A CLOCKWORK ORANGE film analysis - Alex and Beethoven - by Rob Ager

[proman84]

I don't really see how it is implied that Alex is Beethoven. On the contrary, it seems that Alex wants to be like him but isn't. That's the whole point. He's just a poser.

[SuperRichard2012]

Quite Uncanny!!!

[AndyHumphreys91]

Anybody else notice that he had a different bedsheet in the morning?

[ChuckieGHardcoreMC]

I just realised that Kubrick is way 2deep4me. I like his films but I didn't know there was so much to it

[xXmusicXboyXx]

how do you pronouce your last name?

[robag88]

@xXmusicXboyXx It rhymes with lazer and you don't pronounce the G like J.

[xXmusicXboyXx]

@robag88 well, i hate the same name spelling and i was wondering how you pronounce it

[90zlaya]

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's ninth full length movie.

[FilmsFromACynic]

This may sound completely obvious, but why exactly is Kubrick comparing Alex to Beethoven? What is this saying? Beethoven makes music, Alex makes mayhem?

[50crowley]

@FilmsFromACynic I was wondering that myself, so I'm not exactly sure, but I think you've got it right. They are both composers but they use different mediums.

[gabrielihno]

Alex deLarge, the composer of ultra-violence :)

Wonderful analysis

[LiteracyLabyrinth]

That blew my mind as I have seen this film so many times and did not even notice that Beethoven blind!

[guitars2112]

I liked the way you picked up on those things about Beethoven's symphony. I thought you might find reading about the way Susan McClary analyzed the music to be of interest. She called moments in the symphony as expressive of rape which, after watching your upload, reminded me of certain scenes in ACO. More details on her wikipedia page.

[simplelife88393]

What's your favourite film, robag88?

[robag88]

@simplelife88393 Too difficult to pick one, but my faves are mostly Kubrick, Lynch and Hitchcock.

[TheJabberwock]

@robag88 aw man! i thought i was contributing! keep up the great work! I'm a freeloader, but your information is definitely worth spending money.

[GBRJohn2009]

Great video, I want that window blind!!

[TheJabberwock]

the way that the writer want revenge on him

[TheJabberwock]

not only is it sung during a rape scene, but it's also sang in a highly annoying fashion by the big droog...I forget his name. Maybe those songs mirror each other the way Alex and the writer mimic each other. After all Alex would want revenge on his parents th

[robag88]

@TheJabberwock That stuff also ties in with Beethoven's 9th. We hear a distorted version of it when Alex is being driven to suicide. The European Union adopted a variation on the 9th as its anthem in the same year ACO was released - and the Nazi's loved Beethoven. Its a major theme of the film.

[TheJabberwock]

@robag88 this might be a little obvious, but did you notice that what is done to Alex with Beethoven is also being done to us with "Singin' in the Rain"?

[robag88]

@TheJabberwock Yep, that's covered in detail in the full version of the review on my site :)

[148estella]

Hey Rob, doing a graphic design BA and our recent brief is to create an interactive piece of web media based on a movie. I chose A Clockwork Orange and during my research came across your site. Engaging, crazy but always interesting! I wondered if you'd considered the relation between Beethoven's 9th and it's prominence in the movie? Search this: Beethoven's Ninth, An 'Ode to the Choice' as Presented in Stanley Kubrick's 'a Clockwork Orange' (unable to post link). Cheers!

[robag88]

@148estella

I've done a lot of checking up on the 9th. The European Union adopted a distorted version of it as their anthem in the same year that Kubrick included a distorted version of it in ACO. See chapter 17 of the expanded ACO analysis on my site.

[BlowDeBloodyDoorsOff]

Great work as always Rob. I know you must have a pin in the head with people asking you to review this and review that, but I am looking forward to your treatment of No country For Old Men. Incedentially, I came across some lectures from Yale Uni on You tube, an alalysis if Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian.

[MrJaybee61]

So happy to find this. Still hoping that one day you will do one on Catch-22!

