The title of this blog entry is a takeoff on anne hellers biography, ayn rand and the world she made. An introduction to objectivism my philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute. Ayn rand simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The center for the advancement of objectivism, commonly known as the ayn rand institute ari, is a 501c3 nonprofit think tank in irvine, california that promotes objectivism, the philosophy developed by ayn rand. The right to vote is a consequence, not a primary cause, of a free social systemand its value depends on the constitutional structure implementing and strictly delimiting the voters power. The first words a child learns are words denoting visual objects, and he retains his first concepts visually. Ayn rand in her own words, an autobiographical documentary of the life of acclaimed author ayn rand, in her own words. Hank is attracted to dagny and is unhappy with his manipulative wife lillian, but feels obliged. Rand first expressed objectivism in her fiction, most notably the. Revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this unprecedented film weaves together ayn rands own recollections and. Wed like to understand how you use our websites in order to improve them. Next, he discusses ayn rands use of humor in her fiction, from her earliest works to atlas shrugged. Apr 22, 2011 it is due to her apt depiction of these selfserving villains that ayn rands novel has climbed to number four on the topsellers list on amazon and that the film is likely to do far better than.
In her own words 2011 nhk special 2009 in search of steve ditko 2007. A work that lectures us endlessly on the moral superiority of heroic. The roots of what made ayn rand who she was, and why its so important to understand the background before judging the outcome. The screenplay is written by howard korder and mary gallagher. Branden built up an institute to spread rands ideas, but the two eventually had a fallingout. The reason i got involved in public service, by and large, if i had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be ayn rand, he said in 2005 at a gathering of rand fans. Available for download at itunes, amazon, cinemanow, vudu.
The film is a journey through the life of the author, narrated by ayn rand her self. The film details rands surprising personal life through found interview footage with rand herself, those who knew her and todays primary objectivist philosophers. Finally, he contrasts her viewpoint with the major theories of humor in the history of philosophy. This documentary pieces together an exhaustive collection of interviews and readings from influential objectivist. Apr 05, 2011 directed by robert anderson, john little. Dec 10, 2015 the roots of what made ayn rand who she was, and why its so important to understand the background before judging the outcome. Atlas shrugged is a trilogy of american science fiction drama films. Atlas shrugged includes elements of science fiction, mystery, and romance, and it contains rands most extensive statement of objectivism in any of her works of fiction. It is due to her apt depiction of these selfserving villains that ayn rands novel has climbed to number four on the topsellers list on amazon and that the film is likely to do far better than. Nathaniel branden wrote an autobiography about his 18year affair with ayn rand. Included is ayn rand talking about her childhood as far back as she could remember. This talk was recorded at the second renaissance conference 2000 in richmond, va. The film details rand s surprising personal life through found interview footage with rand herself, those who knew her and todays primary objectivist philosophers. Those opinions also changed, depending on rands personal feelings for the person expressing an opinion.
She empowered herself by trying to set the womens movement. Mayhew presents her conception of humor and shows its connection to basic issues in objectivism, e. Nov 06, 2011 ayn rand in her own words, an autobiographical documentary of the life of acclaimed author ayn rand, in her own words. Observe that the visual form he gives them is reduced to those essentials which distinguish the particular kind of entities from all othersfor instance, the universal type of a childs drawing of man in the form of an oval for the torso, a circle for the head, four sticks for. Heller was a journalist who first heard of rand while working as a magazine editor. Ayn rand s remarks on humor constitute a fascinating and original perspective. In her view, it is a vital institution strictly limited to one function. To date thousands have seen this film and continue to rave about it. Ayn rand, in her ignorance and sentimentality, glorified the individual above all other values. Objectivism is a philosophical system developed by russianamerican writer ayn rand. Atlas shrugged 1957 this is ayn rands masterwork her monumental story of the man who swore he would stop the motor of the world, and did. A new generation is discovering the philosophy of ayn rand through her magazines the objectivist newsletter and the ayn rand letter and her various books.
