The Fountain Head, the Movie, by Ayn Rand.

[amicus]

The Fountain Head, the Movie, by Ayn Rand.


I never thought I would do this, especially on this forum; but the film was showing and I had it on in the background as I was writing something else.

There was a glorious period in the field of architecture when the use structural steel and concrete permitted the construction of skyscrapers and innovative designs.

Fountain Head is a novel about that period of change; when American architecture broke the mold of European concepts of stone and mortar and monuments to the past.

It is more…a character study of a man of character and honor and of a woman who loved him and yet tried to destroy him.

The film is turgid and classically inept, but the lines written by Ms. Rand come through, loud and clear.

You might enjoy the book.

You may pm me if you don’t want to admit publicly to having read it or watched the film.

Amicus…

 

[The_Darkness]

The Fountain Head, the Movie, by Ayn Rand.


I never thought I would do this, especially on this forum; but the film was showing and I had it on in the background as I was writing something else.

There was a glorious period in the field of architecture when the use structural steel and concrete permitted the construction of skyscrapers and innovative designs.

Fountain Head is a novel about that period of change; when American architecture broke the mold of European concepts of stone and mortar and monuments to the past.

It is more…a character study of a man of character and honor and of a woman who loved him and yet tried to destroy him.

The film is turgid and classically inept, but the lines written by Ms. Rand come through, loud and clear.

You might enjoy the book.

You may pm me if you don’t want to admit publicly to having read it or watched the film.

Amicus…

I'd rather eat my own testicles than read anything else by Ayn Rand. I don't think I'll be all that excited about seeing a movie based on anything she's written, either.

No offence to anyone about their beliefs or feelings or anything....just sayin'. She's really not my thing.

 

[amicus]

Eat your own testicles if you wish, there may be some nutritional value, but I doubt it will help your intellect.


But for those who have not been brainwashed, and wish to understand the ethics and morality of individual integrity, a reading of FountainHead and Atlas Shrugged, might be an interesting education.

She is, after all, the most read Philosopher and Novelist of the 20th Century, but then, don't let me shame you in your ignorance...


amicus...

 

[The_Darkness]

Eat your own testicles if you wish, there may be some nutritional value, but I doubt it will help your intellect.


But for those who have not been brainwashed, and wish to understand the ethics and morality of individual integrity, a reading of FountainHead and Atlas Shrugged, might be an interesting education.

She is, after all, the most read Philosopher and Novelist of the 20th Century, but then, don't let me shame you in your ignorance...


amicus...

*sigh*

A touch bitter, are we? Yes, we briefly glazed over her work in my philosophy classes. Your claim is a little off base...and by a little, I mean it might as well be on Mars.

Just for your own edification, I very seriously doubt that there is anything you can say or do that would shame me in any way....especially intellectually.

 

[amicus]

Self doubt, especially for you, might be a good place to begin. Is it your freshman year in college?

 

[The_Darkness]

Self doubt, especially for you, might be a good place to begin. Is it your freshman year in college?

Not quite. Not even close, really.
In my experience, self-examination is more important than doubt. Wondering why we think something is immeasurably more important than whether or not we think what we think is right. Judging one's self in that matter is difficult to the point of being moot.

 

[LeBroz]

The Fountain Head, the Movie, by Ayn Rand.


I never thought I would do this, especially on this forum; but the film was showing and I had it on in the background as I was writing something else.

There was a glorious period in the field of architecture when the use structural steel and concrete permitted the construction of skyscrapers and innovative designs.

Fountain Head is a novel about that period of change; when American architecture broke the mold of European concepts of stone and mortar and monuments to the past.

It is more…a character study of a man of character and honor and of a woman who loved him and yet tried to destroy him.

The film is turgid and classically inept, but the lines written by Ms. Rand come through, loud and clear.

You might enjoy the book.

You may pm me if you don’t want to admit publicly to having read it or watched the film.

Amicus…

Started reading (in the early 60's) all she wrote.

She admitted to being disappointed in the outcome of the filmed version of The Fountainhead; Gary Cooper also admitted to not understanding fully what was being addressed until after the movie was completed. An excellent insight into psychological motivations.

It is in spirit much different from the philosophical orientation in Atlas Shrugged, with its focus on metaphysics, ethics, politics, and epistemology.

And what is so surprising about speaking of Ayn Rand in Lit? As a proponent of rational self-interest, she explicitly recognized the highly selfish nature of sex and its tight link to the self.

 

[amicus]

I like that, LeBroz...I attended Murray State..in Western Ky...for a while, met a gal...went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...ah, but then, thas another story...

Perchance your comment will entice a few to read Rand...but...I doubt it...

regards....


amicus...

 

[Liar]

She is, after all, the most read Philosopher and Novelist of the 20th Century, but then, don't let me shame you in your ignorance...

She is? I'm not saying that Rand isn't important, but that's a bit of a bold statement. Depends on your definition of what a "Philosopher and Novelist" is, I guess. Her name is not one that I have generally heard of in discussion 20th century philosophy. Sartre, Nussbaum, Turing, Eco, de Beauvoir, Popper, even novelists like Heinlein and LeGuin are much more frequently mentioned.

As with L.Ron Hubbard (weird comparison, I know), I'd say that her role and contribution as a novelist is pretty marginal (altuogh she's the more competent writer of the two, but that doesn't say much), and serves only as a starting point to exploring her role as a philosopher.

