What does it mean to be human? 2001: A Space Odyssey – Jupiter scene During viewing questions

What does it mean to be human?

2001: A Space Odyssey – Jupiter scene

During viewing questions

Key events

Relationships and Conflict

Setting

Characters

The seven stages of grief

Genre

Music as a key technique

Symbols

Important ideas/Themes

Response to text essay structure

What does it mean to be human?What is it about us that makes us people and sets us apart from

other creatures or objects?As the audience of Duncan Jones’ Moon, we are forced to consider the idea of what it means to be human. This is a concept which has been discussed and debated, for many interesting ethical reasons, throughout the history of mankind. It is a challenging concept that authors and directors like to present in their work, often in sophisticated and engaging ways.

Some, like the 17th century French philosopher Descartes, believed we can argue that because we think, or have the capacity to contemplate our existence, we therefore exist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum

Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, in the 19th century, are regarded as the founders of the existential school of thought, claiming that philosophy should “deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and their emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts” . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism

Modern debate surrounding the issue of what it means to be human is often centred around advances in science, for example stem cell research and cloning, or other similar ethical issues like abortion and euthanasia.

http://www.consciencelaws.org/Examining-Conscience-Ethical/Ethical46.html http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57791

For our class brainstorm, click here

A further issue presented in the film is the emotional challenge presented by long periods of isolation. In the case of those in space for extended lengths of time, this is sometimes referred to as Space Madness.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x91e3a_ren-and-stimpy-space-madness_fun

From Wikipedia:

Space Madness is a theoretical mental condition that could occur when humans live in isolation, with limited human contact, in cramped quarters for very long time periods, specifically onboard a spacecraft in outer space. Although a range of mental effects from homicidal insanity to grumpiness have been suggested, studies of humans in such conditions (scientifically induced isolation, submarines, space stations, etc) have usually showed an increase in irritability and depression.

For an excellent review of Moon, see:http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/review-moon/

For the trailer, see:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi843186969/

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57791

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi843186969/

What is it that makes us human?Ideas from our class discussion

• We are capable of expressing emotions and feelings• Physical features and being born from two parents• Brain dead people? We take away their right to live by turning off life

support. To be human, you need to be able to control your own body and mind.

• Communism tells us that you are a non-person if you do not contribute to society. Who in our democratic society would we view as inhuman?

• Why do we not clone? We would lose our individuality. Individuality is an important part of what makes us human.

• Animals follow their instincts and we are more developed socially than that.

• Are those without remorse seen as inhuman?• We seek more than we need


2001: A Space OdysseyMission to Jupiter

This is a famous scene in the Science Fiction genre. The effects created by Stanley Kubrick are remarkable given the film was created in 1968.

The key characters we see interacting in the scene are mission pilots and scientists Dr David Bowman and Dr Frank Poole, and the computer HAL. HAL is in command of the vessel and interacts with the pilots in a very human manner.

After watching the scene, consider the following points:

What reasons are there for giving HAL the ability to interact socially with the crew?

Who is to blame for what happens? What reasons do you have for your answer?

HAL expresses fear at the end of the scene. He has behaved in a calculated and rational manner up to this point. Why might Kubrick have introduced this element to his “personality”?

What fears might we have for the future as a result of watching this scene and others that have similar themes about the potential use of technology?


Relationships/Conflict

• Inner conflict within Old Sam

• External conflicts/relationships – Old Sam and New Sam– Old Sam and Gerty– The conflict between the needs of the many a

nd the needs of the individual


Setting

• The Moon

• The Lunar Industries base

• The future as a dystopia


Characters

• Old Sam

• New Sam

• Minor characters: Gerty and Eve


Key events/scenes• Advertisement for Lunar industries

• Introduction to Sam - Exposition

• New Sam finding Old Sam

• The Sams discovering the bank of clones

• Old Sam speaks with his daughter

• New Sam leaves the moon


Important ideas

• The needs of the many can be seen to outweigh the needs of the individual

• What it means to be human

• A vision of a possible future

• The effects of isolation


Conflict – Inner conflict within Old SamAn overview of this conflict: What moments in the film, as

presented through specific techniques, are evidence of this conflict?

