A couple weeks ago I posted "What is "2001: A Space Odyssey" About?"
(http://dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/what-is-2001-a-space-odyssey-about/).
In it, I mentioned in passing that I saw some similarities between it and the
works of H. P. Lovecraft. Since then I've delved a little deeper into that
idea.
Arthur C. Clarke and
H. P. Lovecraft
I was reluctant to make too much of the possibility that
Lovecraft's work dad an influence on "2001",
because I didn't know if Clarke was familiar with Lovecraft. A quick search
showed that he did.
In 1940, Clarke wrote "At
the Mountains of Murkiness", a parody of Lovecraft's "At The Mountains of Madness".
In "Icons
of Horror and the Supernatural: An Encyclopedia of Our Worst Nightmares"
S. T. Joshi mentions the story and notes that both "2001" and "Childhood's
End" both share some ideas with Lovecraft's stories.
Lovecraft and "2001" Similarities and
Differences
Lovecraft's basic idea is that extraterrestrials visited
Earth far in the past and influenced the development of humans. The same idea
underlies "2001".
Lovecraft suggests that these extraterrestrials were the
inspiration for the gods that humanity worships. This is not suggested in the
movie or book "2001", but
Clarke does make the suggestion in his later novel "3001: The Final Odyssey".
A major difference between Lovecraft and Clarke is the
attitude of the extraterrestrials. In Lovecraft they are at best indifferent to
people and can be very antagonistic. Clarke sees the attitude of the extraterrestrials as positive to people. In
Clarke's earlier short story "The
Sentinel", which was the basis for "2001",
the attitude of the extraterrestrial is not so clearly positive. In "3001" the attitude of the extraterrestrials
is also not necessarily kindly toward people.
Is it possible that maybe "2001" could be viewed as a Lovecraftian horror story? In
the book Clarke does seem clear that the extraterrestrials are benign, but that
might not be true of the movie. Like many of Lovecraft's heroes, at the end,
Bowman appears to become overwhelmed by what is revealed to him. The scene in
the "hotel room" could be just a figment of his imagination after he
has lost his sanity.
Robert E. Howard and
the Monolith
An interesting parallel to "2001" can be found in another Cthulhu Mythos story, "The Black Stone" by Robert E.
Howard. In it the hero finds an ancient black monolith that was set up by
ancient extraterrestrials. Although a different shape than the monolith in "2001" (octagonal) it is about
the same height and depth.
"2001" and the Ancient Astronauts
In his book "Cult of Alien Gods" (http://www.jasoncolavito.com/cult-of-alien-gods.html),
Jason Colavito makes the case that the ancient astronaut theory popularized by Erich
von Däniken in his book Chariots of the
Gods? was inspired by Lovecraft's stories. A review I read suggested that
the case is weak, but it convinced me.
The ancient astronaut theory predates "2001", but I suspect that it could have played a role in
the popularity of the ancient astronaut theory. In 1968, "2001" was a
very high profile cultural event, and even people who did not go see it were
aware of some of the ideas in the movie. Chariots
of the Gods? was published the same year and was more broadly promoted by a
TV program in 1970.
Because of "2001",
the possibility of extraterrestrials visiting Earth in the past was an idea
that was "in the air". This could have made people more open to the
idea when von Däniken book was released. I know that this was a factor in my
own interest in the theory. I was completely sold on the idea then, although
eventually my interest led me to the skeptic movement.
What Can We Conclude?
I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the connections
I found, but I think the comparisons do help me to understand "2001". Arthur C. Clarke said
that the book he wrote was just his thoughts about what the movie was about.
I suspect that "2001"
is more of a question than a statement. The explanations of the story suggested
by comparisons with Lovecraft show that the "answer" to what "2001" is about is not
straight forward. I think it is the stimulation we gain from the exploration
that is important.
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