May 25, 2011 ayn rand, in her ignorance and sentimentality, glorified the individual above all other values. It is based on the book of the same name by barbara branden one of rands former associates and nathaniel brandens first wife. Phil donahue, ayn rand, mike wallace, robert anderson, john little. She is eighteen years old and is accompanied by her mother, galina, her father alexander, and her twentyeightyearold sister, lydia. Educated in russia, she moved to the united states in 1926. Ayn rand quotes quotes tagged as aynrand showing of 64 there are two novels that can change a bookish fourteenyear olds life. The passion of ayn rand is a 1999 television film directed by christopher menaul. While i am indifferent to atlas shrugged it is objectively bad, i have a fondness for the fountainhead because its so sweetly unaware of what it represents. The movie atlas shrugged, adapted from ayn rands 1957 novel by the same name, is a triumph of cinematic irony. Ayn rand in her own words 2011 full movie online free. Writer suze orman gave heller a copy of an excerpt from rands novel atlas shrugged in which a character explains rands views on money.
Ive been having a conversation with a few friends, and among the issues we were discussing was why it seemed that the novelist and philosopher ayn rand set herself up against so many on the left and the right, and burned so many bridges to folks. Ayn rand was a russianamerican writer and philosopher. Ayn rand biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. Ayn rands works ayn rand, objectivism, atlas shrugged. In her own words 2011 the renowned author discusses her inspirations and influences through recollections and reflections. Kira argounova arrives at petrograd in 1922 on the threshold of a box car because there were not enough seats in the passenger cars. Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today. Rands fourth and final novel, it was also her longest, and the one she considered to be her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing. The continued relevance of ayn rands villains the daily. I have have had an interest in the popular music from the early decades of the 20th century since childhood. Its stated goal is to spearhead a cultural renaissance that will reverse the antireason, antiindividualism, antifreedom, anticapitalist trends in. Ayn rands objectivist ethics applied to video game business. As a selftitled objectivist, ayn rand wrote several famous novels two of which were eventually converted into film versions.
The gripping story of the acclaimed author of atlas shrugged and the fountainhead in her own words. Fortunately, she was thorough and prolific in her writings where she answered any questions about how to apply her philosophy to ones own life and within society. I am thinking of her ridiculous and cruel essays in the romantic manifesto. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership.
The atlas shrugged author is derided in some company for preaching a philosophy called selfish, while others laud the same philosophy as simply being truetoself. When the fierce and extraordinary ayn rand was fiftytwo years old, about to become world famous, and more than thirty years removed from her birthplace in russia, she summed up the meaning of her. Revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this unprecedented film weaves together ayn rands own recollections and reflections, providing a new understanding of her inspirations and influences. Relocating from hollywood in the 1950s, ayn rand continued her writing career amongst the skyscrapers of her true love, new york city. Vice presidential candidate paul ryan has credited philosopher ayn rand with inspiring him to enter politics and made her 1,000pluspage magnum opus, atlas shrugged, required reading for his staff. Why even ayn rand can teach you something about writing. Voting is merely a proper political devicewithin a strictly, constitutionally delimited sphere of actionfor choosing the practical means of implementing a societys basic principles. The ayn rand letter, iii, 24, 3 a majority vote is not an epistemological validation of an idea. The film also stars julie delpy as brandens wife, barbara, and peter fonda as rands husband frank oconnor. The series, adaptations of ayn rands 1957 novel of the same title, are subtitled part i 2011, part ii 2012 and part iii 2014. Its stated goal is to spearhead a cultural renaissance that will reverse the antireason, anti. They are real, they are able to break through, to be felt, to haunt us. Later that year producer hal wallis asked ayn rand to develop a script about the making of the bomb.
