NOVEL: THE
FOUNTAINHEAD (1949) BY AYN RAND
FILM: DIRECTED BY
KING VIDOR, SCREEN PLAY BY AYN RAND, STARS GARY COOPER, PATRICIA NEAL, RAYMOND
MASSEY AND SO ON
An interesting – humorous film.
The story unfolds amidst humorous dialogue between the actors. Typical plot story of an American Film: Troubled protagonist struggles through life, love comes along the way, eventually overcomes all obstacles, happy ending.
A little bit about the Author, Ayn Rand (1905-1982): AR beliefs of individualism and anti-collectivism come from her childhood- as a Russian immigrant she saw the rise of Communism in Russia, her family losing everything and struggling to survive. Having grown up in the totalitarian dictatorship of the Soviet Union, Ayn Rand is holding an impassioned belief in political freedom and the rights of the individual. She wrote the Fountainhead as a tribute to the creative freethinker.
The novel synopsis
The novel story follows the life of an uncompromising, visionary architect; Howard Roark as he struggles to maintain his integrity and individualism despite personal, professional and economic pressures to conform to popular standards. He battles against the collectiveness zeal who believe modern architecture is ‘Greek ornamental’ designs. He offers alternative modern, sleek, minimalistic, brilliant and radically new designs that are not understood and are rejected by the majority of society. HR is an innovative architect, whom like many inventors and creative thinkers of history, struggles to win acceptance for his ideas against the tradition-bound masses, which follow established norms and are fearful of change.
‘Do you want to stand alone against the whole world?’
The theme, individualism vs collectivism is not in politics but in men’s souls. The film is about the conflict between those who think for themselves and those who allow others to dominate their lives. Although all human beings have minds, many people choose not to use theirs, looking instead to others for guidance. Many people prefer to be led in their personal lives by an authority figure — be it parents, teachers, spouse or others. Those who prefer to be led by authority figures are conformists, refusing the responsibility of thought and self-directed motivation, taking the path of least resistance in life. In the character of Peter Keating (the villain of the story), a conventional architect who goes by public taste, AR provides an incisive glimpse into the soul of such an abject follower. Keating, in many ways an average American status seeker, desires acclaim from others. In exchange for social approval, he is willing to sacrifice any and all of his personal convictions. He becomes a blind follower of the power broker, Ellsworth Toohey, and in so doing reveals the mentality of the millions of ‘true believers’ who blindly follow a Jim Jones or an Adolf Hitler.
… Widespread phenomenon of ‘sheeple’. [Sheep + People. Derogatory term. People unable to think for themselves. Followers. Lemmings. Those with no cognitive abilities of their own.
… Collectivist dictatorship.
Like so many American Dream stories, a happy ending, a symbol of Capitalist success. The architect proudly standing on top of his skyscraper, a ‘Tower to Supremacy of Man’.
Is the film applicable to today’s architecture industry?
Yes and no. Depends. If you want to be in the elite 1% architects, you need to compromise your beliefs and design, unless you get lucky. If you don’t design ‘for’ the client and/ or planning officers, then you are ‘out of the game’. Unlike the stararchitects, the 99% of the architects need their 9:00-17:00 jobs to pay the bills. Attitude does not get food on the table. On the other hand, if you are a stararchitect like Zaha Hadid or Sir Normal Foster (LOVE!), building restrictions are no longer an issue. Dream big. Dream art. There are no limitations to the ‘possible’; otherwise termed, the Roark Phenomenon.
How to be a Howard Roark in modern society?
I don’t think there’s a golden ration or a to-do list. It’s more like being ‘there’ at the right time/ place where that one person with money and power will see eye-to-eye with you and let your ideas ‘fly.’
The moral of the film is that one should always remain true to his beliefs and ideologies and one day he will succeed. Although not probable in today’s society, (apologies, I’m a ‘glass half empty’ kind of person), it still gives hope and dash of optimism that one can make it without giving into the capitalist pressure.
‘But you see,’ said Roark quietly, ‘I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards- and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one.’ (Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead)
Speculative Cities 