2001: a space odyssey

[albino_polo]

What is the black monolith?

[don1]

Here are a few ideas albino. Personally I never could make head nor tail of it.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/plotsummary

[marwel7]

It is the great mystery at the heart of the universe.

[Clanad]

Basically, they are a method used by supposed aliens to transmit information. They are indestructable and have the ability to impart gene (and intelligence) altering commands at unique times and places in human development. The end scene of the follow up 2010 indicates the same information would be scattered throughout the universe when humans finally touch the surface of Jupiter (as well as bringing peace to earth and an addition of a second sun)...

[mycatis]

It's a door. It leads to the "exchange" place where Cal goes, it's like a grand central station of the universe

[KebabMeister]

I think Clarke referred to it as a stargate, perhaps the aliens/superior life/Gods use it to alter life & evolution?

[steve @ home]

It is a test, placed by the aliens to gauge whether the local life forms (us) are capable of space travel and exploration. When the monolith was uncovered on the Moon, it sent the signal to Jupiter and if we were able to follow this, we would be 'ready' for the next stage

[gary baldy]

I havent read the book so i can only speak for the film.
The monolith is a signifier. It is used in the film as not only an tangible object but also a means of presenting an idea and concept.
In its tangible form it is used as a transmitter and conduit from which a message , that is apparently undecipherable, seems to have almost apocalyptic consequences.
This message seems at first to instigate the passage of Man from a benign beast into an intellegent being.
When it appears again it seems to signal the transistion of Man from a sentience to a higher, more ethereal, state of consciouness.
In its less tangible form the monolith seems to represent the Creation. This part of the story is less difficult to interpret and is open to argument but the image of the foetus, after the apparent death of the main character, seems to lend weight to the overall idea that this is the Resurrection and that we have entered into a new epoch within the Creation.
"My God - Its full of stars!"

[bernardo]

a char of bocklet