Re: Ramblings of Randroids
Emily Friedman (bananafish_9@yahoo.com)
Mon, 02 Nov 1998 14:17:50 -0800 (PST)
---"D." <darjr@shore.net> wrote:
>
> At 04:39 PM 10/28/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >First Matt wrote:
> >
> >>> We are the literary representatives of Ayn Rand. Please be
advised
> >>that
> >>> discussion of Ayn Rand is expressly forbidden on this list,
which is
> >>> designed by and for decent people. Be further advised that
> >>acquirement,
> >>> enjoyment, endorsement, and other forms of propogation of Mrs.
Rand's
> >>> pamphlets and/or ideas is prohibited in the name of aesthetic,
> >>> philosophical, political and social integrity. Personal copies
of of
> >>> Mrs. Rand's works retained for documentary purposes are to be
stored
> >>in
> >>> the freezer. And know yet further that scorn and vituperation sit
> >>like
> >>> heavy fog on the censorious brows of the ethereal, electronic
> >>> etherpowers who stand watch over this list and others like it
and who
> >>> themselves will not hear tell especially of _The Fountainhead_.
> >>>
> >>> Matt Kozusko mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu
> >>>
> >
> >Then Liz retorted:
> >>Okay, who gives you the right to determine what people should or
> >>should not read? I don't care that you hate The Fountainhead but I
> >>like it a lot. I am not an objectionist or anything like that I just
> >>thought that it was a good story. Just like I love Salinger's
stories
> >>because they are great stories. I don't really care about the
> >>religious meanings of them. People tend to
> >>get so involved in the writer's beleifs or the symbolism of the
story
> >>that they forget about the story itself.
> >>-Liz Friedman
> >
> >THEN D. threw in 2 cents:
> >I just thought Matt's post was hysterical. Having seen the Modern
> >Library
> >readers' poll back when they had that Web page open to reader voting,
> >there's obviously something mildly intense about Rand's
> >readership--seemingly on the same level as some religious fanaticism.
> >However, I've not read a word of Rand, and this sort of intensity
makes
> >me
> >wonder if I should check out Rand just to see what all the fuss is
about
> >or
> >just ignore her as some Jim Jones 20th Century Literary figure.
> >
> >
> >My $0.02 worth,
> >
> > D.
> >
> >Now Thor interjects:
> >
> >Well, I think you SHOULD check out Ayn Rand. It has it's flaws,
but her
> >books and philosophy are compelling nonetheless. Even if you can't
> >subscribe to her way of thinking, it's worth considering her
> >perspective. As for fanatacism, well, I think there are more than 2
> >self-procliamned Salinger addicts here, & he's got something worth
> >saying. In other words, like they used to say about Bridgette
Bardot:
> >"fifty thousand Frenchmen can't be wrong". If Rand is still
causing a
> >stir, there must be SOMETHING to it, eh?
> >
> >Namaste,
> >
> >Thor
>
>
> Well now D. responds:
>
> Well, to be honest, fanaticism is not the exclusive domain of
Rand or
> Salinger fans, but the *level* of Rand fanhood fanaticism seems
higher than
> I've seen with any writer, and this includes Salinger and Pynchon (and
> others). Of course, with this intense of a following, I am inherently
> suspicious. Why banter about so intensely about a writer to get
others to
> see his/her worth whether in terms of writing ability or ideology?
That
> which is certain doesn't need such fanaticism. You don't usually
hear of
> people trying to convince others that the sun will rise in the East.
Rand's
> fans obviously sat there with their browsing a-blinking and their mice
> a-clicking to get those vote totals up there on top of the ML
readers poll.
> And I wondered why. No other fans voted with such dedication. Maybe
> Rand's books and ideas are compelling, but for *that* kind of
fanaticism?
> I e-mailed a very prominent Literary scholar whose specialty is
American
> Lit and he professed to be in the same boat as I--never read any
Rand and
> wonders what all the fuss is about. And while Rand may have some
nuggets
> in her works, I can't help but wary of such ardent dedication. So
maybe
> one day when the "to read" pile dwindles and the demands of parenthood
> lessen some for me, I will *consider* finding out what the fuss is all
> about? Until then, I just keeping wondering....
>
>
> An additional $0.02
>
>
> D.
>
> Well I never was aware of the fanaticism you talk about. I just felt
that Fountainhead was a great book and I enjoyed it. I don't care
about votes I just read what I like.
-Liz Friedman
>
>
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