Ayn rand in her own words, an autobiographical documentary of the life of. Poor thing, she never realized how much she had in common with other fascists and i use that word not in the careless colloquial sense, but very advisedly. She is known for her two bestselling novels, the fountainhead and atlas shrugged, and for developing a philosophical system she named objectivism. My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own. Ayn rands adultonset adolescence the washington post. Ayn rand on her 1926 arrival to new york from russia as quoted in ayn rand. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. She also wrote the screenplay for the film of the fountainhead born alisa zinovyevna rosenbaum. Revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this unprecedented film weaves together ayn rand s own recollections and reflections, and draws upon neverbeforeseen or heard materials from the archives of the ayn rand estate. It is the novel in which rand first presented and dramatized her radical morality of rational selfinterest and which has launched a philosophical revolution. When i was in my early 20s i discovered and became an admirer of the writings of ayn rand the author of the philosophically provoking best selling novels the fountainhead and atlas shrugged. Down south w hen i first read the letters of ayn rand and came to the june 10, 1936 letter that rand wrote to broadcaster ev suffens, i broke out laughing.
Reviewed in the united states on november 30, 2011. An impassioned proponent of reason, rational selfinterest, individualism, and laissezfaire capitalism, she expressed her unique views in numerous works of fiction and nonfiction that have been brought together for the first time. The center for the advancement of objectivism, commonly known as the ayn rand institute ari, is a 501 c 3 nonprofit think tank in irvine, california that promotes objectivism, the philosophy developed by ayn rand. This profile of objectivist writer ayn rand explores the writers life and career, using her own writing both personal, and professional to illustrate her evolving personal and political views. Revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this unprecedented film weaves together ayn rand s own recollections and reflections, providing a new understanding of her inspirations and influences. Ayn rand is the author of atlas shrugged, one of the most embarrassing novels to be caught reading. Ayn rand 19051982, born alissa zinovievna rosenbaum, was a russian american novelist, screenwriter and playwright. Hellers interest was piqued by rands unusual viewpoint, and she subsequently read extensively from rands other writings. The gripping story of the acclaimed author of atlas shrugged and the fountainhead in her own words revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this unprecedented film weaves together ayn rands own recollections and reflections, providing a new understanding of her inspirations and influences. The film project, top secret, was dropped some months later, but rands work on the movie offers some lessons for today. Despite all the flaws, despite everything ayn rand still has to learn, her vision of man and of life, and even some of her power to convey that vision in words, are there at the beginning. She is the author of vast doorstopsized tomes like atlas shrugged and the fountainhead, among other thick, boring books espousing libertarian themes and ideology. Headquartered in santa ana, california, ari offers educational experiences based on ayn rands books and ideas for a variety of audiences, including students, educators, policymakers. In 1943, rand sold the rights for a film version to warner bros.
The book portrayed both sides of objectivism and rand, and how her philosophies and opinions were incredibly unforgiving. A film adaptation of atlas shrugged was in development hell for nearly 40 years. Ayn rand in her own words dvd by ayn rand revealing the surprising life story of one of the worlds most influential minds, this documentary film weaves together ayn rands own recollections and reflections, providing a new understanding of her inspirations and influences. The documentary is a collection of auto, video and photographs taken through out ayn rands and used to illustrate her life story. January 20 1905 march 6, 1982 was a russianamerican writer and philosopher.
The film stars helen mirren as philosopher and novelist ayn rand, who engages in an affair with nathaniel branden, played by eric stoltz, a psychologist who is 25 years younger than she is. The fountainhead, which became one of the most influential and widely read philosophical novels of the twentieth century, made ayn rand famous. Ayn rand is the creator of objectivism, whose philosophy is expressed in her fiction especially the fountainhead and atlas shrugged. In 2011 ayn rand in her own words was released by entertainment one. This documentary pieces together an exhaustive collection of interviews and readings from influential objectivist writer ayn rand atlas shrugged, the fountainhead. Ayn rand alisa zinovyevna rosenbaum, february 2, 1905 march 6, 1982 was a russianborn american writer, screenwriter, playwright and philosopher she published several popular books in the united states during the mid1900s, including her two bestselling novels, atlas shrugged and the fountainhead, plus we the living and anthem. However, they became bestsellers largely through word of mouth.