Title Creator Datesort icon Era City Country Emotional Sum (Sense of Life or emotional World View) Theme
Far Country, The Author: Nevil Shute 1952 1951 - 2000 Australia

Life can be bright, happy and successful, but hard decisions must be faced and dealt with.

A good and happy life is made up of self-directed actions, self-chosen goals.

A less important theme is:
Freedom from government control.
Whether the government control results from devastating wars, or from socialist control of medical care, freedom is to be sought and prized.

High Noon Director: Fred Zinnemann 1952 1951-1970 United States

There is palpable evil in the world. There is heroism in the face of evil in the world. The movie is full of fear and foreboding and betrayal.

Civil Society is the ideal, and worth fighting for. Doing what is right is the right way to live. Don't let the evil bastards win. The theme is expressed repeatedly in the movie via the contrast of the Marshall who grimly faces the need to do what he lives for, despite the death facing him, vs. the mealy mouthed town folk, many of which who won't fight for their civil society, and vs. the deputy marshall who portrays the sellout who will give into evil force in order to "get along".

Rashomon Director: Akira Kurosawa 1950 1931-1950 Japan

The world is terrible and full of disasters and mankind is awful and pathetic.

Objectivity is a myth -- everyone sees a different reality, a different "story".

Etudes Choreographer: Harold Lander 1948 Pre-1950 Ballet/Dance New York United States

Thrilling pleasure at beautiful movement and great success at developing the best within you.

Hard work results in great achievement in life -- and that results in beauty and excitement in life.

Brief Encounter Screenwriter: Noel Coward 1945 1931-1950 United Kingdom

Passionate love. Tragic choices.

High romance is possible. Such love is unlikely to survive. This film manages to embrace two contradictory themes, leading to a major bittersweet outcome.

Tzena Tzena Tzena Miron - Parish: 1941 1900s Israel

Joyous celebration

Joyous celebration

Landfall Shute, Nevil: 1940 1900 - 1950 United Kingdom

Heroes and Heroines are self-made, by anyone at any level of intelligence who seriously pursues what is important in their lives.

Truth will triumph -- with perseverance.

Johnson Wax Building Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright 1939 1900 - 1950 Racine United States

Day to day life can be exalted and pleasurable.

To Work should be a condition of grandeur and joy.

Anthem Rand, Ayn: 1938, revised 1946 1900 - 1950

The book starts out psychologically dark and disorienting because of the protagonist struggling with the radically collectivist world he was born into. But what shows even in the early pages, and grows to the climax is the triumphant struggle of a rare few who break free of the yoke of total mind control and become free to live a life as a conceptual human and rediscover what it means to be an individual. Thrilling and emotionally satisfying (unless the reader is a committed determinist.)

Ego and using one's individual mind is the core of being human.

Blue Steps of Naumkeag Landscape Designer: Fletcher Steele 1937-39 1900 - 1950 Stockbridge, MA United States

elegance and grace

The man-made enhances nature -- it is what makes nature beautiful

Helene Arpels Dress Designer: Maggy Rouff 1937 1901-1950 Paris France

Elegance and richness of detail

Fireplace and Door Designer: Wharton Esherick 1936c. 1901-2000 Philadelphia United States

Very orderly exuberance, via "explosive" geometry

Rembrandt Director: Korda Alexander 1936 1931-1950 United Kingdom

Life is hard as an independent spirit, and wealth will elude you, but you will be happy, after a fashion.

Ruggles of Red Gap Director: Leo McCarey 1935 1931-1950 United States

Happiness and fulfillment is in yourself.

Personal declaration of independence from servitude

Boulevard of Broken Dreams Composer: Warren and Dubin 1933-34 1900s United States

Weariness & Sadness

Life is loss of dreams and sadness

Day at the Beach Painter: J.C. Leyendecker 1932 1900s United States

Fun and cuteness.

Design for Living Writer: Noel Coward 1932 1900s United Kingdom

Life can be giddy and bright. Facing up to one's anti-conventional values is important. Conventional morality must be questioned if it causes suffering and conflict.

You should follow your deepest values and accept them no matter how unconventional the outcome.

A rare combination of the wittiest, lightest of Noel Coward's style, along with deeper themes of romantic love, proper morality and how should one live.

Covered Box Designer: John Otar 1930 1901-2000 Santa Cruz, CA United States

Fun; complexity made from simplicity

Chocolate Pitcher and Butter Dish Villeroy & Boch: 1930 Germany

Friendly warmth (arising from the simple graceful lines, and the unadorned simplicity of the colors without ornament)

I'll See You Again Composer: Noel Coward 1929 1900s Manchester United Kingdom

Life is bittersweet

Sweet memories of love last forever

Crane Under the Rain Ohara, Shoson: 1928 1900s Japan

Life is difficult.

Are You Lonesome Tonight? Composer: Lou Handman 1926 1900s

Sensuality and bitterness

The remembrance of past love.

System of Architectural Ornament, A Designer: Louis Henri Sullivan 1922 1900s Chicago United States

The world is a place of infinite, ordered, geometric, fluid possibilities.

Composition with Red Yellow Blue and Black Painter: Piet Mondrian 1921 The Hague Netherlands

[Seems mute]

Blue Phoenix Painter: Koyo Omura 1921 1900s Chicago United States

A pleasing and lush, possibly claustrophobic, world.