“Sentient computer HAL 9000, the film’s main antagonist, has become one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history.”
Credit:@tcm
On Nov. 27, The School of Arts and Sciences kicked off another installment in their Movie Monday Night Series at 7 p.m. In the Selby auditorium.
Dr. Thomas Ricard, Assistant Professor for Science in Science Fiction, hosted that night’s event, which featured the sci-fi classic “2001: A Space Oddysey.”
“This academic year 2017-2018 The School of Arts and Sciences has chosen a theme of the 1960s decades,” explained Jennifer Orendorf, Administrator of Events and Special Programs. “Our curriculum and extra-curricular activities are focused on this so that all of our departments are unified in a common effort.”
SchOrendorf and her team want to enliven teaching terms with activities that support what students are doing in the classroom. They thought that movie nights might add to campus life and offer students fun, free activities to do in the evenings.
The Movie Monday Night is held each month and features a different faculty member who has chosen a film that pertains to the material they cover in class. Orendorf explained that Dr. Ricard chose “2001: A Space Odyssey” because it is a great 1960s film, as well as one of Dr. Ricard’s personal favorites and is in keeping with the themes of his class, Science in Science Fiction.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made. According to Dr. Ricard, “2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science-fiction film.”
“The movie entails a lot of scientific topics and it is a very well put together movie,” added Ricard. He found the film’s “scientific and artistic viewpoints” beneficial for students. He also invited all of his students from Science in Science Fiction to attend the event.
Jade Bastian, a sophomore criminal justice major, came to this event because “it was a mandatory for a class participation grade.” Though she found the film a bit long, she also found it enlightening. Bastian took in plenty of knowledge from the movie, stating that “human error is always going to happen.”
Kayla Pereira, a sophomore criminal justice major, received a similar message from “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
“We, as a science community, need to watch out for how advanced we want to get with technology,” Pereira said.
The film ran for two hours and 30 minutes. Dr. Ricard’s favorite part of the movie came “at the end, when the astronauts visits the alien civilization.”
The main purpose of this event was “to allow the students to see an excellent film in its entirety and to give other students a chance to know what is taught in class” explained Dr. Ricard. Both Bastian and Pereira expressed their desire to see this event, and others like it, return to campus.
Dr. Ricard was excited that he was able to contribute to the Movie Monday Night Series. He would like to present again at the Movie Monday Night Series and hopes to show “Hidden Figures.”
The Movie Monday Night Series will continue in the spring semester with more classic films of the 1960’s.
