Anthem

[Bud Struggle]

Here's something that I thought was pretty interesting. The Ayn Rand Institute has a yearly essay contest for 8th, 9th and 10th graders. This year (maybe every year) they are required to read Rand's Anthem and write an essay answering one of the following questions:

1. Equality 7-2521 states that it is very unusual for men to reach the age of 45. Offer several possible explanations, consistent with the story and it's meaning as to why life is so short in his society.

2. Anthem is a heroic and inspiring story about the triumph if the individual's independent spirit. Even though at the end of the novel, Equality is greatly outnumbered and modern society lies in ruins, it is a story of liberation and hope--not despair. explain in detail why this is true.

3. In a single, unified essay, explain the meaning and wider significance of each of the following quotes in the story.
a. "the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength. We have lied to ourselves. We have not built this box for the good of our brothers."
b. "I wish to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning."
c. " I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them."

Well the story itself is simple--but to answers these questions one has to peer pretty deeply into Objectivism--and then the slant of the questions themselves becomes pretty obvious.

The contest is worldwide and there are prizes--$3000 for first prize, 5 second place prizes of $500, etc.

I wonder what your thoughts on this rather blatant form of "advertisement" is. I think if the SWP tried something similar for their point of view--they would be banned from doing it outright.

[Kronos]

My thoughts on where Ayn Rand and the educational system meet have always been the same.

In a capitalist society intellectualism becomes a commodity fetishism while education promotes and endorses ideology which is complimentary to capitalist incentives. The end result is the circulation of pop-philosophy which contributes to ruling class "grand narratives". Ayn Rand is a prime example. She is a novelist who pretends to be a philosopher, so her material is dumbed down enough to appeal to consumer students who want a piece of the pie, for little to no effort.

You don't see kids reading The Critique of Pure Reason nowadays, and for good reason. They don't need to be that smart to get rich.

[GPDP]

I remember choosing to read Anthem over Animal Farm back in high school. I regret it to this day.

[redSHARP]

what is Anthem?

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

I remember choosing to read Anthem over Animal Farm back in high school. I regret it to this day.

I couldn't make it past the first couple of pages. Actually it's still sitting right over there collecting dust. I'm going to have to donate it to Goodwill.

[Plagueround]

I couldn't make it past the first couple of pages. Actually it's still sitting right over there collecting dust. I'm going to have to donate it to Goodwill.

Don't do that, it'll just sit and get thrown away. I'm sure you could take it camping and use it to start fires (inb4omgcommiesjustlikefascistsburninbooks).

[MarxSchmarx]

Yet more proof, for those hitherto unconvinced, that the self-styled "objectivist" movement is a cult. Indeed, this is also the age when other cults, such as Roman Catholicism, Osho, Judaism, and African animists initiate their youth.

http://www.2think.org/02_2_she.shtml



I wonder what your thoughts on this rather blatant form of "advertisement" is. I think if the SWP tried something similar for their point of view--they would be banned from doing it outright.Since you quote dollars, I'm guessing this contest takes place in America. The first amendment permits the SWP from setting up such a contest.


Don't do that, it'll just sit and get thrown away. I'm sure you could take it camping and use it to start fires (inb4omgcommiesjustlikefascistsburninbooks).It can also serve as toilet paper when the local flora does not include poison ivy leaves.


She is a novelist who pretends to be a philosopher, so her material is dumbed down enough to appeal to consumer students who want a piece of the pie, for little to no effort.

I agree with your analysis, and actually I think this is one of the few redeeming qualities of Rand's approach.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Don't do that, it'll just sit and get thrown away. I'm sure you could take it camping and use it to start fires (inb4omgcommiesjustlikefascistsburninbooks).

You know I was thinking that as an alternative, as it stares at me.

But its one redeeming quality is the tax break it'll give me.

[jake williams]

I've been very tempted to write a BS essay for that because they offer mucho scholarships. It would've been awesome because I would've totally trolled it and probably could've won it. But then I realized I would have to have some idea what the ***** was on about, and I realized then that I couldn't be arsed.

[ZeroNowhere]

Hell, I'd say that the students deserve the $3000 just for getting through the book.

[#FF0000]

I've been very tempted to write a BS essay for that because they offer mucho scholarships. It would've been awesome because I would've totally trolled it and probably could've won it. But then I realized I would have to have some idea what the ***** was on about, and I realized then that I couldn't be arsed.

Just imitate any angry white male blogger and you'll have the tone and the content for the essay just right. Easiest $3000 you'll ever make.

[mikelepore]

what is Anthem?

A stupid novel by Ayn Rand where she supposedly showed how evil socialism is by depicting a world in which there are absurdities, such as a law that requires people always to say "we", and makes it crime for a person to use the word "I".

I was forced to read it in high school.

[jake williams]

Just imitate any angry white male blogger and you'll have the tone and the content for the essay just right. Easiest $3000 you'll ever make.
That's what I was planning on doing, but I realized that I'd at least have to read a synopsis, and it's hard even to bring myself to do that.

[IcarusAngel]

A lot of Randian tactics are somewhat abnormal even for a capitalist society.