However, I read The Fountain Head, but found the characterization of the protagonist, or rather the two protagonists (Roark and Francon), to be so 2D that I lost all interrest in them, and thus, could not identify, and assimilate the world view they set an example of.

 

[Guest]

I like that, LeBroz...I attended Murray State..in Western Ky...for a while, met a gal...went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...ah, but then, thas another story...

Perchance your comment will entice a few to read Rand...but...I doubt it...

regards....


amicus...

Ami -

Hate to burst your bubble here, but many people will choose not to enage in a debate with you because they realize the futility in advance.

Just because you've earned no takers in your Rand quibble doesn't mean people are misinformed. It doesn't mean they are unaware of the reference.

It just means they have better things to do than talk to you.

Have a lovely day.

 

[cloudy]

Ami -

Hate to burst your bubble here, but many people will choose not to enage in a debate with you because they realize the futility in advance.

Just because you've earned no takers in your Rand quibble doesn't mean people are misinformed. It doesn't mean they are unaware of the reference.

It just means they have better things to do than talk to you.

Have a lovely day.

He wants us, I know he does.

 

[Guest]

He wants us, I know he does.

And he can suffer.

 

[amicus]

Chuckles and smiles does amicus who wants both Cloudy and Sweetsubsarah...


I shall be away for a while, do take care.


amicus...

 

[Liar]

Chuckles and smiles does amicus who wants both Cloudy and Sweetsubsarah...

You're male, and have a pulse. So it's only natural.

 

[minsue]

You're male, and have a pulse. So it's only natural.

Being male is not a requirement for that one, most certainly...

 

[AngeloMichael]

Heh

I was just watching a rerun of Futurama the other day and it was one where they had to travel down in the sewers and they encountered a race of mutants. The mutants pointed out that whatever people in the "above world" flushed down the toilet eventually came through there. Then they showed off their library which was full of Ayn Rand books.

I miss that show

 

[Liar]

Being male is not a requirement for that one, most certainly...

Consider me corrected.

 

[The_Darkness]

Noted and agreed with the above sentiments....hell, I don't even think having a pulse is a prerequisite for attraction given these two.

I'm gonna take issue with the most read novelist. Maybe my definition is a little too text bookish, but any novel written qualifies an author to be a novelist, does it not? In that case, JK Rowling certianly has her beat.

Rand is important for writing what she did, when she did, especially being a woman. However, I don't think that over-used concepts and cardboard characters characterize one as a great writer.

Poor Ami. Poor, poor, Ami.

 

[amicus]

Ah, yes, even in 'Dirty Dancing' with Jennifer Grey...the 'bad guy' offered a copy of "Fountainhead' as an example of evil egoism.

Ms. Rowling has certainly sold a lot of books, the last one had a first printing of 10.8 million copies, royalties to her were over $11 million hmmm...dollars or pounds...was a news item upon publication.

But, for those who like a little accuracy, you can google the best selling books and authors over the past half century and at one time, a few years ago, only the 'bible' outsold Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

Just that in this group group of left wing writers and movie makers, to hear the words concerning the individual on television among the clatter of the collectivists, was a welcome sound...to my ears at least.

 

[Liar]

In that case, JK Rowling certianly has her beat.

Except...didn't Potter reach it's most ridiculous popularity in this century?

But, for those who like a little accuracy, you can google the best selling books and authors over the past half century and at one time, a few years ago, only the 'bible' outsold Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

"At one point", many a bestseller could claim that.

According to Publisher's Weekly, Atlas Shrugged was the 10th best selling novel of 1957. That's the only Rand I can find in their bestselling lists of the 20th century. Maybe my googling skills are below par or something. Do you have another source? A link would be nice.

 

[Guest]

Pssst. Liar!

Ami never shows links to information he's "researched."

 

[Liar]

By the way, this Publisher's Weekly listing of best selling novel is pretty scary.


1994
The Chamber, John Grisham

1995
The Rainmaker, John Grisham

1996
The Runaway Jury, John Grisham

1997
The Partner, John Grisham

1998
The Street Lawyer, John Grisham


Why the hell am I not John Grisham?

 

[The_Darkness]

Except...didn't Potter reach it's most ridiculous popularity in this century?

True enough, Liar. The first book simply exploded when it hit the scene, but only the last two books have sold out the second they were announced that she might be publishing another one in a number of months down the road.

Crazy.

 

[Liar]

Pssst. Liar!

Ami never shows links to information he's "researched."

Well, in all fairness, maybe I should:

http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/~unsworth/courses/bestsellers/
and
http://www.abebooks.com/docs/Community/Featured/bestSellers20thCentury.shtml

Still looking for a comprehensive list of, say, the top 100 novels of the whole century. Anyone who have info on that will have my not eternal but at least sincere gratitude.

 

[minsue]

Except...didn't Potter reach it's most ridiculous popularity in this century?
"At one point", many a bestseller could claim that.

According to Publisher's Weekly, Atlas Shrugged was the 10th best selling novel of 1957. That's the only Rand I can find in their bestselling lists of the 20th century. Maybe my googling skills are below par or something. Do you have another source? A link would be nice.

I just can't resist a google challenge. Closest I've found so far....http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/bestsellerFARQ.html