Abstract

Minsaas reviews Alexandra York's essay-collection, From theFountainhead to the Future. Minsaas points out certain similarities between York's campaign for a cultural renaissance and Ayn Rand's call, in The Romantic Manifesto, for a rebirth of the ideals that informed the Romantic movement. Basically sympathetic to York's project, Minsaas does, however, express certain reservations about York's activist approach, which she finds weakens the book's scholarly value. Also, she finds that York is too one-sided in her advocacy of a life-affirming and inspiring art by downplaying the need for art that explores the darker sides of life in constructive ways.