List of cultural references to A Clockwork Orange
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Popular culture references to Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange and Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation have been wide-ranging, from popular music and television to movies and other media.[1][2] Some references are based on themes central to the story, such as the use of Nadsat words or phrases, whilst others have incorporated visual elements from the film. The film made Kubrick one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century,[1] and the film has become a cult classic.[3]
Music
- A Clockwork Orange, like other dystopian science-fiction novels, had an important influence on industrial and cyberpunk music. The film version influenced bands' fashion styles. The band Tolchok took its name from A Clockwork Orange.[4]
- The 1991 single release of U2's The Fly had a piece of music entitled Alex Descends into Hell for a *Bottle of Milk/Korova 1 from the score of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A *Clockwork Orange. The performance was scored by Bono and The Edge from U2.[5]
- Polish band Myslovitz's album Korova Milky Bar refers to the film, comparing it to present situation in Poland.[6]
- The German punk band Die Toten Hosen alludes to the film in the song "Hier kommt Alex" from the album Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau.
- Blur music video for "The Universal", directed by Jonathan Glazer, has several references to the opening scene of "A Clockwork Orange"
- Rob Zombie music video for Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy) recreates the opening scene and also the car scene from the movie.
- Guns 'n Roses music video for Welcome To The Jungle gives a nod to the film by showing Axl Rose in a strait jacket and head restraint watching violent scenes on televisions.
Television
- There have been references to the film on South Park:
- In "Coon 2: Hindsight", the scene where the Coon (Cartman) attacks the rest of the Coon's gang is reminiscent of the scene in which one of the members insists the gang be run in a "new way" that entails less power for Alex (Cartman); then while walking along, Alex attacks his "droogs" in order to re-establish his leadership.[7] The scene also has the same music playing: an excerpt from the overture of The Thieving Magpie by Gioacchino Rossini.
- The Simpsons contains frequent references to the film.[8][9] In several episodes, Bart is portrayed as Alex DeLarge from the movie.
Films
The film version of A Clockwork Orange immediately revolutionized the science fiction film genre, opening the way for other films to portray elaborate dystopian narratives and to intelligently analyze social dilemmas. Many film directors have borrowed themes and cinematic techniques from the film.[1] The film is an essential part of modern cinema and films often reference it.[10]
- Heath Ledger said he based his portrayal of The Joker on Alex DeLarge.[11][12]
- Films that use similar cinematic techniques to A Clockwork Orange include A Boy and His Dog, THX 1138, and Westworld.[1]
- The torture scene in Reservoir Dogs being set to "Stuck in the Middle With You" was described by Quentin Tarantino in an interview as a direct reference to the scene in A Clockwork Orange where Alex kicks the writer and rapes his wife to the tune of "Singin' in the Rain". A Clockwork Orange is also referenced at the beginning of the film when all the men are walking in slow motion, as Alex and his droogs did.[13][14]
- In Gangster No. 1 Malcolm McDowell, the actor who played Alex in the film version, plays his character of a gangster as an older version of Alex.[15]
- In Good Bye Lenin the fast forward sex scene of A Clockwork Orange is referenced when Alex and his friend are setting up his mother's bedroom. On both occassions the Rossini's William Tell Overture being played. The name of the main character in Good Bye Lenin is also Alex.
Sports
- Professional wrestler Patrick Martin takes the first part of his ring name Alex Shelley from Alex DeLarge.[16]
- The Netherlands national football team is also known as "the Clockwork Orange", due to their orange kits and their highly accurate passes during the Johann Cruijff era.
Magazines
- A MAD satire of the film called A Crockwork Lemon was created for the June 1973 issue #159[17] by writer Stan Hart and artist George Woodbridge. Norman Mingo's illustration for the cover showed Alfred E. Neuman as Alex.
- In the September 1972 issue of Playboy, the cartoon strip "Little Annie Fanny" featured a scene from A Clockwork Orange, with characters Annie and Ralphie watching it onboard a plane and discussing violence.
References
- ^ a b c d Thill, Scott, 2002, St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Gale Group.
- ^ Melanya Burrows (2005-1-28). "Addicted to Droogs". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2007-8-14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Hills, Matt, 2002, Fan Cultures, Routledge, ISBN 0415240247.
- ^ Collins, Karen, 2005, "Dead Channel Surfing: the commonalities between cyberpunk literature and industrial music," Popular Music, 24, pp. 165-178.
- ^ U2wanderer [1].
- ^ Montreal *Mirror - Rockin’ and rollin’ in sad, dark Poland
- ^ Modell, Josh (October 27, 2010). "The Coon 2: Hindsight". AV Club. Retrieved Nov. 1, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Irwin, William, Skoble, Aeon J., and Conard, Mark T., 2001, The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer, Open Court Publishing, ISBN 0812694333.
- ^ D'oh! Bart's unbeatable, Daily Telegraph [2].
- ^ Russel, Catherine, 1995, Narrative Mortality: Death, Closure, and New Wave Cinemas, University of Minnesota Press, ISBN 0816624852.
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ Richards, Jeffrey, 1997, Films and British National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army, Manchester University, ISBN 0719047439.
- ^ Reservoir Dogs, Films in Review
- ^ Nelmes, Jill, 2003, An Introduction to Film Studies, Routledge, ISBN 0415262682.
- ^ Clevett, Jason (2004-08-25). "Alex Shelley: Next Generation superstar". Retrieved 2010-10-29.
I got the Alex part from the main character of A Clockwork Orange.
- ^ Mad Magazine June 1973 issue #159 contents and cover image
Further reading
- Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange by Stuart Y. McDougal Cambridge University Press, 2003 ISBN 0521574889
- Ludovico's Cure. On Body and Music in "A Clockwork Orange" by Gianfranco Marrone, Legas publisher, 2009
- 'Droog In The Dock" A Clockwork Orange film, music and interest Fanzine 7 issues by M. Embleton 80's-90's