[kickodude]

I finally know what "Uncanny" means in "The Uncanny X-men" LOL thanks!

[robag88]

@kickodude Lol. Glad you got something out of the video :)

[willcwhite]

Interestingly, it seems to be in many of the scenes of greatest violence. When Alex knocks the droogs into the river, he credits hearing beautiful music from an open window with clarifying his decision - Rossini's "Gazza Ladra" Overture. When he's picking up girls at the shop, Beethoven is playing, but the 3some is Rossini's "Wm. Tell". The really important one is the murder scene - again "La Gazza Ladra" Overture.

[willcwhite]

I wonder if you find any significance in Kubrick's prominent use of Rossini's music in the film. Beethoven and Rossini were historically rivals: as Beethoven aged, his music grew thornier and and more intellectual; at the same time, Rossini's light, melodious music grew all the more popular. The two composers were very much at odds stylistically and in terms of their popularity. I suspect Kubrick was aware of this, but I'd love to know your take.

[robag88]

@willcwhite In all honesty I'm not aware of any Rossini compositions. Where did Kubrick use them?

[Jimster666]

I know you've been getting a lot of requests but i would like to suggest 'Metropolis' by Fritz Lang. Id love to hear your analysis of it.

Anyway, whatever avenue you choose, good luck!

[robag88]

@Jimster666 Still haven't seen Metropolis all the through.

[z8it]

Rob, it's good to see the vitality of your analysis hasn't faltered.

It's been awhile since I've been to your site.

Might I suggest an analysis of Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND?

( particularly regarding references to Plato's allegory of the cave.) The implications and correlations of MK ULTRA, PROJECT PAPERCLIP, ( which are also heavily alluded to in Tarrantino's INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.) indicate and strong motivation in "creative" hollywood to wake the masses .

from corporate mind control.

[cactus5150]

Welcome back Rob - I hope all is well mate and thanks for the posting...;)

[jusblaze99]

great analysis.not sure if this is the case, but if u are the only person who is providing these accurate in depth analyses of kubrick films, then ur gonna be well known in the history books (far after we all have passed away of course). i believe kubricks films will be studied in the future like sheakespere is studied now. and ur analyses will be a part of thos studies

[redscribbler]

yeay!

[Ashloomis]

The one person who disliked this was Rob Ager.

[Beale64]

The Beethoven element is one of the more interesting aspects of "A Clockwork Orange," which is why I find this video fascinating. You did well, Rob, and I'm looking forward to your "Mulholland Dr." video. I rewatched the film last night, so it's fresh in my mind.

[Octavius0]

Interesting!

[sayweb]

brilliant



[colinrenteria2006]

dude you are a hack. i already knew all of this stuff. just kidding! these videos and your website are awesome!! :)

[touristinexile]

there's also the coat from the record store

[UnitDave]

I'm so happy to hear that more videos are coming soon! I'm sure it will have been worth the wait.

[bigfoot799]

Great video, but keep them coming! How about a Brazil analysis? And get that Barton Fink analysis done.... a Mulholland Drive video would be good too.

[robag88]

@bigfoot799 There's already a Mulholland Drive analysis on my website :)

[0yuen0]

@bigfoot799 Great request. All 3 movies are my top movies too. 

[ianhalen1000]

Welcome back Mr. Ager to the land of video and YouTube!!

Looking forward to more vids and articles!!

[Kavanaghness]

goddamnit rob you are a genius

[detriplea]

You are a Genius Rob.

[akaast]

1:41 skewwl

[ehmazin]

Just read the full deal on your site, all I can say is great work

Kubrick was an absolute master of film.

[JackAtlus124]

very interesting!

[kickodude]

LOL Kubrick was a busy guy!

[Nic33rd]

Yessss! Rob's back!

[zombi2989]

Good to see you back on Youtube and as insightful as ever!

[riethc]

Seems like a metaphysical smear campaign against Beethoveen to me. ;)

Glad you are back, Ager.