Reading and writing should really come out of your own desires and impulses, so you should naturally be able to follow what interests you most. You should be nurtured, and perhaps special attention could be given to your weaknesses, but your choices should not be manipulated by such petty means as "how much money it will get you."

Imagine if this scenario was implemented in the school system: then only organizations who have deep pockets would be the ones providing the books. Children would go "where the money is," rather than where their interests lie. There is already a corporitization of our school system in the US although it's not quite as bad as our "revolving door" and lobbying policies in regards to electoral politics.

Socialists, probably like most philosophers, generally believe in the value of knowledge itself and not just the material means certain types of knowledge can get you. This is a criticism of capitalism too, btw... To focus only on which knowledge will move you along in the market-place is inhuman. Of course socialists wouldn't go for such cheap tactics unless they've really let go of their belief system.

[trivas7]

Of course socialists wouldn't go for such cheap tactics unless they've really let go of their belief system.
Do you mean socialism is really a religion (i.e., things not seen)?

[Trystan]

I wonder what your thoughts on this rather blatant form of "advertisement" is. I think if the SWP tried something similar for their point of view--they would be banned from doing it outright.

The ARI is more akin to the Church of Scientology than it is to the SWP.

[Jazzratt]

A stupid novel by Ayn Rand where she supposedly showed how evil socialism is by depicting a world in which there are absurdities, such as a law that requires people always to say "we", and makes it crime for a person to use the word "I".

I was forced to read it in high school.

So it's good old Ayn knocking down a straw man of impressive stature? What's the main difference with the other novels she shat out during her lamentably long life?

[Demogorgon]

What's the main difference with the other novels she shat out during her lamentably long life?
It is considerably shorter. A considerable plus point under the circumstances I think.

[trivas7]

So it's good old Ayn knocking down a straw man of impressive stature?
Sadly, the history of the Khmer Rouge and the some of the excesses of the Great Leap Forward are witness to how barbaric socialism in practice can become. In this Miss Rand was prescient. It's not for nothing that poverty and oppression have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in.

[Publius]

It is considerably shorter. A considerable plus point under the circumstances I think.

Yes, if anyone feels the compulsion to read a Rand novel, that's the one to read because it's only like 80 pages.

I mean, it sucks, but it sucks like 800 pages less than her other books, so there you go.

[Plagueround]

Sadly, the history of the Khmer Rouge and the some of the excesses of the Great Leap Forward are witness to how barbaric socialism in practice can become. In this Miss Rand was prescient. It's not for nothing that poverty and oppression have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in.

Not that I'd ever defend a monster such as Pol Pot, but the founding and expansion of the country she loved so much wasn't exactly a tea party (except for the part where they tossed tea off boats). The US death toll exceeds that of Cambodia by far, so playing the "mountain of skulls" game doesn't really help along anyone's argument. It also won't ever change the fact that she was a terribly bland writer.

[Jazzratt]

Sadly, the history of the Khmer Rouge and the some of the excesses of the Great Leap Forward are witness to how barbaric socialism in practice can become. In this Miss Rand was prescient. It's not for nothing that poverty and oppression have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in.

Are you being a moron on purpose? You were a leftist once so you must realise exactly why your post is a complete fucking joke, right? Especially using the example of Cambodia which was invaded by Vietnam (with Soviet backing). So Ms. Rand was still pulling inane straw-men (government mandated pronouns - really Ayn, really?) out of her addled and demented mind.

[Robert]

It's not for nothing that poverty and oppression have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in.

That's as good an argument for communism as it is for capitalism, don't you think?

[trivas7]

That's as good an argument for communism as it is for capitalism, don't you think?
That remark was poorly worded. It should have read: "It's not for nothing that poverty and technological backwardness have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in" to have made my point.

[PRC-UTE]

That remark was poorly worded. It should have read: "It's not for nothing that poverty and technological backwardness have historically constituted the best soil for Marxism to grow in" to have made my point.

in that case, capitalism has provided a lot of good soil for Marxism.

[Jack]

what is Anthem?

A book by Ayn Rand about a Socialist society where everyone sits on their ass because they aren't motivated.

[davidasearles]

Sorry to get off the thread but i wanted to respond to this.


Trivas7:

the history of the Khmer Rouge and the some of the excesses of the Great Leap Forward are witness to how barbaric socialism in practice can become.

das:

An example of the uselessness of the term "Socialist". A term that means anything means nothing.

Anymore I do not advocate "socialism" but collective control of the industrial means of production by the workers. Too many people who are "socialists" do not advocate this, or if they do it's only as an indirect allusion in passing.

[trivas7]

Anymore I do not advocate "socialism" but collective control of the industrial means of production by the workers. Too many people who are "socialists" do not advocate this, or if they do it's only as an indirect allusion in passing.
My point is that socialism now has a history of disparate and conflicting implementations. But "collective control of the industrial means of production by the workers" itself has a host of interpretations. Lenin strove for this, did he not? DeLeonism has a different understanding, as did Hungarian "market socialists"; so do anarcho-communists, mutualists, etc.