From Robert Hessen:
This film opened in Aug. 2003 and somehow escaped my attention. But we watched it last night on DVD and loved it. It stars Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner (who also directed) and the radiantly beautiful Annette Bening. It is an old-
fashioned Western, distinguished by moral conflicts and smart dialogue. Duvall and Costner are “free-grazers,” men who drive cattle across open country. When they come to a small town that is dominated by Michael Gambon, his henchmen murder one of their crew, so they vow revenge. If you enjoy Westerns, this film is as suspenseful as High Noon, so see it soon and let me know your reaction to it.
You can view the trailer online.
Category: The Atlasphere
All things Atlasphere can be found here, columns, podcasts, interesting anecdotes, and more.
Centennial Editions of Ayn Rand's Novels
An announcement via the Ayn Rand Bookstore:
Marking the 100th anniversary of Ayn Rand’s birth, the publisher of her works has issued centennial editions of Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead and Anthem, featuring newly designed cover illustrations. The covers of the centennial trade paperbacks (softcovers) are slightly modified replicas of the original artwork from the first editions of each book, and will be printed on high quality paper with rough edges. The covers of the standard paperbacks are the work of the publisher’s staff designers.
Availability: Expected shipment date from the publisher is January 2005.
TOC Moves to DC, Names Hudgins Executive Director
An announcement from The Objectivist Center Founder David Kelley:
Next February will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ayn Rand, the writer and thinker who gave us Objectivism, and the 15th anniversary of the Objectivist Center, which I created to promote that philosophy through independent thought and open debate?a promise we have carried through our seminars, conferences and publications, thanks to our dedicated staff and supporters.
In this anniversary year, we will take our organization to a new level of impact in the marketplace of ideas by making major changes in the Center?s location and management.
First, we will move our headquarters to Washington, D.C. Washington is the center of the think-tank world, where cultural as well as political issues are actively debated?and covered in the media. The Center is already well known?and well respected?within the network of pro-freedom organizations in the capital, which can help us leverage our efforts. With several major universities, Washington is an academic center as well. This move will also allow us to explore new fundraising sources.
Second, the current Washington director, Edward Hudgins, will assume the responsibilities of executive director. I will continue at the Center as ?chief intellectual officer? as well as a member of the board. With Ed as executive director, I will able to devote most of my time to my strengths writing, research, and working with students and other scholars. Ed shares my commitment to Objectivism, and as a veteran of Capitol Hill, the Heritage Foundation, and the Cato Institute, he knows what it takes to succeed as an intellectual advocate. In the past two years he has shown tremendous energy and entrepreneurial vision in promoting our ideas through his writing, TV and radio appearances, and the conferences he?s organized.
With these changes, the Center will be better able to integrate its scholarly, academic and advocacy functions and focus on its strong comparative advantages in today?s intellectual battles.
One program focus will be the defense of capitalism as a moral ideal, not merely an economic one. Ed has received a good response using unique Objectivist arguments in defense of capitalism: the moral right of individuals to their own lives; entrepreneurs as creators who should take pride in their creations; the moral virtues manifested by entrepreneurs; and the need for them to stop apologizing for creating the richest country on Earth.
A second focus will be the culture wars over religion, values, and the clash of civilizations. We will continue to expose the false dichotomies between the religious values of cultural conservatives and the secular but socialistic values of the left. We will promote our distinctive cultural values?reason, individualism, and achievement?by applying to them to the issues of public debate.
We will continue the programs that have served our members well over the years, including publications and the Summer Seminar. We have also strengthened our student-training programs during the past year, and we?ll continue to make that investment in talent.
With our move and management changes we will be able to promote Objectivism more aggressively in the larger marketplace of ideas.
Frank Lloyd Wright Play (in Pittsburgh)
An announcement for Frank Lloyd Wright fans, from Playbill:
The new City Theatre staging of Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright has sparked so much audience interest in Pittsburgh that the show will go on to Jan. 9, 2005, two weeks beyond its announced date.
