Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
newyorker.com
Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
1–10 of 57 posts
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#2I big miss at a humour in my view.
Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not understand our emotions that such dichotomy appears". Any thinking individual can sign his name under this. And, that is why we have psychiatry industry, billion dollar self-help book industry, etc. On the other hand we have also recreational drugs and alcohol abuse, etc -- which is the point in case, when emotions take over faculty of reason to govern our decisions/life that ... destruction, destruction, destruction...
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#3I big miss at a humour in my view. Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not un…
That's not in contradiction of coldness or inhumanity. You can be an utter sociopath, and reason accordingly. The view of Rand comes from the certainly implied lack of empathy with the lesser fortunate. There's a quote where she expresses appreciation of a serial killer, because of this.
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#4I big miss at a humour in my view. Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not un…
Agreed. I will say Ayn Rand's philosophy doesn't really have any room for parents/children in it, people are just fully realized individuals suddenly and without any childhood/adolescence/schooling. None of her characters have any interest in raising children. Children are dependents, and parents (or the state if you want to go that route) need to raise them if you want a society to continue, it's a pretty huge blind spot imo. I thought this was gonna point this out, but this is just tired "lol capitalists" jokes.
The Ayn Rand school for tots joke from the Simpsons is a million times funnier and incisive imo as it targets this weakness of her philosophy and it's just a throwaway joke.
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#5I big miss at a humour in my view. Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not un…
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#6Relevant comment from John Carmack a couple weeks ago:
Atlas Shrugged popped up in a trend, reminding me of the remarkable level of vitriol against it. It is obviously grinding an anti-collectivist axe, and it can fairly be called cartoonish, but if you can't see its archetypes in the world around you, you aren't paying attention.
I can easily understand people not liking the book, but the level of loathing that some show for it is odd, as if someone could go off on a rant and redline judge everyone who enjoyed the movie Wall Street as obviously terrible people.
https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/1478389565094256642
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#7I big miss at a humour in my view. Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not un…
That's not in contradiction of coldness or inhumanity. You can be an utter sociopath, and reason accordingly. The view of Rand comes from the certainly implied lack of empathy with the lesser fortunate. There's a quote where she expresses appreciation of a serial killer, because of this.
I think the point is that when trying not to help the less fortunate, if we resort only to emotion without reason, we just ending up hurting them. Which can certainly be seen in plenty of situations today, IMO.
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#8Relevant comment from John Carmack a couple weeks ago: Atlas Shrugged popped up in a trend, reminding me of the remarkable level of vitriol against it. It is obviously grinding an anti-collectivist axe, and it can fairly be called cartoonish, but if you can't see its archetypes in the world around you, you aren't paying attention. I can easily understand people not liking the book, but the level of loathing that some…
Most writers at the New Yorker are going to be the product of expensive liberal arts educations, and in those circles making fun of a strawman a of someone like Ayn Rand is as in-group as it gets. This is just social validation/click-seeking for a writer.
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#9Relevant comment from John Carmack a couple weeks ago: Atlas Shrugged popped up in a trend, reminding me of the remarkable level of vitriol against it. It is obviously grinding an anti-collectivist axe, and it can fairly be called cartoonish, but if you can't see its archetypes in the world around you, you aren't paying attention. I can easily understand people not liking the book, but the level of loathing that some…
I mean that’s the power of writing? It’s not to write something universally loved. It’s to make people uncomfortable.
Sure, you may not like grammar or the wordiness or the characters but the ideas - those are what you’re reacting to.
Re: Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies (2014)
#10I big miss at a humour in my view. Although, in general Im puzzled by the cliche portrayal of A.R.'s views as somewhat cold or inhumane. Though I did not read all her essays and works, Im familiar with the several ones which warrant no such trivialized characterization. On the contrary, she explicitly and implicitly said that "...reason and emotions are not contradictory or in opposition. It is only when we do not un…
Had read AR as a teen and while I have strong disagreements I do notice a pattern of shallow understanding when she's being discussed in Liberal sphere. It's easier for leftists to attack her character than critique her ideas in good faith (and it's not like there's a lack of kookiness to address). The fringe vocal groups (who leave nothing untouched) also reserve similar treatment for some rationalists, which tells you a lot about their approach and worldview. Anything that doesn't necessarily embrace wholesale collectivism at the door, or is skeptical of Socialism, is treated as a threat. Rand is more explicitly hostile to it.