Technology and issues of human nature
             At the beginning of the film, the proto-human's contact with the monolith is shown as being a kind of blessed inspiration that leads to their use of bones as tools. It is the birth of the relationship between humans and technology and the role it plays in our lives. The moment when the first proto-human makes the logical leap to use bones for tools it is treated like a moment of divine inspiration. Their immediate use for this new found tool is to kill a member on an opposing tribe of proto-humans. Their use of technology is used for purposes of survival and dominace. Technology is shown in the beginning of the film to highlight and help bring out man's raw aggression and tendency towards violence. This is in direct opposition with the later part of the film which highlights how technology is used to suppress these primal human actions.
             As soon as the film enters the dance of the spacecraft sequence it becomes apparent that Kubrick wanted to emphasize the dehumanizing aspect of technology. As much as the bone club was used to bring out man's primal desires, the new technology seems to suppress it. Humans in this portion of the film are shown as being cold, and logical. Nothing like the primal aspect of their ancestors. Technology seems to moved into a new sphere that suppresses human nature, but it is shown that it is impossible to suppress it completely. The examples of constant eating in the film are used to contrast human needs and functions with the cold sterility of the spacecraft. The space toilet is in fact my favorite example of technology trying to suppress human nature. The technology that is assigned to take care of one of humans most basic needs is incredibly complicated with a long list of instructions for usage. Though we have reached the pinnacle of space in all of its cold technological wonder, we still must eat and use the bathroom.
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