2001: A Space Odyssey
This site showcases the printed program for Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. My thanks go to Mark Hodgson for the loan of his copy. The program was available in UK cinemas, accompanying the first release of 2001, circa 1968.
I was inspired to create this site partly because of the program's curiosity value for fans of 2001, and partly because it is a stunning piece of late-1960s graphic design. The cover is metallic silver (an actual metallic ink was used) and sections of the text are printed on translucent paper - these novel techniques combine to create a non-verbal experience analogous to the film itself. Certainly, the program's authors utilised the print medium to communicate as much information about the film's intentions as the text does.
Some of the innovations can't be replicated here. However I have tried, in this HTML adaptation of the program, to retain some of the feel of the original (although some changes have had to be made to accomodate viewing via an Internet browser). The program has a loose kind of narrative, which I felt was important to preserve. The pages are accessed in a linear way - from beginning to end. The nature of the material makes this site fairly graphics intensive. You are welcome to e-mail me with your comments and suggestions.
For those interested in the original material, I have provided additional contact sheets that link to the original images. These can also be used as a rough site map, in that they give an indication of what you can expect to find in the pages that follow.