How is our understanding of other film elements (such as setting, themes or relationships) developed through this conflict?

What important events/ideas, both within and beyond the text, are understood through this conflict?

Back to conflict page

Relationship/conflict between Old Sam and New Sam


An overview of this relationship/conflict:

What moments in the film, as presented through specific techniques, are evidence of this conflict?



Relationship/conflict between Old Sam and Gerty


An overview of this relationship/conflict:

What moments in the film, as presented through specific techniques, are evidence of this conflict?



Conflict between the needs of the many and the needs of the individual

Back to conflict page Back to important ideas page

An overview of this conflict: What moments in the film, as presented through specific techniques, are evidence of this conflict?



The setting of the moonBack to Setting page

How does Jones present this setting?

What important events/ideas are understood through this setting?

How is our understanding of elements such as characters/conflict developed through this setting?

What specific examples (as shown through techniques) help us understand this setting and its significance?

The setting of the Lunar Industries base

Back to Setting page





Setting: the future, depicted as a dystopia

Back to Setting page





Use of symbolsWhat symbols do we see Jones presenting in the film? How are they used?

What important events/ideas are understood through this use of symbols?

How is our understanding of elements such as setting/style/conflict developed through the use of symbols?

What examples of dialogue/quotes from the narrative help us understand the importance of symbols to the telling of the story?


Old Sam

Back to Character page

Describe this character and the way Jones presents him in the film.

What important events/ideas are understood through this character?

How is our understanding of other elements such as setting/conflict/relationships developed through this character?

What specific examples (supported by film technique evidence) help us understand this character and his importance?

New Sam


Describe this character and the way Jones presents him in the film.

What important events/ideas are understood through this character?

How is our understanding of other elements such as setting/conflict/relationships developed through this character?

What specific examples (supported by film technique evidence) help us understand this character and his importance?


Minor characters: Gerty and EveGerty can be viewed as the antithesis of HAL from

Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. For a discussion of this contrast, click here

Describe these characters and the way Jones presents them in the film.

What important events/ideas are understood through each of these characters?

How is our understanding of other elements such as setting/conflict/relationships developed through these characters?

What specific examples (supported by film technique evidence) help us understand these characters and their importance?

http://www.mzlabs.com/MZLabsJM/page6/Gerty/Gerty.html

The seven stages of grief

Old Sam goes through a grieving process for his lost life. The seven stages of grief are said to be:– Shock and denial– Pain and guilt– Anger and bargaining– Depression, reflection and loneliness– The upward turn– Reconstruction and working through– Acceptance and hope

For at least three of these stages, record an example of Old Sam presenting these emotions.


Back to Key Events page

Mise-en-scene(costumes, dialogue, set design diegetic

sound)

Cinematography(shot types, camera movement, camera

angles, lighting)

Post-Production(editing, non-diegetic

sound, special effects)

Theme & Purpose(What is this revealing?)

Evaluation/ Viewer Position

(Is it convincing? How are we manipulated?)

Advertisement for Lunar IndustriesWhat happens in this scene?

How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?


sound)


angles, lighting)







Exposition – meeting SamWhat happens in this scene?


Old Sam meets New SamWhat happens in this scene?




sound)


angles, lighting)







The Sams discover the bank of clonesWhat happens in this scene?



sound)


angles, lighting)







Old Sam speaks with Eve, his daughterWhat happens in this scene?



sound)


angles, lighting)







New Sam leaves the moonWhat happens in this scene?



sound)


angles, lighting)






Genre – Science Fiction• Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or

technology, often in a futuristic setting. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".

• Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possibilities. It is similar to, but differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation).

• The settings for science fiction are often contrary to known reality but the majority of science fiction relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief, which is facilitated in the reader's mind by potential scientific explanations or solutions to various fictional elements. These may include:

– A setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in an historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record

– A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens– Stories that involve technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature– Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as time travel or psionics, or

new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots, or of new and different political or social systems (e.g., a dystopia, or a situation where organized society has collapsed)

Thanks Wikipedia!

