http://i.imgur.com/J6iXr4Z.jpg

It could NOT be any more simple, Trollheart.

One thing to realize is that Kubrick made 2001 to be a cinematic experience. A few fun facts.

1. The height to width aspect ratio of the monoliths are exactly the same as the apect ratios of the cinema screens it was first shown on - only rotated 90 degrees.

2. During its first cinematic run, the movie would start with the screen completely black for about 5 minutes while music played to the audience. And then there was an intermission halfway through, where again, the screen was completely black while music played.

During the movie there's two scenes where a monolith "sings" - to the apes on earth, and then the astronauts on the moon, as a way to enlighten them and further their evolution.

Notice any parallels?

Broken down to it's basics the movie is really easy to understand.

- An alien race plants a monolith on earth to help "teach" the apes to utilize tools (the bone) in order to survive and evolve.

- They also plant a monolith on the moon, knowning that once the human race had evolved enough from a technological standpoint to discover it, they'd most likely also be at the point of destroying themselves.

- The ape throws the bone (tool) into the air and then the movie jump cuts thousands of years into the future and we see a spaceship (tool) orbiting the earth. We then see multiple other spaceships orbiting. If you look closely, each one has a different nation's flag on it. They are all weapons of mass destruction.

- After the crew is directed to Jupiter by the moon monolith, Bowman enters the wormhole and is transported to the alien planet. There he's taken care of until he dies, and is then re-incarnated as the Star-Child. The next evolution of the human race.

- In the final scene the Star-Child is hovering above the earth. What Kubrick didn't show that the novel explains, is that the first thing the Star-Child does is destroy all of the orbiting spaceships (tools).

It also lays out human evolution in three clear stages/battles: man versus nature, man versus technology, and man versus himself.

Slam Dunk.

honestly though what really is 2001 about, and who really gives a shit?

It's like nobody understands a movie unless Morgan Freeman is narrating it.

Twin Peaks Season 3 Episode 8 amiright everyone?

Or Sam Elliot.

Yes. Yes, it could.

Got this one.
Yep. With you so far.
Bolded: did not notice this, but got all the rest
Never got that. Thought that was just in his mind, him going a little space crazy after so long alone. But it makes sense now.
No, never got that. I thought he was seeing his future, but didn't understand why the monolith suddenly appeared and had no idea why
this happened.

Now it all makes sense. Thanks so much for the ground-level explanation, Chula. Much better than Frown's usual snark and superior attitude. Over thirty years of "huh?" cleared up in one post. Bravo and thanks. :bowdown:

Note: When the monolith on the moon sends the radio signal to Jupiter, is it doing that to a) alert the one on Jupiter that Man has achieved space travel and is now ready for the next phase of his evolution or b) to throw "bread crumbs" enticing humans to Jupiter and to their planned destiny?

I mean, despite the lack of exposition, it is pretty simple and straightforward tbh. I'm biased because I've understood the movie from a young age (don't really remember if I had help or not, probably a combo of conversation with my uncle and my own brain). The transition between ape and man is a pretty loud hint at the themes imo.

And yes the idea is that the signals are pushing humans along.