Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site seismo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!rivers From: rivers@seismo.UUCP (Wilmer Rivers) Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: 2001 ending : wineglass scene Message-ID: <645@seismo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Mar-84 12:15:04 EST Article-I.D.: seismo.645 Posted: Mon Mar 5 12:15:04 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 6-Mar-84 04:30:10 EST Organization: Center for Seismic Studies, Arlington, VA Lines: 20 As long as flames as being posted regarding the ending of "2001", would someone care to speculate about the meaning of the scene in which the aging Bowman, under study in the extra-terrestrial zoo (which has been made to resemble a hotel room), knocks a wine glass off the table, causing it to shatter on the floor ? Why would Kubrick attribute significance to such a trivial act ? I can think of only 3 possibilities : 1) It shows that mankind is still fallible and hence in need of further alien intervention. 2) It recalls an opening scene, in which the effect of the monolith was to inspire the ape to smash something (a tapir skeleton). The aliens must act further to remove the destructive behavior inherent in mankind. 3) Since breaking a goblet is part of the ritual in a Jewish wedding ceremony (& since Kubrick is Jewish), the director is signifying that a union between mankind and the aliens is occuring, the offspring of which is the "star-child". Does anyone have any more plausible, or at least more interesting, interpretations ? W. Rivers