The Dawn of Man by Quinn Guilfoyle
THE DAWN ON MAN…The students were shown the nine-minute clip that opens the extraordinary film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Asked to share their reactions, many found it perplexing and overwhelming, as did QUINN. But she worked her way through it to deliver a thoughtful piece and a provocative ending.
THE DAWN OF MAN
The beginning of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
I honestly have never been more lost and unsettled before. It was so loud. All I could hear were the apes and the loud music. The tall black pillar is so strange, and I have no idea what to make of it. One of the apes started destroying the bones and then he came and beat the other ape with it. Somehow that’s supposed to be the Dawn of Mankind?
I mean, I kind of understand, but I don’t at the same time. All I can think about is what’s going through the other apes’ heads. They probably think Billy (that’s what I’ve named the ape with the bone) is unhinged. I mean seriously, what was wrong with him?
In a way, I guess the black pillar is sort of like the “White Box” we wrote about. The tall black pillar drew the apes in, just like the white box in my other story drew me in.
For some reason, after the appearance of the pillar, one of the apes starts thinking. He takes the bone and realizes he can use it to his advantage. After all of this time with these dried-up bones laying around, he realizes he can use them. (Just like today’s thinkers and inventors turning old stuff into new, more useful things.)
He can rise up, defend his friends, and dictate his surroundings now. This was the beginning of dynasties and amazing kingdoms that helped the world develop into what it is today. All because of this strange black pillar.
Think about the Wright Brothers for a minute. They wanted to make transportation easier, and one day they did. They made the first airplane, and they flew! One random day, they just had a thought and made it come true.
If you aren’t really into the Wright Brothers, here’s another example: The Aztecs, the Inca, the Roman Empire, the Han Dynasty, and so many other things that just started from an idea.
Don’t you ever wonder why humans are more advanced than other animals? Why are we so sentient and they aren’t? How did we go from savage cavemen into who we are today? Everyone is so different. We speak different languages, have different religions, and invent things nobody else would ever think of.
Sometimes, I get scared of what the future holds in store for mankind but, after seeing this, I’m kind of excited. I’m starting to see how valuable everything around us is. At first, I got absolutely nothing but weird feelings from the “Dawn of Man” film, but now I see what the introduction was truly trying to communicate.
It’s so funny how a nine-minute clip from a movie and a summary from Mr. Don can change your perspective so much.
You may think the most valuable thing on Earth is the ISS, a big diamond, or some sort of yacht, but I think it’s an idea.
Quinn Guilfoyle
2/2/24