Coming Soon to Your Inbox: the New Impact Weekly

aynrand.org/impact Volume 20, Number 1, January 2014

Coming Soon to Your Inbox: The New Impact Weekly

hese past few months have been to new acquisitions by the Ayn Rand Archives to upcoming Tan exciting time at ARI as we pre- events. Delivering this content in a way that promotes the pare to launch our Digital Initiative (to exploration of ARI’s new website furthers the mission of ARI’s learn more, see the September issue Digital Initiative—to educate the largest audience possible of Impact). Among the many changes about Ayn Rand’s ideas. Digital Initiative will bring is a new, You will start receiving Impact Weekly when our new revamped newsletter called Impact website launches early this year. In the interim, this edition of Weekly. Here’s an overview of the Impact will give you a preview of the type of content you can changes you can expect to see. expect to be enjoying every week. We are very excited about The look and feel of Impact Weekly the radical changes Digital Initiative is bringing, and we hope will be designed to reflect ARI’s new image and branding. As you are as well. Help make 2014 a pivotal year for expanding a result of our survey of Impact readers, the layout will be sim- awareness of Ayn Rand by contributing to our Digital Initia- pler and easier to read on your computer, smartphone or tablet. tive today. Furthermore, delivering Impact Weekly every week via email will bring you the Institute’s latest news as it happens, making —Yaron Brook ARI and our programs more accessible across the globe. Executive Director One of the most significant changes to Impact will be the purpose it serves. Impact Weekly will seek to educate and engage a broader audience in Ayn Rand’s philosophy and In This Issue: ARI’s many programs that aim to promote it. As part of Digital Initiative, ARI has invested in a new • Illustrated Version of Classic Article on Sculpture Now website that will serve as an advanced educational tool to power Available Online the positive change we seek in the world. Impact Weekly will • Excerpt from “Metaphysics in Marble” be the main promotional means to drive interested individuals • From the Archives: Putting “Frank” in Frankenstein to all of the life-changing content available on the new site. For example, each issue of Impact Weekly will direct readers to • The Value of Interning at ARI advance their understanding of Ayn Rand’s ideas by explaining • ARI Board Co-Chairman Retires a particular aspect of Objectivism or by highlighting a select • Ayn Rand Answers “What Is Capitalism?” at ARI Campus ARI Campus course. Impact Weekly will also point readers • ARI eStore Featured Product of the Week to articles and events featuring ARI intellectuals in order to • Upcoming Events illustrate how Objectivism can offer revolutionary solutions to • The Multimedia Corner current policy issues. Impact Weekly will address many of the topics you’ve • Recent Written Commentary come to enjoy reading about—from updates on ARI programs • New Blog Posts at Voices for Reason Illustrated Version of Classic Article on Sculpture Now Available Online

etaphysics in Marble,” an her article available to a new generation of readers, and “M article on sculpture by art for including links to images that create a multimedia historian Mary Ann Sures, was pub- experience for everyone.” lished by Ayn Rand in The Objec- To access the article, click here. tivist (February–March, 1969) and Mary Ann Sures is an art historian who has lectured recommended by Rand in the revised extensively, beginning in the early 1960s, on the appli- edition of The Romantic Manifesto. cation of Objectivist esthetics to the visual arts. She did Quoting from the article: “This graduate work in art history at the Institute of Fine Arts of discussion is a brief historical survey New York University and at Hunter College, from which . . . to indicate the means by which she received an M.A. She taught art history at New York sculpture expresses abstractions—and to demonstrate the University (Washington Square College) and at Hunter connection between the dominant philosophy of a given College. She is co-author with her late husband, Charles, era and its sculpture.” The article was originally published of Facets of Ayn Rand, a memoir of their longtime friend- without illustrations. ship with Ayn Rand and her husband, Frank O’Connor. Now, for the first time, the article is available online, supplemented by footnotes containing links to more than Note: This article will be available on the current Ayn thirty online illustrations selected by the author to enhance Rand Institute website for a limited time. The Institute’s appreciation of her text. digital strategy calls for the existing site to be replaced in “The Ayn Rand Institute thanks Mary Ann Sures,” early 2014 with a new site, on which the article will not said ARI executive director Yaron Brook, “for making be immediately available.

