the fountainhead
The Alberton Papers, Vol. V, #IX
By Dick Darne 12-10-07
I have noticed all the jovial bantering in the "other" newspaper in our part of the world, centering around supporters and critics of the "Ayn Rand Philosophy". I have decided to use my experiences with that philosophy and observations to do a review of the social effects of one of her major novels, " The Fountainhead". We will use the film version because I saw the film at the impressionable age of nine, (actually dragged to it by an Aunt of mine who encouraged thinking), somewhere in mid-adulthood I read the book and fifty five years later I watched the film again. At nine years old, seeing the personification of heroes himself, Gary Cooper play the lead ,I was thoroughly impressed. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, lets review the basic plot.
Our hero is a highly competent architect, who due to his unwillingness to compromise is unable to find work in his profession and finds himself toiling away in a stone quarry. The big love scene with the owners daughter did not impress me at that age, but our hero uttering the words: "I will help no man nor ask for help from any man" favorably impressed this nine year old. At sixty six he came across like a first class jerk, which testifies to both Cooper’s acting skills and some life’s experiences on my part. Moving right along, one of his architect buddies gets in way over his head and asks our hero for help designing a building, which he offers on the condition that nothing he designs be changed in any way shape or form, which as anyone in the real world knows, actually does. So he does what any real Rugged Individualist/John Wayne/Marlboro Man/ et al would do, he simply blows up the building. At nine, he’s my hero, at sixty six he seems a criminal. He gets caught (and just waits for them to come and get him), goes to trial, saves the day and his rear end by making a long impassioned speech to the jury, who promptly acquits him. Yeah, just like real life.
The author, Ayn Rand was a brilliant but misguided person. In a nutshell, she saw any combination of two or more individuals for any reason as passengers on a runaway elevator falling into communism, socialism or fascism. Her basic mantra seems to be that every person should act in their own absolute best self interest. Maybe in theory but if it were true, the world would be a worse place to live. Was she right? Food for thought. Other than the adoption of pseudo-rugged individualism by many shallow thinkers, she has left us with little of any practicality. Oh wait, she gave us Alan Greenspan, that famous champion of the common folk.
I have quite a few friends, some dating back to childhood, who are polar opposites of my political beliefs and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. That is real liberty and freedom to be able to disagree and discuss. Les Wood, let’s have a cup sometime. Right or wrong, sing your song. I love it, is this a great country or what? Stay tuned for more reviews of things that matter. dd
By Dick Darne 12-10-07
I have noticed all the jovial bantering in the "other" newspaper in our part of the world, centering around supporters and critics of the "Ayn Rand Philosophy". I have decided to use my experiences with that philosophy and observations to do a review of the social effects of one of her major novels, " The Fountainhead". We will use the film version because I saw the film at the impressionable age of nine, (actually dragged to it by an Aunt of mine who encouraged thinking), somewhere in mid-adulthood I read the book and fifty five years later I watched the film again. At nine years old, seeing the personification of heroes himself, Gary Cooper play the lead ,I was thoroughly impressed. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, lets review the basic plot.
Our hero is a highly competent architect, who due to his unwillingness to compromise is unable to find work in his profession and finds himself toiling away in a stone quarry. The big love scene with the owners daughter did not impress me at that age, but our hero uttering the words: "I will help no man nor ask for help from any man" favorably impressed this nine year old. At sixty six he came across like a first class jerk, which testifies to both Cooper’s acting skills and some life’s experiences on my part. Moving right along, one of his architect buddies gets in way over his head and asks our hero for help designing a building, which he offers on the condition that nothing he designs be changed in any way shape or form, which as anyone in the real world knows, actually does. So he does what any real Rugged Individualist/John Wayne/Marlboro Man/ et al would do, he simply blows up the building. At nine, he’s my hero, at sixty six he seems a criminal. He gets caught (and just waits for them to come and get him), goes to trial, saves the day and his rear end by making a long impassioned speech to the jury, who promptly acquits him. Yeah, just like real life.
The author, Ayn Rand was a brilliant but misguided person. In a nutshell, she saw any combination of two or more individuals for any reason as passengers on a runaway elevator falling into communism, socialism or fascism. Her basic mantra seems to be that every person should act in their own absolute best self interest. Maybe in theory but if it were true, the world would be a worse place to live. Was she right? Food for thought. Other than the adoption of pseudo-rugged individualism by many shallow thinkers, she has left us with little of any practicality. Oh wait, she gave us Alan Greenspan, that famous champion of the common folk.
I have quite a few friends, some dating back to childhood, who are polar opposites of my political beliefs and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. That is real liberty and freedom to be able to disagree and discuss. Les Wood, let’s have a cup sometime. Right or wrong, sing your song. I love it, is this a great country or what? Stay tuned for more reviews of things that matter. dd
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