Chromatic Illusion: Kubrickian Technique of Narrative Depth

Arya B Jayakumar; Sajitha M A

doi:10.5195/cinej.2026.830

Chromatic Illusion: Kubrickian Technique of Narrative Depth

Authors

Arya B Jayakumar University of Calicut https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3685-669X
Sajitha M A University of Calicut https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9833-7004

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2026.830

Keywords:

Stanley Kubrick, film color, chromatic illusion, neoformalism, color symbolism, cinematic narration, mise-en-scène

Abstract

This article examines color as a formal narrative system in Stanley Kubrick’s cinema. Using neoformalist close analysis of selected sequences from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Shining (1980), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999), it identifies three related chromatic operations: construction, warning, and connectivity. “Chromatic illusion” describes how organized variations in hue, saturation, light, and spatial placement shape spectators’ expectations beyond dialogue and plot. The Stargate sequence and Room 237 construct contrasting spatial experiences; HAL’s red eye and the blue-lit bedroom anticipate narrative tension; and recurring red and blue connect dispersed scenes. Rather than attributing fixed meanings to individual hues, the study shows how chromatic patterns operate within each film’s formal design, suggesting a framework for comparative analysis of cinematic color and narrative perception.

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Volume 14.2 (2026) | ISSN 2158-8724 (online) | DOI 10.5195/cinej.2026.830 | http://cinej.pitt.edu

288 CINEJ Cinema Journal: Arya B Jayakumar, Sajitha M A

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Published

2026-10-15

How to Cite

Jayakumar, A. B., & M A, S. (2026). Chromatic Illusion: Kubrickian Technique of Narrative Depth. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 14(2), 254–288. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2026.830

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Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026): Fall

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Articles

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