Parodies and Humor about Objectivism
The links below go to materials parody or otherwise make fun of Ayn Rand and/or Objectivism. Straightforward criticisms of Objectivist ideas or criticisms of Objectivists can be found on separate pages.
Parody and ridicule can be done purely for humor, or they can be a particularly malicious form of criticism. When done as criticism, humor allows greater latitude for the critic to claim or imply things about the subject that could not be proven with normal arguments or evidence. This can include claims and implications that are exaggerated or even outright false. It is left for the reader to interpret the intent of the items listed below, but when considered as arguments, parody and ridicule should always be viewed with caution. (Note: While some of the authors' names for these pieces are recognizable as real -- Murry Rothbard, for example -- it is entirely likely that others are using pseudonyms, as this is common in parody. Where it is obvious that a name is itself a joke, such as "Peter Leonard" and "Robert Maybehew," the author is listed as being anonymous.)
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Parodies of Objectivist Works
The following parodies make fun of Ayn Rand's novels or other works by Objectivists.
Other Humor
The items below make fun of Rand or Objectivism in various ways. These include caricaturing the personalites of individual Objectivists, placing Rand in absurd fictional situations and other forms of humor.
- Become an Objectivist in Ten Easy Steps by Andrej Bauer -- Each step ridicules some aspect of Objectivism.
- Dear Aynnie by Alan Bisbort -- The author of this sarcastic "advice column" purports to have "channeled" Rand, whom he calls the "goddess of the Neoconservatives" and "the patron(izing) saint of Really Phlatulent Philosophy."
- Celebrating Rand's 100th, Part I by Gene Callahan -- Blog post that parodies various personal foibles attributed to Rand and her characters. Despite the title, there does not appear to be a Part II.
- Galt and Dagny Playing Poker by Terrance Chan -- This brief bit of humor from a gambling discussion group requires some knowledge of poker terminology to follow.
- The Confessions of Ayn Rand by Richard Harter -- Mock review of a supposed book of the same title, which portrays Rand as a Christian saint.
- Noam Chomsky and Ayn Rand by Richard Harter -- Sarcastic newsgroup post (reproduced on Harter's personal website) describing Rand as an important influence on Chomsky and others.
- Atlas Shr by Mike Martone -- "A glimpse into alternate universes where Ayn Rand's books are all 400 pages shorter."
- Kiki Shrugged by Ian McDonald -- A week of comic strips about a ferret that reads Rand and becomes possessed by her ghost. (The link goes to the first day of the series. A calendar provides links to the other strips.)
- Reversalism: A Philosophy for Living It Up by Michael Prescott -- Caricatures Rand by presenting the fictional history of "Cassandra Prune" and her philosophy of "Reversalism."
- Defined: Objectivism by Ashley Pond V -- Entry in "The Devil's Dictionary X," a continuation of the re-definition tradition begun by Ambrose Bierce in the late 1800s. Definitions for "objectivist" and "Ayn Rand" are also provided.
- Alleged Objectivist Finds Objectionable Content on Website by Jason Roth -- Parody news article from the "Save the Humans" humor site.
- The 25 Most Inappropriate Things an Objectivist Can Say During Sex by Jason Roth -- From the "Save the Humans" humor site.
- Mozart Was a Red by Murray N. Rothbard -- A one-act play that parodies Rand and some of her close associates during the 50s, using false names. (For example, Ayn Rand is represented in the character of "Carson Sand.")
- Factism by Scott Ryan -- A parody of various quotes from Rand, portrayed as quotes from "Arna de Ramm," the fictional proponent of "Factism."
- The Giant Treasury of Objectivist Humor by Scott Ryan -- Mock review of a supposed book of jokes from Objectivists.
- Objectivity 'N' Me: A True Confession by Scott Ryan -- Satirical "confession" from an anti-Objectivist writer.
- The Ten Least Successful Holiday Specials of All Time by John Scalzi -- This list of non-existent Christmas specials includes "Ayn Rand's A Selfish Christmas," which supposedly ends with "children trudging across the bitterly cold, dark tundra to offer Santa cash for his services."
- Top Ten Signs You Might be a "Cookie-Cutter Objectivist" by Felipe Sediles -- Humorous blog entry.
- Dear Ayndie (author anonymous) -- Blog posing as an advice column written by Rand.
- The Floating Head of Ayn Rand (author anonymous) -- Very strange site chronicles the pseudo-history of Rand's disembodied head. Also includes "The Ayn Rand Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" and "AYNcards."
- Objectivist Pickup Lines (author anonymous) -- The title says it all.
- Objectivists in Space (author anonymous) -- Blog chronicling the projected adventures of a group of Objectivists in the year 2056. Possibly from the same author as The Floating Head of Ayn Rand (see above).
Other Sources
The following sources link to various pages of humor related to Objectivism:
- Objectivism Mockery Page -- Lists a variety of pages, including ones that make fun of Objectivism and other materials that the compiler thinks make Objectivism look ridiculous.
About the Objectivism Reference Center
The philosophy of Ayn Rand, a twentieth-century novelist and philosopher, is known as Objectivism. The Objectivism Reference Center provides resources about Rand, her ideas, her works, and places where those are discussed and debated. Visit the Site Information page for details on site policies. Suggestions for additional materials or additional links are welcomed.
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