Austin Blackburn
His Influence
Why are Kubrick’s Films Influential?
While Kubrick never made the same film twice, all of his films possess his unmistakable directing style. Kubrick is what is called an auteur filmmaker: “a director who exerts a high level of control across all aspects of a film” (“Film 101”). Kubrick was often in control of the editing, writing, and photographing processes of all of his films, and because of this level of control, his films are extremely recognizable as his (Magda).
Kubrick Editing Barry Lyndon
Some of his film’s signature qualities include his unique visual aesthetic, his tedious attention to detail, picturesque shot framing and composition, and his use of ironic, dark, and often pessimistic themes and tones (Magda). Kubrick’s films often explored the “darker side of the human mind,” both seen in his famous use of symmetrical and geometric shots to frame and force your attention on characters who are often pushed to breaking points. Kubrick’s way of portraying the psychological downfall of his characters essentially redefined the way falling into insanity is displayed in film (Townend).
Symmetry and One-Point Perspective in The Shining
Kubrick was never afraid to touch on the controversial subject matter, as seen in films such as A Clockwork Orange and The Shining which depict acts of “extreme violence”, and movies such as Lolita and Eyes Wide Shut deal with cases of dark and extreme sexual content. By delving into controversial material, the widespread reaction to his films was both positive and negative; however, regardless of audience perception, each film affected and influenced moviegoers all the same (Townend).
A Clockwork Orange
Lolita
The Shining
Eyes Wide Shut
Kubrick’s influence can not only be seen in other films, but also outside the world of cinema. While creating his films, he also created new technology, including the invention of “new camera and lighting techniques,” as well as “fictional future technologies.” Kubrick’s art extends beyond the realm of film into the many branches of the popular culture of the modern world (Townend).
Fun Fact: Apple's iPod's Name Comes from the famous line in 2001 "Open the Pod Bay Doors, HAL" (Caffier).
In 2018, the word Kubrickian was entered into the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as: “meticulous perfectionism, mastery of the technical aspects of film-making, and atmospheric visual style in films across a range of genres” (Leigh).