The Influence of The Fountainhead on Recent Film

1. The theme of the movie, Dead Poets Society, is independence vs. conformity--the same theme as The Fountainhead. Compare and contrast Dead Poets Society to The Fountainhead. Discuss the similarities and difference of these views of independence, conformity, and man's fundamental outlook on life.

2. The Australian film Strictly Ballroom features a young hero attempting to introduce new steps into ballroom dance competition. He is opposed by the heads of the dance federation who hold that all the proper steps of ballroom dancing have been identified long ago by the great dancers of the past. Which fundamental principle(s) are shared by this film and The Fountainhead? Are there any important differences in their understanding of human nature and human life? If so, what are they?

3. Compare and contrast the philosophic ideas presented in Dead Poets Society and Strictly Ballroom. Which of these two films is closer to outlook on human life as presented in The Fountainhead? Explain your answer fully.