Man and Technology

When 2001: A Space Odyssey was released in April of 1968, America was still a year away from man walking on the moon and the nation was in the midst of a technological explosion. Daily, Americans were being told that technology would ultimately solve all of mankind's problems. Humans were being taught to trust machines because they could perform tasks faster and more consistently than man. Kubrick and Clarke use 2001 as a vehicle to highlight man's technological potential and show one possible outcome to the technological revolution being driven by the space race of the 1960's.

However, 2001 also gives its audiences a warning about putting complete trust in technology. They ask the audience to consider the possibility of what would happen if suddenly our advance machines decided to replace man. 2001: A Space Odyssey gives mankind a warning. If man becomes too dependent on anything, then they risk being...