2001: AMetaphoricalOdyssey Myths are created for the purpose of
conveying a message with an interesting medium with which to do so.
Many cultures use myths to teach their young about the past. Through
time, however, these myths become impractical due to discovery. This is
when a new myth must be introduced to take the place of the obsolete
one. Stanley Kubrick shaped 2001: A Space Odyssey as a new myth to
crack the archaic view of space, by using a hero, a dilemma, and a new
revelation to fuel his cause. Every myth has a character that breaks
the mold of the ordinary. In Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus is the
character that broke the mold of the other mortals. He displayed
character traits that superseded those of his crew mates. Much in the
same fashion, Bowman breaks the mold of the astronauts aboard the
Discovery. He and Poole are share duties aboard the Discovery, but he
demonstrates a higher level of thinking by sensing and interpreting what
is happening before him. He is the one that realizes exactly what HAL is
doing, and he puts a stop to it. He sees problems, analyzes them, and
then proceeds to diffuse the cause in the most efficient manner possible.
He uses his character traits of intelligence, persistence, and adroitness to
overcome the dilemmas put in front of him. By using his intelligence, he
realizes that HAL has figured him out, and he must find a way to get back
into the discovery in order to survive. In using persistence, Bowman does
not give up when it seems that HAL has won the battle. Instead he takes
the rough way in, and he then disables HAL. Bowman shows how adroit
he is with dilemmas by handling the entire HAL situation with calm and
intelligence. While on the mission, Bowman is faced with many
dilemmas. The first dilemma, is that he is in the dark about the purpose
of the mission. He has only been supplied with the vital information that
he will need to perform routine operations until the site of the mission is
reached. HAL is responsible for informing him when the place has been
reached and time is right to complete the mission. He decides that he
must do what he can without actually knowing the exact purpose of the
mission. The next dilemma is that HAL has been reacting to his instincts
in a negative manner. He realizes that Bowman and Poole are having
doubts about the mission. Bowman decides that he must hide his
emotions and plans from HAL in order to proceed successfully. HAL, on
the other hand, figures out that Bowman and Poole are planning to
unplug him by reading their lips while they are conversing in the pod, and
finds a way to get them where he can control them. He fakes a failure in
the communications satellite dish, and Poole goes out to repair it, never
to return. After Poole is disposed of, Bowman finally realizes that HAL
has turned on him. This is the ultimate dilemma that Bowman must face.
He is locked out of the Discovery, and he must find a way to get back in
and disable HAL before he dies, and the mission is unsalvageable. He
finally succeeds in re-entering the Discovery and disabling HAL as the
ship nears Jupiter and the pre-recorded message plays on the video
screen. His decision to unplug HAL and run the mission solo is the
deciding factor in the new revelation that he encounters. With the
approaching of the climax of the movie, Bowman realizes that the mission
was far beyond the comprehension of any human being. He realizes why
the mission had been kept confidential even to him, as a pre-recorded
message gives him a debriefing of the purpose of the mission. The ever
present question of whether or not there are other intelligent beings in the
universe is answered as Bowman enters the stargate. As he descends
into the stargate, the many colors and patterns show that he is
proceeding into a realm that is a paradox of powers. When Bowman
sees that he is being protected from forces that are far beyond the control
of any mortal, he knows that these other beings are far superior to
humans. With his experiences, the enlightened Bowman returns to earth
realizing that society dwindling. 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.
. 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. to take the place of the obsolete
one. Stanley Kubrick shaped 2001: A Space Odyssey as a new myth to
crack the archaic view of space, by using a hero, a