Having considered these elements, in what ways does Moon conform with/deviate from this genre?


Music as a key technique

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• When discussing music in your response to text essay, your marker is looking for a specific description

• Useful elements to discuss could be:– Volume– Pace/tempo– Instruments used– Changes or developments in the music– Key: major (happy) or minor (sad)– The music as part of a theme used throughout the film– The action the music is supporting– The mood the music helps to create

To see useful descriptions of the music from the film, click here

Reviews of the Moon soundtrack

“Moon offers two themes. One is an isolated piano theme that is simple but effective. It serves as the main identifier of the character and his lunar habitat. I feel its simplicity represents the loneliness of the predicament quite well and also offers a slice of mystery to it.

“The second theme is grounded more in the humanity of the character and his family. It swells dramatically, intended to bring out the emotional component (which it succeeds at doing). Aside from these two notables, there is also another nice touch included on this score and that is the motif that is heard to represent the secrets of the underground chamber on the Moon's station. Its sort of an odd, creepy lullaby that is perhaps the most ingenious moment on the album.” http://scorenotes.com/soundtracks/moon.html

“The two-note theme of this score is repeated throughout, echoing the two main characters (if you will), almost revolving around each other … Here, Clint (Mansell, the musician who created the score for the film) manages to make tangible the feeling of desolation and loneliness that pervades throughout the first act of the film. It's almost as if you're inside Sam's head, losing your sanity along with him.”

http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Clint-Mansell/product-reviews/B002FG9NLY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 See also http://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/54-cd/666-cd-review-moon-original-score-by-clint-mansell for a great review of all

tracks on the soundtrack album. The use of instruments and the mood they create are well explained.

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What it means to be human

Back to Important Ideas page

How does Jones present this important idea (characters/techniques/events etc)?

What current issues that exist in the wider world are we reminded of through this important idea?

What is your personal response to being confronted by this idea in the film?


The future as a dystopiaHow does Jones present this important idea (characters/techniques/events etc)?



The effects of isolationHow does Jones present this important idea (characters/techniques/events etc)?




Response to text essay• Introduction:

– Should be about 4 sentences. – Include keywords from the question. – Write the name of the writer and underline the title of the text.– Outline the points you will cover in the essay. – Impress the marker with sophisticated vocabulary.

• Paragraphs:– T topic sentence– E examples– E explanation (these two “Es” are interchangable)

– P purpose– E effect– E evaluation

• Conclusion:– Should be about 4 sentences– Recaps the main points of your argument– Present your personal response/evaluation to the question of character, setting, theme…

To see an example of a TEEPEE paragraph, click here


TEEPEE paragraph: Catcher in the Rye

• T Salinger’s use of 1950’s American colloquialism makes Holden Caulfield a convincing character who experiences convincing emotions.

• E Holden refers to many things and people as “phoney” or “crumby.”• E He is a negative and often self-indulgent character who is quick to

judge and dismiss those who he sees as materialistic and lacking in compassion, for example his roommate at Pency Prep, Stradlater.

• P Salinger condemned society as superficial and conformist, indeed “phoney.” He was criticised and banned for this

• E These adjectives are outdated and unfamiliar to a modern New Zealand reader but one can fully realise that Holden is a convincing teenager existing in a real post-war New York society.

• E As a teenager who also sometimes feels frustration with the world, I enjoyed Holden’s honest and brave ‘attacks’ on whatever or whoever crosses him. Although he uses words I don’t normally, I think Holden is a believable and credible character; his emotions and motivations make sense to me. Similarly, the language he uses makes his world convincing.

(Stolen from Kate Meade. HoD English, Northcote College)

For a structured response to text essay task on the development of character in Moon, click here

Back to Response to Text page

Documents

What does it mean to be human? 2001: A Space Odyssey – Jupiter scene During viewing questions