The world of groundbreaking architect Frank Lloyd Wright is brought to life in the work by Jeffrey Hatcher and Eric Simonson, revised since its earlier premiere in Milwaukee. Performances began Nov. 18 under the direction of Simonson. Sam Tsoutsouvas plays the architect, who ages from 20 to 90. […]
The ensemble portrays more than a dozen people who were important in Wright’s eventful life. The work is populated by architect Louis Sullivan, friends Ayn Rand and Alexander Woolcott, son John Lloyd Wright, wives Catherine and Olgivanna, and paramour Mamah Cheney. Also appearing in the ensemble are Tressa Glover, Shaun Cameron Hall, Nathan James and Mark August Spitznagel.
Wright’s architectural style is incorporated into the staging of Work Song by Simonson and his designers, Kent Dorsey (scenic), Karen Kopischke (costume), Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting), Barry Funderberg (sound) and John Boesche (projection).
Visit the City Theatre web site for a performance schedule and additional information.
A Paean to Freedom …and to Thoughtful Readers
Writing for Texas A&M’s The Battalion, op-ed columnist Mike Walters wraps up the semester with a ringing endorsement of freedom in his article “Individual rights make America great,” which includes this remark:
I’d like to congratulate those who read opinion articles and examine their subjects rationally – you are the thinkers of tomorrow. Only you have the power to create a morally successful path for our industries and nation. We face much evil in the world, evil seeking an easy path through life by taking what others have rather than producing it. Worse are those who inadvertently spread evil ideas by failing to examine them critically and spreading them regardless.
As you move on past college and into the world, remember that individual rights are the only things that will bring about a color-blind society, that allows people to keep the money they make, and give to charity if they wish. Individual rights are the only things that preserve the freedom that allows us to seek happiness.
…Followed by a terrific quote from Ayn Rand. See the full article for more.
Why We Want to Make Money
Writing for the business section of London’s Telegraph, Luke Johnson provides an even-handed discussion of the need for an intellectual framework to guide one’s business endeavors:
It seems odd that there are so few intellectual works that deal with the philosophy of capitalism. Millions of words are written annually on the mechanics of business, but virtually none on the ultimate purpose of it all.
Where is the true justification for the sacrifice and effort? Is the rat race an exercise in futility? In the past 100 years, the profit motive has become the dominant creed, replacing religion, Marxism and the like ? yet there are almost no texts that rationalise why man strives so hard to build enterprises.
Why is it important for those engaged in accumulating wealth to think about the deeper principles underlying their daily work? I believe an understanding of their motivations, and the meaning of our economic and social systems, helps expand the mind and gives a sense of moral value.
After exploring a few other intellectual justifications for the pursuit of success (including those from Christian traditions), he notes Ayn Rand’s contributions:
Ayn Rand, the author of The Fountainhead and inventor of objectivism, was perhaps the foremost exponent of the unfettered philosophy of laissez-faire capitalism. She originated “the concept of man as a heroic being” with “productive achievement as his noblest activity”. Her books and beliefs remain popular today. Eddie Lampert, the Wunderkind behind the recent merger of retailers Sears and Kmart, is apparently an advocate.
See the full article for additional commentary.
Ayn Rand Centenary Events
The Ayn Rand Institute and Objectivist Conferences are commemorating Ayn Rand’s centenary in two weekend events in Irvine, California (February 2-6, 2005) and in New York City (April 23-24, 2005).
Below is a summary of the events. For more details, pricing and registration information, visit the Objectivist Conferences Web site.
Centenary Event Schedule in 2005
Irvine, California
February 2: Ayn Rand Institute 20th Anniversary Reception
February 4: FREE Lecture by Peter Schwartz: The Virtue of Selfishness: Why Achieving Your Happiness Is Your Highest Moral Purpose
February 5: Four Lectures: A Celebration of Ayn Rand’s Life
February 5: Celebration Dinner With Leonard Peikoff and Mary Ann Sures
February 6: Breakfast With Yaron Brook: ARI and the Future of Objectivism
New York City
April 23: Four Lectures: A Celebration of Ayn Rand’s Life
April 23: Celebration Dinner With Mary Ann Sures
April 24: Presentation: Guide to Ayn Rand Sites in Manhattan, With Q & A
April 24: FREE Lecture by Yaron Brook: ARI and the Future of Objectivism
Free Radical Interview with Nathaniel Branden
The Oct/Nov issue of Free Radical includes an interview with Nathaniel Branden that is sure to stimulate controversy.
