THEME 5   Games...

Physically and mentally all characters play games at some point. In 2001, Poole plays chess; chess is particularly relevant as it was Kubrick's interest and aid "to remain calm in a crisis and apply methodical approach to the job in hand" (Paul Duncan).
In The Shining, Danny is the image of this theme. He is always playing, whether it be in his car or playing with his trains or with a ball, or in the games room playing darts; however we do see Jack throwing a ball around when he is bored. Danny is also the image of innocence, due to his age and lack of understanding for the things happening around him.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, there are visual similarities in the presentation of games...

In both 2001 and The Shining, game playing are captured from a birds eye view. This creates a sense of weakness in the character and strength in the spectator, or, in this case, whoever the POV belongs to (i.e. HAL and the spirits lurking in room 237). This perspective of the theme suggests that threatening characters (HAL and the spirits) have power over the characters playing the game and already have the upper hand; this creates fear and intensity within the spectator as we can feel something bad is going to happen to them but we don't know what.
In terms of intertextuality, Danny has been connected to Poole, not just because they are both playing, but something much more. To aid the visual connection, Danny is wearing a jumper with the Apollo space craft on it. But what do Poole and Danny have in common?...