he potentiality of movement is evident in all Greek sculpture. TSculptors carefully articulated the joints and musculature, in rec- ognition of the fact that no body can move without them. They dis- tributed the body’s weight so that the figures were balanced, but not frozen into rigid positions. Consequently, the statues suggested the capacity to shift their weight and move easily. A quality of life was achieved also by the manner of carving the surface texture. Sculptors created the illusion of flesh that was both firm and soft, emphasizing the subtle rise and fall of the skin as it moves over the complexity of the underlying skeletal and muscular structure. In this way, they stressed the sensuous aspect of the body. When a sculptor created statues of goddesses clothed in loose gowns, he flaunted their bodies by carving the marble in the style called “wet drapery.” This term designates transparent, fragile cloth which appears to have been applied to a moist body. At every point of contact between the body and the garment, the cloth clings and reveals the body’s subtlest curves. When the Greek carved a female statue, he left no doubt of its femininity, dressed or undressed. Nike, the goddess of Victory, was a favorite of the Greek navy, and wooden statues of Nike were mounted on the prows of ships. In a marble version, the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace, the goddess stands on the prow of a ship, as an embodiment of motion. Her figure rises in an upward-sweeping curve and thrusts forward to meet the forceful winds of open seas. Wind whips her fragile gown across her Winged Victory of Samothrace (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) torso, revealing its vibrant sensuousness. Proud and courageous, she embodies the attitude with which the Greeks set out to sea. 2 From the Archives

he Ayn Rand Archives contains Ayn Rand’s personal papers, photographs and mem- T orabilia, as well as other documents related to her career and life. The mission of the Ayn Rand Archives is to acquire and preserve evidence from all facets of Ayn Rand’s life for use in biographical and scholarly research.

Putting “Frank” in Frankenstein

Photographs of Mr. O’Connor wearing his costume from the film have long been preserved in the Ayn Rand Archives. Until now, it was unknown where these photographs came from. Now it is clear that they were taken as part of Mr. O’Connor’s portfolio, which he used in seeking acting jobs. Reprinted here are Frank O’Con- nor’s acting portraits from the Models’ Bureau (c. 1930s). The Ayn Rand Archives is further investigating Frank O’Connor’s role in Frankenstein. It is reaching out to various film studios in an attempt to find photographs of Mr. O’Connor from the film’s set and a signed contract for his work in the movie.

Recently, Michael Paxton, ARI’s multimedia producer, accidentally discovered some new information about the career of Ayn Rand’s husband, Frank O’Connor. Mr. O’Connor appeared in a nonspeaking role in the 1931 film production of Frankenstein—a fact which was never mentioned in any of Ayn Rand’s journals, despite her consistent documentation of his work as an actor. Mr. Paxton, the writer, producer and director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, regularly uses clips from Frankenstein in the classes he teaches on film history. “Although I previously noticed a similarity between the man in the film and Frank O’Connor, I had always dismissed this thought due to there being no mention of Frankenstein in any archival materials related to Frank’s acting career. It wasn’t until I was demonstrating a point to my students,” he explains, “and happened to pause the film clip at a particular spot (where Mr. O’Connor is walking toward camera) that I finally had to accept the evidence of my senses.” You can view Frank O’Connor’s appearance in Frankenstein in this YouTube clip—he is the medical assistant wheeling the cadaver out of the room starting at 1:12 into the clip.