[Imdrinkinhateraide]

Finally new videos

[BENBOBBY2]

Very interesting as always Rob, but seemed to end the discussion a bit prematurely! Theres no real mention as to why Kubrick put so much effort into doing this? Why Beethoven in particular?

[robag88]

@BENBOBBY2 As the caption at the start of the video says ... the full analysis is on my website. This is just a video supplement outlining the basic symbolism of Alex as Beethoven :)

[pessimist94]

welcome back!

[jazerazo]

YEEES!!! New videos!!

[excalibunny]

Yes! 

[norgaond]

Iove so much your videos.

[Nagneto]

interesting as usual!

[odin422]

GOOD GOD! eye opening.

[mikecop87]

I can't wait for the No country for old men & there will be blood analysis. two of the best & most powerful films in the last decade.

we can expect Barry Lyndon or Stalker, by any chance? so I'm going to buy that stanldy kubrick book about "the best movie ever made"

[FixiousMaximus]

McDowell stated in the new ACO DVD commentary that he wasn't pleasuring himself; merely taking off his boot. Though, perhaps Kubrick saw what it looked like and left it in for that reason...

[robag88]

@FixiousMaximus The pleasuring himself metaphor is certainly there. Just look at the images that flash up on screen - an exploding train, erupting volcanoes etc. As usual though he didn't tell the cast and crew what he was after, but would find ways to get the details he wanted covertly - his biographies are full of evidence to that effect :)

[maxonfire67]

Great to see the best film analyser on youtube back.

[vAmpyr616]

just to say also that I read somewhere that Kubrick read the uncanny and it influenced the shining quite heavily (mirrored images, everything that happens is a reoccurance, doubles) i also found this quote from him:

“In his essay on the uncanny, Das Unheimliche, Freud said that the uncanny is the only feeling which is more powerfully experienced in art than in life. If the genre required any justification, I should think this alone would serve as its credentials.” – Stanley Kubrick

[robag88]

@vAmpyr616 Any idea the source of that quote? It would certainly be worth adding to the article.

[JoshGilhen]

Love your film analyses series, I'm delighted to see another one.

[drfreemason]

Your my True hero Rob from Liverpooooooool!

Big up to all the Scousers!!! :-)

You will never walk alone my friend

Oh Yeahh, Clock Work Orange = The Sun (Sun Worshippers)

[ZomBettie]

yay you back

[AgrippasNotebook3336]

Fascinating and intriguing as always Rob! Always enjoy your work, please post more often!

[robag88]

@AgrippasNotebook3336 This year will see much more frequent postings. The next couple of vids will be up within weeks

[AgrippasNotebook3336]

@robag88

Ok, that comment officially made my day! : D

Can't wait to see what you've been working on!

[vAmpyr616]

was delighted to see this was uploaded. was really hoping that it would be some turn in your grave stuff though. still cant wait!

[robag88]

@vAmpyr616 More TIYG stuff coming in the next week or two :)

[vAmpyr616]

@robag88 cant wait!

[azt3c]

i would watch hours of your reviews if you had more !! youtube should pay you for making this incredible reviews m8

[carnagex64]

You are a role model of mine ;)

[mikecop87]

Thank you Rob!!! & it's about damn time!!!

[robag88]

@mikecop87 I've been far too busy for far too long. More videos coming very soon!

[mikecop87]

@robag88 my mistake is the book is called Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon: The Greatest Movie Never Made. I personality don't think Kubrick would want a book about his unmade film to be sold to Public. like how They sold Jim Morrison or Kurt Cobain personal Journals after thier deaths. but I'm still going to buy it, this man was a god

[weeryan2008]

@robag88 Yaaaaayyyy!

[lildshadow2]

@robag88 Yay as well! I also love your videos!

[thisisrumorcontrol]

@robag88 welcome back my man, Youtube just isn't the same without Rob Ager.

[evilmickey100]

@robag88 can u do an analysis for inception