it is replaced by a multiplicity that can be numbered and supervised; by the point of the inmates, by a sequestered and observed solitude. (Foucault 200)
In extending this physical structure into a metaphor of social existence in relation to power, he writes:
Power has its principle not so much in a person as in a certain concerted distribution of bodies, surfaces, lights, gazes; an arrangement whose internal mechanisms produce the relation in which individuals are caught up. (Foucault 200-202)
Taking the concept of a ‘prison guard,’ who might take this role on the spaceship focused on in 2001? This question isn't answered, but rather implied in a specific scene in the film where all characters aboard the ship are being interviewed by a news
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HAL 9000 is a cultural representation of a monster, a prison guard of the spacecraft’s panopticon, and finally an influence on society. 2001: A Space Odyssey takes the fear of a nation, projects that fear, and initially created a trend in cinematics for years to come. As a whole, the film still influences the sci-fi genre, both visually and thematically. Looking at a more recent film Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland) it is obvious the relations between the two films. Garland, in interviews about his film, cited Stanley Kubrick as one of his influences when crafting Ex Machina, specifically with Kubrick’s work with 2001: A Space Odyssey. HAL 9000 was the most credible influence in Ex Machina, which utilizes this same concept by introducing Ava, the AI intelligent being created as something that is aimed to benefit humanity. Kubrick intended his movie to be an influence and even a lesson for the future. Take HAL 9000 into consideration when thinking about the Apple iPhones that nearly everyone uses in today’s society. Steve Jobs launched the iPhone in 2008 and had no idea how revolutionary the device would become. Now, we are directing almost all of our cognitive functions through our phones; give it an input, it gives us an output. We are relying on technology to direct us where to go, what to read, where to eat, what to buy. Initially, we are being directed how to think. We are currently in the process of sacrificing our questioning, open-minded brain, for the ease of technology. At what point will we start questioning the answers that Siri gives us? Siri is not at the level of HAL, but it is being programmed by Apple with a strong corporate bias. Maybe one day these technologies will be self-programming, just as HAL was. Will they learn to manipulate