ISP Week 2- 2001 A Space Odyssey- Frank’s Death
10-mark essay question: Explore how two film form elements have been used in this sequence to provoke response and make meaning.
In terms of sound, in the scene diegetic sounds are used in the dialogue between the artificial intelligence space-pod and Bowman. In this, binary opposites are used to demonstrate the futuristic perspective of the film, showing how easily machines can take on the same work as humans. When explaining the status of Frank in space, the artificial intelligence uses an emotionless and monotone voice, reflecting the reality of Frank’s death, therefore further provoking confusion and anxiety in the audience. Before this, we hear Foley sounds of Frank’s uneven breathing on screen. As Frank’s character becomes more isolated and gets smaller (seen in the extra-long shot), the camera does an extreme close-up on the artificial intelligence red dot, this is then when sound switches to complete silence, representing the emptiness and stillness of space. This demonstrates the point within the scene which Frank can no longer breath, provoking sympathy and loss, emphasising the danger and fear. In this scene music is not used. The meaning of this is to simulate the little sound in space and create a sense of realism, further making the scene immersive with a high level of emotional intensity for the audience to watch. Also, the use of diegetic sound on screen is explored within the space-pod where the character David Bowman is set, to create futuristic atmospheric sounds from the control panel. The camera cuts between these sounds and the soundlessness of space to show the perspective of both characters.
In terms of performance within the scene, both characters are presented as white adult males. The meaning of this is to support the historical and political contexts of the time the film was made (1968 during the cold war), as well as this scene not featuring any women in space. The character Frank is shown in a yellow space suit when drifting off into space. In this Frank is flailing about uncontrollably in hope to reach his oxygen tube, which soon abruptly ends in his death. The yellow colours of his space suit give the impression he is being compared to a wasp-like insect who is no longer in control. This provokes an emotional response in the audience as we do not see Frank’s death, including either facial expressions or his voice, therefore have to imagine ourselves the agony and suffocation he is feeling. In terms of the artificial intelligence’s performance, we see the pod turning slowly and robotically in space, building suspense which is designed to give it an ominous appearance. This is later proven as the audience is made to blame the artificial intelligence, which is suspected to have caused Frank’s death.
(438 words)
20-mark essay question: What might this film from 1968 be trying to say about the future?
The film 2001 A Space Odyssey might be trying to show audiences that as a society we will become too reliant on technology to the extent it becomes dominant over humans.
In the film 2001 A Space Odyssey made in 1968, one year before the first man stepped foot on the moon, suggests that there will still be a struggle for men and women equality. This social ideology is shown as in this scene the only two characters are adult men as well as their ethnicity being white Americans. This provokes a varied reaction from the audience as the film at the time suggested that there still wouldn’t be women in space in the future. On screen, we see the artificial intelligence doing the work of humans given that there are only two people upon the space station. During the time of the cold war there were increasing technological advancements in the space race between the USA and USSR, including weapons and technology in space.
The political context of this film was to show the meaning of power and advanced technology used by the USA, therefore promoting their state as preeminent during to the space race, including the start of artificial intelligence being used. From this we see the artificial intelligence becoming more dominant throughout the scene, being shown on camera more as well as having more mid- shots and extreme close ups. This could emphasise the possibility that one day artificial intelligence may grow stronger and develop the ability to think more independently, therefore taking over the roles of humans. The reason why we only see two humans in space, along with a futuristic space-station and auto-intelligence technology is to convey the idea to the audience that we are out of place in space and that as humans we rely far too much on our growing access to technology, therefore making us out to be venerable. This could be intended to provoke an anxious and paranoid response, which might encourage us as a society to question the governments decisions to put humans in space, especially during the cold war.
In terms of performance the meaning behind Frank losing control reflects how politics is losing control and becoming self-destructive, emphasised when Frank can no longer breath. This creates a sense of suffocation and anxiety as we whiteness the effects of the dangers of space in which Frank dies. In terms of mes-en-scene we see the binary opposites of the white interiors of the space station in contrast to the lifeless black colours of the exterior of space. The white interior of the space station gives the impression of safety and order, represented in a safe white bubble. In this scene, the film might be trying to tell the audience that the future will be a more protected and secure place, free from any hazards or danger after the period of the cold war.
In terms of Cinematography used in the scene, the camera uses a fish eye lens to follow Bowman around the space station, demonstrating the lack of privacy and how they are under constant surveillance, giving the audience the impression that they spied upon. This is also proven as throughout the scene we see cameras around the space station, for example showing Franks spacewalk or seen in the control panel where Bowman is watching from or seen within the artificial intelligence space pod which is the suspected reason for Frank’s death. This explains to the audience the belief that there is no escaping the control, immense power and ability technology will have over us in the future. Lastly, within the editing of this film the use of parallel action in the ongoing events between Frank and Bowman represents the bond of trust that is given to the artificial intelligence, predicting that this trust will grow and artificial intelligence will become a normal co-existence in the future alongside humans. The audience’s response to this may be unsettled and apprehensive about the safety and security of futuristic technology within society in the year 2001.
(674 words)
Stretch Task:
Explore how two film form elements have been used in this sequence to provoke response and make menaing .
In terms of cinematography, in the scene ‘Franks Death’ high key studio lighting has been used for the inside of the space station to create a contrast in lighting in comparison to the low key hard lighting of the surrounding darkness of space. In this, binary opposites are used to suggest the extent and danger of space which Frank is drifting off into, compared to the bright white – coloured lighting of the space pod, reflecting the safety and security of where Bowman is. In terms of camera positioning, an establishing extra-long shot of Frank is used to emphasise the emptiness of space, in which there are only two characters accompanied by artificial intelligence suggesting loneliness and isolation. However, when the shot focuses on Bowman the camera uses a close proximity angle, consisting of mid-shots and close up shots. This increases the emotional intensity of the sequence between the film and audience as, using close up shots, the character’s facial expressions become clearer, creating a more immersive scene. In this scene, the camera uses a fish eyed lens. The meaning of this was to provoke suspicion within the audience that the characters are being followed and watched, suggesting a sense of apprehension and distrust.
In terms of mes en scene, the character’s costumes consist of a futuristic orange colour which could not only be used to show that the film is set in the future and show how space exploration has developed, but to also suggest a sense of emergency and danger through the bright and bold colours. The use of the location of space where we see Frank uncontrollably drifting away due to the actions of the artificial intelligence, could be seen as a visual metaphor for the political ideology in the cold war. The fact that Frank is drifting away represents the extreme dangers of involving advanced technology and weapons in a war and how if you’re not careful could easy lose control, resulting in death. In the scene we see in big, bold red capital letters the words ‘Caution’ and ‘explosive’ upon the space pod demonstrating how the artificial intelligence could be threatening to the humans and overall display more power, therefore provoking an anxious and unsettling response.
(370 words)
Emma Coe Film Studies 