How Stanley Kubrick used HAL to depict IBM in 2001: A Space Odyssey

How Kubrick used subliminal encoding to communicate his critique of the technology giant IBM. Please watch the WHOLE video before posting comments. The narrative content is taken from my article Kubrick and Beyond the Cinema Frame, which can be viewed at http://www.collativelearning.com.

HAL = IBM film analysis by Rob Ager

Category:

Education

Tags:

• HAL
• IBM
• stanley
• kubrick
• 2001
• space
• odyssey
• rob
• ager
• collativelearning
• subliminal
• film
• analysis

[cortneydream]

At 2:20 "I sense something strange about him"....Dr. Strangelove, the Nazi who proposed the use of a computer to determine who should live or die?

[robag88]

@cortneydream Kubrick's prior film :)

[diogenetic1]

If this film were made today, I'd say that the ATM reference might be wink to IBM's pioneering technology. But I think it is not. Toward the end of this video, during the chess sequence, ATM appears on one of the screens. Moments later, HIB appears on another close by, leading me to believe that they are systems updates with ATM signifying "atmosphere" and HIB signifying "hibernation" as in the hibernation chambers. The letters on Dave's face may suggest that we're seeing a HAL's eye view.

[robag88]

@diogenetic1 Yeah the ATM thing is bizarre

[qtzlctl2012]

i still hate this movie

[robag88]

@qtzlctl2012 yet you still find it interesting enough to watch analysis videos of it :)

[Chenstrapftw]

Well, i may have found more HAL=IBM references. The white lines going across Daves face could be symbolic of a bar code. IBM invented barcodes.

Also, if you pause this video at 5:53, the bottom left screen reads ATM. IBM invented ATM machines.

[robag88]

@paologizzle "one step ahead". I like that.

[glower125]

in my opinion HAL also represent Ha-el which is the most high. and the fact that HAL was disconnected is that kubrick is trying to show that God will need to be taken out of man's life in the question of humanity's apotheosis.

[superniokas]

Ok who thinks IBM should have been inverted for that? I'm sure somebody brought that up before

[ambush77]

you got this from Alan Watt

[splumer]

Great video. I don't know if I agree with your analysis, but it's very interesting. I'll read the article and come back.

[qtzlctl2012]

@robag88 hahahahahahaha you're so clever!

hahahahahahahaha

so smart

[robag88]

@dannymac77 911 cover up? I haven't posted anything on the subject maan :)

[robag88]

@ThePyjamaPirate Good, that'll keep you consciously occupied while everything else sinks in unconsciously :)