Life today seems unimaginable without technology. We depend on it for things like; staying in touch with family, commuting to and from work, protecting our homes from intrusions, and boosting the economy, just to name a few. As wonderful as technology is, it can have unintended consequences that can be profound. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a science fiction film released in 1968 directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film takes an in-depth look at the human relationship with technology. Arthur C. Clark wrote a short story called The Sentinel on which the film was based. It's an epic story about the evolution of the human species and how technology plays a vital role in this process. 2001 has four main acts and begins with the genesis of human evolution. A mysterious alien intelligence plants a solid black monolith near a group of monkeys. The monkeys are initially scared but soon find the courage to approach and touch the strange object. As they do so, the monolith begins to make a sound that emulates a resonant vibration, and the apes begin to evolve. The monolith appears throughout the film whenever human evolution occurs, acting as a catalyst for it. Before the accident, the monkeys lived in harmony with the environment and with their peers. Soon after contact they begin to expose the origins of complex thought by inventing the first technology, primitive tools. Using the bones they realize that they can intimidate and even kill their rivals, but also kill small mammals for food. Consuming a meat-based diet allows their brains to develop rapidly and become the most important species on Earth. The film jumps to 2001 and portrays humans at the zenith of evolution and also the rapid pace that technology has developed with us. Kubrick presents... in the center of the sheet... the final monolith appears and his unstable hand reaches out to touch it. In his final act he loses his physical body and begins a next phase of evolution and existence by being reborn as a star child. He is then brought back to earth and watches it at the end of the film. Kubrick warned us with this film that technology is wonderful, but we can never let it be fundamental in our lives and risk becoming its slaves. We must moderate our thirst for “progress” with wisdom and never forget our humble origins. Our evolution could have a fantastic future comparable to Kubrick's vision or it could lead to extinction, but we must use technology sensibly and never lose our admiration for all creation. Works Cited Ager, Roger. “An In-Depth Analysis of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.” Collectivelearning.com. 2008. Network. 8 April. 2011. .