3 The Value of Interning at ARI

RI’s summer internship program A immerses college students new to Ayn Rand’s ideas in a three-week educational experience at ARI’s headquarters in Irvine, California. Each year, the program provides twenty to thirty interns with an Members of the UT Objectivism Society pose with a status of Atlas. in-depth introduction to Objectivism and careers are possible. I have always wanted to write, and before career skills, and the opportunity to net- the internship, I thought that this was an impractical aspiration. work with like-minded peers. The internship helped me understand that what I wanted to do Jonathan Divin During the day, interns take classes was attainable. Thus, it helped me get on the right career path. with renowned scholars of Objectivism and obtain professional I’m no longer denying my passion for writing in favor of getting experience contributing to ARI’s projects and programs. Nights a degree in something “useful.” and weekends are left free, providing interns the opportunity to Impact: Are you still exploring Ayn Rand’s ideas? socialize and explore the sights of Southern California. JD: I continue to study Objectivism, both on my own and Jonathan Divin, currently a junior at the University of with others in my role as president of the UT Objectivism Soci- Texas at Austin, was an ARI intern during the summer of 2012. ety. Apart from meeting once a week to discuss Rand’s writ- After completing the program, Jonathan went on to become the ings, our club hosts events on campus with ARI intellectuals. president of his college’s Objectivist student club. Impact sat These events provide a great opportunity to spread awareness down with Jonathan to find out what makes an ARI internship of Ayn Rand and are an excellent learning experience for the such a valuable experience. club’s members. They’re also a ton of fun! My experience with the internship—getting that personal Impact: What made you apply to ARI’s summer internship interaction with the intellectual staff—motivated me to apply program? to the Objectivist Academic Center (ARI’s distance-learning Jonathan Divin: At the time, I was just becoming program for future Objectivist intellectuals). I was recently acquainted with Ayn Rand and her ideas. I thought the intern- accepted into the program and look forward to the classes ship would be a great opportunity to really dive in and get beginning this month. a solid understanding of Rand’s ideas, especially with there being the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. Furthermore, I was excited to be surrounded by students my age with the same interests. Impact: What impact did the internship have on your understanding of Ayn Rand’s ideas? JD: When I applied, I had read her novels and a couple of her nonfiction essays—so I was somewhat acquainted with The UT Objectivism Society introduces fellow students to Ayn Rand. the basic aspects of Objectivism. After the internship, those Impact: What advice do you have for students interested foundational principles gained extra clarity in my mind. in ARI’s summer internship? I found that there were some things I hadn’t understood JD: I would advise any interested students to just do it—to correctly at all, and being in a place where I could inquire just apply! There is no other program out there that is like this further about those ideas was immensely helpful. I definitely internship. I had one of the greatest times of my life during the gained a broader understanding of Rand’s entire philosophy three weeks I was there. and clarification on many of its specific details. If you get accepted, ask all the questions you possibly can. Impact: What is your favorite memory from the internship? It is rare to have the opportunity to get one-on-one time with JD: This question is difficult because everything was so ARI’s intellectual staff, so be sure to make use of it. And have great! If I had to single out a particular moment, it was when a fun and make friends. I know I did! group of interns took a weekend trip to Six Flags (an amuse- Impact: Thanks for taking the time to share your intern- ment park). Before we went into the park, we all got in a circle ship experience with us, Jonathan. and put our hands in the middle—like sports teams do some- JD: Thank you! times before they go out and play their game. On the count of three we all yelled, “Happiness!” That pretty much sums up If you know a college student who wants to learn more the tone of the entire internship. about Ayn Rand, urge them to check out the details of ARI’s Impact: Has the internship also helped you career-wise? summer internship program at aynrand.org/internship. Appli- JD: The internship really helped me realize that intellectual cations are due March 30, 2014. 4 ARI Board Co-Chairman Retires

ike Berliner has been with the Ayn Rand Institute M since we first opened our doors! Dr. Berliner served as the Institute’s executive director from February 1985 until January 2000. He has been a member of our board of directors since 1985 and continued as co-chairman of the board of directors beginning in 2005. Mike’s retirement from the board was effective July 4, 2013, and a tribute event honoring his tremendous contributions to ARI’s success was held during the OCON closing banquet. Dr. Berliner has edited or contributed to many books related to Ayn Rand’s life and philosophy, including Letters of Ayn Rand, Teacher’s Guide to “Anthem,” Essays on Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” and Understanding Objectivism. His editorials have appeared in major newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and New York Post. For many years, Dr. Berliner has been volunteering as Archives Adviser on projects for the Ayn Rand Archives, an ARI program which he initiated. In addition, Dr. Berliner edits books about philosophy and music. He is looking forward to retired life with his wife, Dr. Judy Berliner, and to further exploring their mutual interest in food, champagne and operetta. The Ayn Rand Institute thanks Mike Berliner for all he has done to advance our mission. Dr. Michael S. Berliner in the first multi-roomed office of the Ayn Rand Institute, c. 1986

Ayn Rand Answers “What Is Capitalism?” at ARI Campus

hat Is Capitalism?” is quickly becoming the “Essay Contest” tab at the bottom. The submission “Wone of the most popular offerings at ARI deadline is January 19, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Campus. This intermediate level lecture repackages original audio of Ayn Rand into a visually appealing multimedia experience. In this lecture, students gain a more thorough grasp of Rand’s views on rights, free markets and the connection between morality and capitalism. “I thought I understood capitalism, but quickly discovered there was more to learn after starting this course. This course makes a great companion to the Introducing Objectivism course, and similar to that one would appear to be a great way to introduce individuals to the works of Ayn Rand and misconceptions concerning capitalism,” said one ARI Campus student ENROLL TODAY who completed the lecture. After students have completed the lecture, they are encouraged to enter ARI Campus’s first ever non-fiction essay contest. The winning submissions will take home $500. The “What Is Capitalism?” essay contest is open to any ARI Campus student. For details on the prompt and other guidelines, visit the lecture page and click on 5 The The Multimedia Corner Ayn Rand Institute eStore Books, electronic media and more