The Monolith

Iceman · 12-29-08, 12:38 AM

I very much enjoyed the 2001 & 2010 movies and wondered if anyone knew if there was supposed to be a specific thing that the monolith was supposed to be...was it a representation of God or just totally left up to the imigination of the viewer...any thoughts?

kiwi_2005 · 12-29-08, 01:10 AM

Are you talking about A Space odessy 2001 / 2010 movies. The monolith to me was just a square thing floating around which just annoyed me with the movie, What is it? Why is that stupid thing in this movie please i hope the astronauts blast it out of the sky. The Apes failed too. My conclusion is some alien race left it on earth and in space. Not a representation of God.

Christopher Snow · 12-29-08, 01:43 AM

I think it's largely left up to your own mind...and perhaps to what influences you entertain re: Science and math.

As best I remember the proportions of said monoliths were always 1-3-9. 1 thin by 3 wide by 9 long. A clear mathematical relationship between the three faces/sides.

The SIGNIFICANCE of said relationship was never explained, as far as I knew, except for the obvious one: It was significant simply because it EXISTED--it was clearly a mathematical (intelligence derived relationship), and not just a random one.

To put it another way (for those who might have missed it: An astronomical object with proportions 1:3:9 MUST be the product of an intelligent force...and really cannot be the product of random nature.

Kubrick hardly went out a limb to explain it here, BTW...he just took it for granted that the observation would be made.

Well, I just made it, even if those thousands who preceded me all whiffed (and I'm sure most of them did not).

---

Having said all that^...IMO, 2001 was mildly overrated. And 2010 was well UNDERRATED, by the same token.

2010 certainly did deliver in suspense and involvement.

CS

A Very Super Market · 12-29-08, 02:31 AM

I think Stanley Kubrick smoked so much sh*t that he thought the monolith was Bette Midler and Jesus with a mulatto baby.

Fr8monkey · 12-29-08, 03:17 AM

@ Christopher Snow - Actually the dimentions are 1:4:9... 1 squared, 2 squared and 3 Squared... a sign that intelligent beings made it.

I read the book (I have a first edition) and in it the ship went to Saturn and the Monolith was in orbit around Titan. In the 1960's, Titan was thought to have an atmosphere resembling Earth in the distant past.

The monolith was a tool of aliens that boosted Creatures into sentience and giving them an evolutionary jump start.

Skybird · 12-29-08, 04:54 AM

If there is one film on earth that is really fully open to interpretation, then "2001" and it's black monolith.

And if it were different, it wouldn't be so fascinating. Maybe considering then not wanting to get the ultimate answer too hard...!? What you think in thoughts about it, maybe is not so important. How it made you feel, and jumpstarted your imagination - maybe that is what counts. - "Imagination is more important than knowledge" (Einstein)

More recomended Kubrick movies are "Shining" and the usually underestimated "Eyes Wide shut". The latter also gives you the illusion that maybe you could know - but indeed it is just your own imagination. I can't stand Tom Cruise - but the movie stayed on my mind for the rest of the week after I saw it.

12-29-08, 12:38 AM	#1
Iceman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mesa AZ, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,253 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	The Monolith I very much enjoyed the 2001 & 2010 movies and wondered if anyone knew if there was supposed to be a specific thing that the monolith was supposed to be...was it a representation of God or just totally left up to the imigination of the viewer...any thoughts?

12-29-08, 01:10 AM	#2
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Are you talking about A Space odessy 2001 / 2010 movies. The monolith to me was just a square thing floating around which just annoyed me with the movie, What is it? Why is that stupid thing in this movie please i hope the astronauts blast it out of the sky. The Apes failed too. My conclusion is some alien race left it on earth and in space. Not a representation of God. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

12-29-08, 01:43 AM	#3
Christopher Snow Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 201 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I think it's largely left up to your own mind...and perhaps to what influences you entertain re: Science and math. As best I remember the proportions of said monoliths were always 1-3-9. 1 thin by 3 wide by 9 long. A clear mathematical relationship between the three faces/sides. The SIGNIFICANCE of said relationship was never explained, as far as I knew, except for the obvious one: It was significant simply because it EXISTED--it was clearly a mathematical (intelligence derived relationship), and not just a random one. To put it another way (for those who might have missed it: An astronomical object with proportions 1:3:9 MUST be the product of an intelligent force...and really cannot be the product of random nature. Kubrick hardly went out a limb to explain it here, BTW...he just took it for granted that the observation would be made. Well, I just made it, even if those thousands who preceded me all whiffed (and I'm sure most of them did not). --- Having said all that^...IMO, 2001 was mildly overrated. And 2010 was well UNDERRATED, by the same token. 2010 certainly did deliver in suspense and involvement. CS Last edited by Christopher Snow; 12-29-08 at 01:54 AM.

12-29-08, 02:31 AM	#4
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think Stanley Kubrick smoked so much sh*t that he thought the monolith was Bette Midler and Jesus with a mulatto baby. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

12-29-08, 03:17 AM	#5
Fr8monkey Captain Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 518 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	@ Christopher Snow - Actually the dimentions are 1:4:9... 1 squared, 2 squared and 3 Squared... a sign that intelligent beings made it. I read the book (I have a first edition) and in it the ship went to Saturn and the Monolith was in orbit around Titan. In the 1960's, Titan was thought to have an atmosphere resembling Earth in the distant past. The monolith was a tool of aliens that boosted Creatures into sentience and giving them an evolutionary jump start. __________________ NASA's budget in 2011... $19 billion. Result: Hi-resolution images from 127 million miles away. AT&T's budget in 2011... $20 billion. Result: Still can't get any signal from my bathroom.

12-29-08, 04:54 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,630 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	If there is one film on earth that is really fully open to interpretation, then "2001" and it's black monolith. And if it were different, it wouldn't be so fascinating. Maybe considering then not wanting to get the ultimate answer too hard...!? What you think in thoughts about it, maybe is not so important. How it made you feel, and jumpstarted your imagination - maybe that is what counts. - "Imagination is more important than knowledge" (Einstein) More recomended Kubrick movies are "Shining" and the usually underestimated "Eyes Wide shut". The latter also gives you the illusion that maybe you could know - but indeed it is just your own imagination. I can't stand Tom Cruise - but the movie stayed on my mind for the rest of the week after I saw it. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 12-29-08 at 04:59 AM.