Whether it is an orangutan that moved the hands of the clock of evolution becoming human being or it refers to the not human mechanical interior of mind, Burgess’s book described the young generation of Britain in the “permissive” 60s exploring the themes of free will (“without free will the man is a clockwork orange”), good and evil, generation gap, sin. The book parodies totalitarian governments and using parody and black humor shows the dystopian society of the youth culture.
The author shows the total alienation of Alex and his fellows, the representatives of the youth, by “nadstad” – the Russian based slang. In Alex’s speech often occur Russian words – viddy (to see), devochka (a girl), mesto (place) and so on, which make the book very difficult to read by English speakers. Total defamiliarization (the term Russian formalists invented for the theory).
How did Stanley Kubrick transfer the book for the big screen? Brilliantly is the laconic answer.
Although Burges expressed his dislike about the movie, it itself is highly praised by the critic and the public. At the same time it was criticized for the violence it exposes.
What makes it interesting for me - the techniques used.
• The cartoon-like presentation of characters and action – the futuristic setting, the luxurious colors and décor, the hidden and exposed art pieces often made to react differently to their nature, serve as language, iconographic language of codes meant to lead or mislead the audience. In this sense the episode where Alex and his gang drive in the countryside and stop at a sign “home”, can easily be recognized as replica of the traditions of Looney tunes. And what is more obvious - the characters always try to outsmart their victims, causing troubles and committing crimes in a comic manner. They act is if their actions are well-made hideous jokes, which brings us to the terms of good and evil – the ethic categories are completely obscured in their attitude towards life (they severely beat an old man just because he is old). And Beethoven’s music urges Alex for violence.
• The technique of collage: the Billyboy’s gang trying to rape a girl on a deserted theatrical stage (moving like waves from one side to the other as parody of not one or two vaudeville performances); Alex pushing members of his gang in the water pond as a replica of Swan Lake and so on. The burlesque, the grotesque can allow us to call the film postmodern creation.
• The mirror narrative: (In Burgess’s book it is recognized as an attempt the narration to be constructed as musical piece, it follows the rise and fall in a symphony – the author wrote music as well), however, I think that in the film it serves as backing up the theme of the clockwork – the diversity of time and also of the mechanism crime-punishment. The roles are swapped – Alex turns into victim. The old had it to the youth.
Free will is essential to maintain our humanity. And while Burgess believed in redemption and showed at the end of the book that Alex chose his goodness, Kubrick preferred not so optimistic ending.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ralica_Luckanova
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