secondly, there are books. Over the years I have read a
very great many on the subject but there are only three
that I would recommend without any hesitation whatever.
They are:
2001: A Space Odyssey By Arthur C. Clarke and
Stanley Kubrick. As you may know 2001 was originally based
on Arthur C. Clarke's short story "The Sentinel." The story
then morphed into a continually updated and evolving
screenplay and novel *at the same time* during the actual
filming. It was written by Clarke and thought out by both
Clarke and Kubrick. The book though is subtly and
beautifully different to the film. More rational, more
scientific (if that is possible) and with a different kind
of poetry.
Lost Worlds of 2001 by Arthur C.Clarke. As the
writing process of 2001 evolved and changed. Clarke went
through a very great number of versions of the novel. This
book is the print equivalent of the "Out-takes and
Alternate Scenes" section of a DVD but one were you read
and think as opposed to simply watching. The thing that is
fascinating with this book is that some of these scenes are
so completely vast in scope that even today's CGI special
effects and amazingly bloated budgets would be incapable of
doing them justice. The things that this book does to the
inside of your head are unique, and very, very nice. Also,
in a lot of cases, they enhance one's enjoyment and
understanding of the film to a very great degree. If you
want to take your imagination out and rev its engine to the
maximum, this book is a rare vintage indeed. Read it after
the novel though. You'll get more out of the process.
Finally, The Making of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space
Odyssey By Jerome Agel. This book is the main circuit
cable. "Making of" books will never get better than this
one, and indeed all books "Making of" books since this one
owe it a debt of gratitude that they can never repay. If
you like 2001 this book could easily become your bible.
Only paperback size, it is packed solid with nothing but
high quality facts about the making of the film from
information on the availability of Bovril(tm) to the crew
through insane amounts of info as to how the whole film was
actually made. Finally in vast detail, it covers the film's
actual reception by the public. Among many other things It
includes reprints of congratulatory telegrams received by
Kubrick (including one from Federico Fellini) to one of the
most shameful letters ever written. That one was written
directly to Stanley Kubrick from the husband and wife
idiots of Central USA who didn't like the film, demanding a
refund and actually enclosing their ticket stubs. Kubrick
filed the letter and about forty years later... you can
marvel at the idiocy and pomposity the human race is
capable of.
Seriously, if you like this film (or just films in
general,) this book is central to any adult understanding
of the subject. They don't get better than this. I have had
two copies of this book stolen, and read one into pieces.
It is that good.
Amazon Links to these three books: