For Tuesday: Clarke’s 2001: A
Space Odyssey (Chs.1-11, pp.9-69)
Answer TWO of the
following…
1. As we've discussed throughout this class, science fiction (like fantasy) is
a metaphor for our own world; by placing it into the ‘future,’ we can make it
easier to talk about the problems of the present. What are some of the problems/issues Clarke
uses the future to discuss in this novel?
Why might we read the date ‘2001’ really as ‘1968,’ the year it was
written?
2. According to the first
chapters set in the extremely distant past, what makes us ‘human’? How does the Monolith teach ancient ape-man
to evolve into something more reminiscent of modern man? You might also consider if this is
necessarily a good thing!
3. In most science fiction
novels, the author tries to predict what the future might look like, and more
specifically, how current technology might advance into new realms of
creativity and convenience. What ideas
did he accurately predict, and what (if any) pitfalls might some of these
advances bring in their wake?
4. In Chapter 10, “Clavius
Base,” Clarke writes about the working spaces of the moon workers, which are
full of modern conveniences and décor.
He goes on to note, “Every man and woman in Clavius had cost a hundred
thousand dollars in training and transport and housing; it was worth a little extra
to maintain their peace of mind. This
was not art for art’s sake, but art for the sake of sanity” (60). What is he getting at here? What role does ‘art’ play in the life of
people—like many of us—who might not be artists or care much for art at all?
2. One of the major changes the Monolith ignited within the ape men was the desire to create conflict and challenge other groups whether they be the same species or different. While most modern humans would agree that tools are a good thing and that they help make us more sophisticated and wiser beings because we are able to control an object, the initial use for these tools and the use for many modern tools is to destroy rather than to build up. Clarke does a good job of writing these scenes in a way which questions the “evolution” of these ape men without coming right out and insinuating that the use of tools was a turning point in the wrong direction. While tools have had a lasting impact on our species (typed through a keyboard into a hard drive displayed by a monitor for communication purposes), so often humans tend to only look forward and in the process do not consider who suffered in order for us to succeed.
ReplyDelete4. In this passage, Clarke insinuates that art is what essentially keeps people sane. Drawing on the mimetic theory, art imitates life. In this case specifically, art imitates life on Earth, a life that can become monotonous but is ultimately home and safe in a way that space travel and moon living cannot compare. While the tenants of the moon may have conveniences which are not available on Earth, such as zero gravity, there are so many things which they moon tenants are missing out on, specifically family memories and everyday tasks which before seemed boring and ordinary but now are prized. It is a common notion that “you never know what you have until it’s gone.” Clarke is showcasing this sentiment not just in Chapter 10, but throughout the second section of the book. For instance, Clarke writes about how Floyd begins to question whether he should have left in such a hurry, especially given that his children have already lost their mother in an accident and have only him and their housekeeper as close mentors. Floyd reflects upon the times he will be missing his children even in this “short” venture to the moon.
Rocky Moore
ReplyDelete1. There are multiple problems and issues Clark discusses as concerns for humans and their future, which allows the reader to read this work for the date it was written, 1968. These issues can be interpreted as Clark trying to convey some non resolved issues that may become a very big concern for all on the planet earth. One of these concerns include the overpopulation issue where he states that there are already 6 billion people on the planet on page 44, and that starvation may be a result because there is a lack of food source to take care of the entire population and the birth control idea had unfortunately come to late. Clark also discusses a dilemma that can even be conversed about today and that is the arms race, basically numerous countries own nuclear weapons that could take out the planet if used in that way. These are all issues that allow us to not think of this book in the sense that these ideas within the text are pure fantasy and we can read into these issues as something realistic that people may have been concerned about in 1968 and even today in 2015.
3. In relation to question number 1, this question demands answers that elaborate on what was conversed about in the first answer. I think it is safe to say that Clark was right about a few things in which he predicted in the future. There are, if I am not mistaken over 7 billion people in the world now, and even though famine and starvation is not world wide, it can possibly happen somewhere down the road in the population continues to rise and our resources continue to diminish. It is not logical to write those two facts off therefore substantiating Clark's ideas. Clark also touched upon the nuclear weapon issue that can still be talked about today. There are so many countries with nuclear weapons that if one were to think about it, things can really turn for the worst in the matter of minutes if people with power made that mistake. Last but not least, the doctor that is headed to the moon in part two was not far off as the United States sends a man to the moon in 1969, though some people would debate that.
Sarah Bolitho
ReplyDelete3. The “newspad” that is described reminds me of a tablet or almost any modern cell phone. The author notes how the easy availability of knowledge—especially world events—normalizes tragedies for citizens. It is scarily accurate, as I myself gloss over news of war or major scientific discoveries on the internet. Information endlessly streams, and it is impossible to give all of it adequate consideration.
4. Technology cannot replace the primal need for atmosphere. As advanced as the people think they are, they do not have the capacity to create enough internal stimuli to substitute it for external stimuli. People need expression of ideas as evidence that they exist.
Yes, this is the Ipad in many ways, and it shows an inherent danger of information: you can have too much. If we could behold all information, all ways of life, in one instant, our brains would explode. Or we would spend our entire lives trying to sum up the totality of experience in a single second. Also, it satirizes somewhat what it shown: not necessarily the best of the world, but the worst: the trivia and the tragedy. Is that all we should know?
Delete2. I didn't really see an exact explanation as to what makes us human. It could be the ability to use tools or it could be the power to kill. It could also be argued the ability to have time of leisure could be what makes us human. By having that leisure time these ape men are able to think. Something even more interesting to think about is what if the fact the ape men were able to accept instruction from the Monolith is what makes them human? Like Emily stated before tools can be a good thing, but for me it seemed as though, in this book, the tools were more focused on killing on "conquering" the beasts of the land.
ReplyDelete3. One thing that he kind of predicted is the idea of easy transport to space. I have been reading a lot of articles here lately about the ability to travel commercially through space. It would be like flying on an airplane but instead of looking out the window toward earth, the passengers could look out the window to observe the moon. What was crazy to me was the prediction of the iPad. I believe it was called a newspad or something like that. When I read that section my mind was blown. I wonder if maybe Steve Jobs was a fan of this book and set out to create the technology displayed, or maybe it was just coincidence. The pitfall I am currently seeing with not only the iPad, but the iPhone and other hand held computers is the ability to hold a conversation is going down hill. When people are out on the town whether they be dating or not, they pay more attention to their phones rather than the relationship to the people surrounding them. I am guilty of this as well. It will not surprise me if one day they diagnose an addiction to cellular devises/ internet media. Though these tools are meant to help us, I somewhat believe they could lead to our downfall.
Remember, it's not tools alone that make us human (many animals use tools of one kind or another), but the drive that leads us to perfect these tools and transform our environment. Conquering beasts is a way to accomplish the impossible: to get food for the entire tribe. Our dreams/desires make us create a past and future, and push towards a better life. The fact that we can see ourselves in another life is the important thing: if you can imagine it, you are one step closer to accomplishing it.
Delete2. According to the first chapters I would say that rational thought makes us human. Or even the ability to think about more than one thing at once, or even emotions. In these first chapters we can see that the ape-man creatures do not know how to be concerned about one another. Moon-Watchers father dies and it is only a burden to drag him out of the cave. While foraging, a female falls to the ground, unable to continue, and they leave her where she lies. Their only thoughts seem to be how to keep themselves safe, and how to keep from starving. Also, Moon-Watcher begins to transform once he is introduced to the feeling of discontent. Before he had seen the images of fat ape-men he had never known how to want for something more. I think that this definitely makes us human. Man is always wanting more than what he has and this is what finally helps to transform the ape-men.
ReplyDelete4. In today's world art is everywhere. I think it means even more to us than we realize. Even the houses that we live in and the buildings that we work in, their structures, can be considered art. Someone designed the layout and someone built it. I think art helps individuals to feel more calm and relaxed. I mean, would you rather live in a house with no windows, no paintings, no photos, no colors on the walls, nothing but the bare essentials, or would you rather live somewhere that has photos on the walls of people that you love and miss, your favorite colors painted on the walls, and windows to watch the outside world? Especially if you are in a place that is new to you, art is a great way to cope. I think that art is important in this instance because it reminds the workers of home. And home always seems safer than somewhere less familiar. Therefore, the extra money was worth it to allow the workers to have some sort of peace of mind.
Cora-lee Snow
Great responses...the idea of discontent, which is usually translated negatively in our culture, is actually a sign of creativity: it forces us to find out how to accomplish something that is beyond us. Getting a college degree is a form of this: you want a better job, or a better life, or more knowledge...so you're willing to find a way, however painful or tortured, to accomplish this. Being satisfied is the end of life for most humans...then you stop growing. Discontent and desire is part of the growing process.
Delete2. The Monolith teaches the ape-man violence, or in a different sense war. It teaches the ape-man that a rock can be a weapon. Initially the ape-man could not fight against other animals effectively without the aid of tools. The ape-man learns to kill other species for food. This is where this knowledge could be considered a good thing. However, learning that a rock can be a weapon, or tool, led to other tools being created. This eventually results in the weapons of mass destruction. Once man, or ape-man, learned of violence it only grew. These weapons, or tools, can be used on one another too. An ape-man with a tool has an advantage against another ape-man with nothing but his body. The ape-man no longer resided by animals next to them in peace, but hunted them for food. This is fine, but the line is crossed when they turn the tools and weapons on each other.
ReplyDelete4. Art is what keeps people working on the moon sane. Even if you do not appreciate art it is something that reminds people of home. Just a painting of the sky, sun, trees, any landscape really reminds people of home and keeps them going. The art is a reminder of Earth. Even though the space station provides a lot of expensive things the important aspects are the things that keep people sane and happy. This would be art. It is used to comfort people for what they lost leaving the Earth behind to work in this station.
Mary Dixon
Great responses: this novel, which is also a work of art, reminds us that just living isn't enough for human beings. We need to transform and enrich our lives with history, poetry, and beauty. Otherwise, we're just animals sniffing around in the dirt. When we travel to the stars, we take our love of beauty and search for ideas with us, and the Monolith represents this idea personified: something of beauty which could unlock every secret unknown to man.
Delete