2001 vs. Solaris: A Futuristic and Filmographic Tit-for-Tat during the Cold War Space Race

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 68 - 87, 31.10.2024

Ödül Celep

Abstract

The Cold War ideological conflict and its bi-polar reflections between Capitalist and Communist blocs were reflected in both macro politics rhetoric and everyday popular culture in the world, including those of the US and the former Soviet Union. In particular, the Cold War between the two superpowers also included a critical Space Race for exploring and discovering the rest of space for the humanity. This space race was reflected in no artwork better than cinema and films. Both Stanley Kubrick and Andrei Tarkovsky were prominent and independent film directors of their times. Yet, neither represented the bloc they belonged because of their independence in filmmaking. After Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), the film changed the way the wider audiences perceived the science fiction genre. Four years later, Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky released Solaris (1972) as a ‘reply in kind’ to 2001. Since then, the two films, both seen as masterworks today, were often comparatively examined within the wider context of their political times. The purpose of this research is to shed light on this wider context of the two films and two directors as two masterminds of filmmaking.

Keywords

Cold War, Arms Race, Stanley Kubrick, Andrei Tarkovsky, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Solaris (1972)

2001 Solaris’e Karşı: Soğuk Savaş Uzay Yarışı Sırasında Fütürist ve Filmografik Bir Kısasa Kısas

Abstract

The Cold War ideological conflict and its bi-polar reflections between Capitalist and Communist blocs were reflected in both macro politics rhetoric and everyday popular culture in the world, including those of the US and the former Soviet Union. In particular, the Cold War between the two superpowers also included a critical Space Race for exploring and discovering the rest of space for the humanity. This space race was reflected in no artwork better than cinema and films. Both Stanley Kubrick and Andrei Tarkovsky were prominent and independent film directors of their times. Yet, neither represented the bloc they belonged because of their independence in filmmaking. After Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), the film changed the way the wider audiences perceived the science fiction genre. Four years later, Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky released Solaris (1972) as a ‘reply in kind’ to 2001. Since then, the two films, both seen as masterworks today, were often comparatively examined within the wider context of their political times. The purpose of this research is to shed light on this wider context of the two films and two directors as two masterminds of filmmaking.

Keywords

Cold War, Arms Race, Stanley Kubrick, Andrei Tarkovsky, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Solaris (1972)

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