RoR: Forum

if i remember right, this was based on a book - and it was the book that got the bad rap... tho, to be sure, disney made the visualization so well, IT became the bad rap, as influencing in its way as his Bambi was/is...

been so long, tho, since seeing this movie, will have to get it to see...and probably add to collection...

Post 1

Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 11:32am

Orion,

Though I'm not sure I've not seen this particular version, I did see another (made for tv) adaptation shown here in the UK sometime last year; and came to pretty much the same conclusion you did regarding the character's seemingly unending optimism and benevolence. I've known other Objectivists to use the term "pollyanna" in a somewhat derogatory manner and I think many of them could actually benefit from a better understanding of the story.

MH

Post 2

Sunday, July 25, 2004 - 9:02pm

Matthew,

Yeah, I saw a listing for that newer version too... And I agree with you, about people not understanding the "Pollyanna" concept.

It's taken me too many years to discover (thanks to the Myers-Briggs Trait Inventory Test) that I am the sort of person who requires an explicit logical justification before I can "conform" to something. Until I saw Pollyanna, I had always regarded optimism as little other than cowardly denial. Now I see that I was a shameful fool, that optimism is one of the hardest and most courageous things we can ever engage in.

Post 3

Monday, July 26, 2004 - 6:29am

Here is a passage that occurs in a book I am right now editing:

Do not confuse a positive attitude with a Pollyanna attitude (a foolishly or blindly optimistic attitude). People who have a positive attitude do not see everything in life as wonderful. However, they do see ways to change a bad situation.

Just one more example. The boldface indicates a Key Term, to be defined in the Glossary at the back of the book.

(Edited by Rodney Rawlings on 7/26, 6:31am)

Post 4

Monday, July 26, 2004 - 9:49am

Yep, that's my point... Smearing a story that they don't actually know.

Post 5

Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 6:45am