Discussion 9: The Fountainhead (Film)

Howard Roark should stand as an inspiration to all architects struggling with the traditional believes of people and society. Roark is an individualistic young architect who chooses to struggle in darkness rather than compromise his artistic and personal vision, resulting in his battle against society to practice modern architecture.

Architecture today is still seen through society’s eyes and is criticized. Although society seem to be more open minded to modern and new technology, the struggle of the architect still remains in the underlying knowledge of the technology at their disposal. The struggle begins from day one of being an architecture student as we must learn to take the criticism of our work and let it make us stronger. Believe me sometimes it is a struggle to stay a float but it is important that we as students stay above the water and voice our opinion, because after all we are the next generation of architects and it is important that we hold our own individualism as Roark did and not to follow the system as robots. Roark is an example to all as he is the embodiment of the human spirit and his struggle represents the triumph of individualism over collectivism.

Roark would not compromise his goals despite enormous pressures to do so. He believed that there is only black and white in moral issues; there is no gray. Therefore, giving in a little is not compromise but rather, selling out your values and giving in to evil. Roark was not a man to sell out, he had the courage of his convictions. His courage should be an inspiration to always voice your opinion even if it opposes the way of the present society.