In a torrent of rap songs, cosmetic surgery, “sex sells†advertising, pornography, and diet pills; Americans have lost their identity. Corporate America sells us the American dream: an unobtainable image of who we should be, or who we could be; if we only had the money..... thats the start of an essay im writing for my English 102 final. does anyone else agree that the american dream has become a myth.. Produced by the rap industry, plastic surgeons, and advertising companies of the 20th century? Any thought on the matter would help... I know GC is full of analytical thinkers. lets hear from them.
Consumption of as much wasteful materialistic things as possible, the more = the more succesful. Oh ya and passivism is evil.
The American dream is the right of life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness. In a sense you could say the American dream is success but success differs from person to person
But real shit, wouldn't you want to wear expensive clothes, drive nice cars, own a big house. The media might blow shit out of proportion, but its human nature to want to better yourself (even if you better yourself without materialistic things). you should always be proud of what you have, but you should always want more. If you dont want anything more theres no reason to fight to the top.
As a former teacher, I think this is an excellent topic choice. If you're going to tell us that the American Dream has become a myth, you must first define what the American Dream is and/or was. That should be your starting point. How long do you have to produce the essay?
Many schools of philosophy and some religions may disagree with you. You're assuming there are reasons to "fight to the top" other than to acquire things. Buddhisms "Four Noble Truths" sum this up nicely. And it's easier to google that than a list some philosophers with more difficult concepts to follow. EDIT: Sorry, I didn't read the thread before I posted. I still stand by my first comment but if it's an essay, I would recommend asking the following questions and try to answer them. What makes the American dream unique to the dreams of other countries? What makes this dream possible? Is the dream still possible, if it ever was? How does this define the concept "America"? ---Where other cultures and communities have heritage and tradition for an identity, how does the American dream create an "American identity"? Since most immigrants to the United States were sacrificing (true?) a lot by coming over here. What made the "dream" so luring?
very true. I mean i could argue both sides of this argument.... but what fun is arguing that things are good as they are. Right? Though i believe it has become more then a materialistic "thing". There telling us what we want... We dont want these things. They tell you what you need and they define what beauty and happiness. And the worst part is that for them to come out on top they need to make it all unobtainable.
The American Dream is what you make it and where you come from plays a big part in what "your" American Dream is. For a child from an impoverished third world nation with no stable government perhaps their American Dream is a safe place to sleep and a hot meal everyday. For me, a lucky well enough to do American my American Dream is to live comfortably and when I near death I can look back and be satisfied with the impact I've left on this world and feel that I've lived a full life. And to be KNEE DEEP IN BITCHES!
to me, the american dream has always been to be blown up with it, i mean livin large, mansion on the hill with like 15 bedrooms, built out of marble mahogany and all that fancy ass shit, with a bently out front and some exotic type shit in the garage, big ass inground pool with the waterfall, sittin on about 20-30 acres, with the fat bank acount, armani and gucci suits, eatin motherfuckin caviar with a gold spoon, wife and kids, bad broad put up in a high rise across town, tight ass yacht chillin at the marina. well maybe thats just my dream lol.
i dont need help writing the essay. That i can do. I would just like to have a discussion on th current problem Americans have with identity and how it seems that we are all influenced greatly by the media. It is human nature to want to be the best, to want to fight to the top even when the top is nowhere in sight. So naturally we should want to look better. After all, what is the point of fighting to the top if you are content with what you already have? This was brought up earlier in the thread... And i dont necessarily agree but im having trouble countering it at the same time... Someone brought up the four noble truths but i cant seem to make the connection. If anything they back up the claim that this nothing more than human nature... am i right?
it is human nature, i diddnt give a fuck about the media when i was 8, but when a new video game came out and my friend got it... i was jelous, and i wanted it. when i got a new game ask your friend over to show him how cool the new thing you got was. maybe thats the way i was brought up, or at least the environment i was in. Every body has there own american dream depending on where your from. if your a kid growing up in texas maybe the american dream is to find oil and strike it rich. maybe if i grew up in the hood, my american dream would be to get out of the hood. but i know that the second i get out i would want more. like why stop there? I think its a bullshit paper because your teacher knows god damn right what the american dream is (although i haven't read the first post since last time i posted). the real question is people who have it all, what do they dream of? having less money? finding a true love? Brett favres american dream is probably to kill a giant ass fucking deer.