Poll: Which 20th century creative visionary has influenced the world most?

I know there have been a lot of creative minds in the last 100+ years, but who do you think has made the most lasting impression not only in Hollywood, but in the general public's minds and hearts?

I narrowed it down to these three. Please post your write-in if you vote 'None of the above'.

I'd go with Walt, hands down. Tolkein and Lucas have created great stories that revolutionized the industries of fantasy, sci-fi, storytelling and movie making, but Disney just could not be stopped.

Animation, feature films, educational movies, theme parks, utopian communities, the list of things that fascinated Walt Disney are too numerous to name. He had an eternally child-like imagination, the genius to pull off his visons, and the common sense to know that he couldn't do it alone. With his brother Roy to keep him from going broke, and his awesome team of imagineers and animators, Walt Disney truly created magic. Even the most cynical, hard nosed bastard (like me!) has to have a place in his heart for Disney.

I think Walt Disney did more good for the world than all the current politicians and world leaders put together. Not just in an entertainment sense, but in the sense that the entertainment was crafted with love and care, and it was created for everyone...all ages, colors and creeds.

I'm not a real big "Disney" fan, but I'm a HUGE Walt Disney fan.

Don't even get me started on what Eisner has done to that company in the last decade. 😠

"Who do you think has made the most lasting impression...in the general public's minds and hearts...in the 20th century"

In an age of empire and military might, he proved that the powerless had power and that force of arms would not forever prevail against force of spirit... Gandhi 😛

Then... He who discovered, merely by thinking about it, that the universe was not as it seemed.... Einstein 😖hifty:

Maybe it wasn't clear, but I meant entertainment industry types...

This is probably an unfair poll, but after Walt I couldn't think of anyone else! I truly don't think Lucas or Tolkein are even in the same league as Disney, but I couldn't come up with any other names. I was kinda hoping write-in votes would come up with names I forgot.

I guess I was going for irony...you know, people who just wanted to entertain an audience and ended up changing the world.

Originally posted by Creechuur
you know, people who just wanted to entertain an audience and ended up changing the world.

in that case, I would have to say...

ME!

oh wait! I'll be doing that for the 21st Century!!

Tolkien brought Myth back to the 20th century 🙂

I cant mention them all but I'd have to say the many people who invented Jazz,
Soo many influences i cant even name them all.

Tolkein would be a close second to Disney for sure. Since the 60's, every fantasy property that has used an elf or an orc has basically used Tolkein's version. D&D wouldn't exist without his books.

Tptmanno, I'm sure Jazz musicians had a profound effect on you and other musicians, but I'm talking about people who changed the very landscape of society solely with entertainment. George Gershwin or Louie Armstrong might be candidates, but I don't think theyre quite in Disney and Tolkein's league.

I would say out of the given list Tolkien.

Dang, I thought this was a good question too. Shows you what I know...

You cannot DO that without mentioning Spielberg.
Close Encounters
ET
Indiana Jones trilogy
Jurassic Park
Schindlers List<which i haven't seen though!>
Saving Private Ryan!
JAWS
BACK TO THE FUTURE!<The man's a GOD for crying out LOUD!>
HE makes stars out of Nobody's really he does!
After HIM comes Jim Cameron NO DOUBT.
I've been following these two directors awesome accomplishments the last 14 years.
U can't beat these two it's like Christ VS SATAN with he world watching!
I'll be stumped dead 4 sure if any Director Star Maker can attain what they have attained! They make excellence and classic storytelling look like truth simplicitly stated is magnificence exemplified par HOLOCAUST!
I'm their biggest FAN 4 ever!
If this was DOOMSDAY I'd Be the Third Horseman Of Apocalypse and I'd give Professor SpielRock two thumbs UP to say ACTION!
Then I'd sit down and reasses the dynamics of the situation for Cardinal JIM Cammies to reprobation!
5-4-3-3-2-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

Tolkien IS not even AS good OR was never AS good As GOODKIND EVER WILL BE!
The Abyss defines HELL closer than either MAtrix or LOTR!
Infact Gerorgr disses any of thes any DAY but the main maen BE Ct=ST!!

got to go for Tolkien

Spielberg and Cameron are damn good, but I would be interested to know how many of their movies were from their own ideas. A lot of Cameron's stuff is not original...Aliens, Titanic, etc. Definitely two of the best filmmakers on the planet though, no doubt.

I'm not familiar with Goodkind, I'll have to check him out. Comparing him to Tolkien is a tall order.

Its apparent that this a Tolkien/Disney thing. Very few people have reached their almost unattainable heights.

You cannot DO that without mentioning Spielberg

DEFO WHOEVA INVENTED THE SANWICH TOASTA 😎

The man's glasses are just like mine 😱

The first electric toaster was invented in 1893 in Great Britain by Crompton
and Co (UK)

Well, no one has influenced modern movie makers like Stanly Kubrick, so I'll throw his name into the ring.

Out of the given list, probably Tolkien. He pretty much made the fantasy genre out of scratch as it's known today.

carrot top.

for controversy Id go with Roman Polanski..........sorry creech had to toss that one in the ring