The first modern science fiction film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, is an epic considered to be one of the most influential films of all time. Artificial life, existentialism, the evolution of humanity and technology, as well as the existence of extraterrestrial life. The film came out in a time that the general characteristics of the generational era were experimentation, lack of optimism, individualism, and, a rise in the discussion of philosophies. These characteristics, along with the space race, influenced the writing of the 1968 film's screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke.
The film itself is ambiguous in it's imagery, it is coy in it's use of dialogue, preferring to keep speech at a minimum, using sound and minimal dialogue to encourage the furthering of the narrative rather than traditional dialogue. With a devotion to scientific accuracy, the film depicts the space travelers in a constant state of exhaustion and apparent illness. The misé en scene is depressing, all cold and white, lacking any appearance of human warmth.
At the time, the generation had dealt with the war in Vietnam, the Cold War, and the walk on the moon (and the subsequent rise in interest in science, particularly the study of space). The Baby Boomers that were coming of age were trapped in or organizing against wars that they had no wish, such as the Vietnam War, along with having grown up during another forgotten war, the Korean War. The philosophies referenced within the film are the same philosophies that were being explored and rediscovered.
Within the film (and other works of the era) there is the clichéd theme of the shaggy god, a scientific explanation to theological questions common in the science fiction stories that were popular, such as the stories of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Both used the theme of the shaggy god in their stories, the most notable being Asimov's The Last Question in which a supercomputer recreates the Biblical process of creation. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, this role is taken by HAL 9000, a supercomputer referred to by the moniker Hal by the astronauts, and Dr. David Bowman who becomes a starchild/übermensch at the finale of the film.
This transformation, from man to all powerful being can be seen in a variety of ways. The concept of the übermensch featured in the film comes from the teachings of Friedrich Nietzsche that were bastardized by the Nazi Party in Germany. In fact, the film itself can be seen as an interpretation on the works of Nietzsche, in particular, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (interestingly enough, the tone poem inspired by the novel, Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss was used in the film).
The philosophical novel, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None, shares similar themes and ideas that were explored in 2001: A Space and Odyssey and by the generation. The omnipresent idea is that of the übermensch, a man who has conquered himself fully and is operating at his full potential. Another possibility that stands out in both works is the idea of the eternal recurrence, all that happens will happen again in an infinite number of times. Although written before the time of the Baby Boomers, in the 1880s, the novel is inherently tied to the generation, almost prophetic in the sense that all that occurs will be repeated, similar to each generation and their successive generations. With varying outcomes, similar situations occur. There are always wars that damage the youth and great achievements within the human race, great good and great evil to occur. It is living such that ensures that“you must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame; how could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?” (Nietzsche).
Works Cited
Adler, Renata. "Movie Review - - The Screen: '2001' Is Up, Up and Away ..." The New York Times. The New York Times, 4 Apr. 1968. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ebert, Roger. "2001: A Space Odyssey Movie Review (1968) | Roger Ebert." RogerEbert.Com. RogerEbert.Com, 27 Mar. 1997. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Frederick, Robert B. "2001: A Space Odyssey." Variety. Variety, 02 Apr. 1968. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. N.p.: National Vanguard, 2010. National Vanguard. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Randall, D.O. Rhonda L. "Baby Boomers' Defining Characteristics Could Help Them Redefine Aging in America." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.