The interview was conducted by Alec Mouhibian, and covers Branden’s thoughts about Ronald Reagan, gay marriage, the war in Iraq, the importance of writing books, why an imperfect ideological system (such as Christianity) can still be psychologically beneficial, the proper and improper use of moral judgment, the philosophical importance of procreation, and why the nature of sexual attraction is much more complicated than one would gather from reading Francisco’s speech in Atlas Shrugged.
The full interview is available on Nathaniel Branden’s web site.
Sizing Up Jennifer Garner's 'Elektra'
In an interview for her new movie, Jennifer Garner says:
Women come up to me and say, “I am who I am because I read Elektra when I was a kid.” I realize how much this role means to people.
Sound familiar? It’s reminiscent of the things women say about Atlas Shrugged. Whether Elektra truly bears comparison to Atlas is beyond me, but clearly there is some parallel between Elektra and Dagny Taggart in terms of their impact on strong young women.
The movie is receiving a great deal of advance publicity, and Apple has posted not only the threatrical trailer but also a “martial arts featurette” (in which this quote from Garner appears) and three clips “inside the editing room” with director Rob Bowman.
Check it out if you’re interested.
Atlasphere Nuptials (with Photo)
Here is a photo of the newlyweds from this month’s “In the Atlasphere” announcement. We offer our hearty congratulations to Grant and Honor on their joyous union.
From their letter to the Atlasphere:
What does one say to the people who have introduced you to your best friend, soul mate, and ideal business partner? This is the question that my darling husband and I are struggling to answer. If it weren’t for this magnificent web site, I don’t know how we could ever have met. We lived on opposite coasts and were skeptical about Internet dating services, that is, until we discovered The Atlasphere.
We had both learned the hard way that we would never be fulfilled romantically with a partner that did not share our sincere commitment to studying and practicing Objectivist values. We had chosen to live alone rather than to compromise any longer in this critical area of our lives. In addition, we both understood that we needed a partner with similar interests or who at least would be open to activities that we enjoyed. All of this and more we found in each other.
It was in the summer of this year that I first discovered The Atlasphere and my future husband, Grant Reason. I read his profile the very first time I visited the web site, and though he had not posted a photo, by the time I finished reading his profile, I sincerely believed I had found my match. His values so clearly reflected my own, it was a dream come true, and it was clear that he was passionate about Objectivism.
I realized that in order for me to contact him, I would have to post a description of myself, which I found to be a great challenge. I really liked the fact that I could edit my own profile online and did not have to upload a photo. I was delighted that I could just “send a smile” and let him decide if he was interested. Little did I know that he had seen my profile before he received my smile, and that he was already smiling and composing an email to me!
What began with a smile by email ended up in a face-to-face smile (on my side of the country) at the Baltimore Washington airport on August 7, just a few weeks after we had burned up the phone lines for many hours. By the next day, I was so in love with him that I actually proposed, “Grant Reason, will you marry me?” He replied, “In a heartbeat,” and I responded: “In a mindbeat.”
We had truly connected in our hearts and minds and were married in a local courthouse on the 13th of August, which, by the way, was also “Friday the 13th” (a date we thought appropriate, to demonstrate we had no trace of superstition).
We had a magnificent drive across the country and arrived in California on September 15. We are now living near San Diego and have started a business together and are helping others to do the same.
When our friends and family ask us why we decided to get married in such an incredibly short time, I tell them, you wouldn’t understand, couldn’t begin to understand, unless you’ve had the experience of actually meeting your soul mate.
By the way, I’ve legally changed my name to one I intend to live by: Honor Reason. If I could share one thing with the readers of this web site it is this: Honor yourself and love yourself so that you will be able to honor and love another.