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Kubrick’s Worlds: Power, Paranoia, and the Politics of the Human Condition

Oct 28, 2025

Guest

Nathan Abrams

Nathan Abrams, a film scholar and Professor at Bangor University, delves into the cinematic genius of Stanley Kubrick. He discusses how films like "Dr. Strangelove" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" reflect modern political absurdities and explore themes of power and human nature. Abrams reveals Kubrick's fascination with war, authority, and mysticism, while connecting his New York Jewish roots to his work. The conversation also touches on Kubrick's impact on contemporary filmmakers and the layers of meaning in his unique storytelling style.

01:30:09

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insights

INSIGHT

Enduring Political Imagery

Kubrick's imagery endures because it condenses complex political anxieties into iconic visual metaphors.
These images get reused as cultural shorthand across decades and political contexts.

insights

INSIGHT

Sexuality As Political Metaphor

Kubrick links sexual anxiety with political power, making sexuality a recurring theme across his films.
This coupling explains why figures like Jack Ripper resonate with contemporary conspiracism and political myths.

insights

INSIGHT

Kubrick's Wide Cinematic Reach

Kubrick shaped modern filmmakers: his techniques and visual language ripple through directors like Christopher Nolan.
Even when directors disagree with him, they borrow his methods and aesthetics.

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Relevance of Dr. Strangelove Today

01:34 • 4min

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Characters as Allegories and Sexuality in Kubrick

05:35 • 5min

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Kubrick’s Influence on Contemporary Directors

10:46 • 3min

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Who Inspired Dr. Strangelove?

13:43 • 6min

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Nazi Scientists and American Power

19:45 • 2min

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Why Kubrick Returned to War Themes

21:55 • 4min

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Was Kubrick a Misanthrope?

25:39 • 47sec

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Kubrick’s Ending Choices and Clockwork Orange

26:25 • 8min

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Conspiracism Around Kubrick’s Films

34:45 • 10min

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Kubrick’s Elliptical Style and Audience

44:17 • 59sec

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Kubrick’s Admiration for Spielberg

45:16 • 1min

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Fairy Tale Quality and Kafkaan Realism

46:39 • 5min

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Mythic Influences on 2001

51:17 • 4min

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Submission, Obedience, and The Shining

55:35 • 3min

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Kubrick as a New York Jewish Intellectual

58:15 • 8min

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Kabbalah, Kooks, and 2001’s Monolith

01:05:51 • 6min

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Leaving New York and Political Alignment

01:11:50 • 3min

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Why Kubrick Chose the Monolith’s Shape

01:14:35 • 2min

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Jewish Readings of the Star Child and Broken Glass

01:16:38 • 6min

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Recurring Wounds and Jewish Body Motifs

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In this episode of International Horizons, Interim Director Eli Karetny speaks with film scholar Nathan Abrams about the enduring relevance of Stanley Kubrick and what his work can teach us about our current era. From the nuclear absurdities of Dr. Strangelove to the cosmic rebirth of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick’s films expose the fragile line between technological mastery and moral collapse. Abrams unpacks Kubrick’s fascination with war, authority, and obedience, his roots in the New York Jewish intellectual tradition, and his exploration of mystical and mythic themes—from Kabbalah to The Odyssey. Together, they reveal how Kubrick’s cinematic universe reflects our own: a world where human creativity, paranoia, and power intertwine in both terrifying and illuminating ways.

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