American Pop Culture

[Peji911]

Hey guys,

So Im doing an essay for my American Pop Culture class. We've studied things such as the department store, sports, music, movies, impact of the world wars, the depression, tv shows, etc--Basically anything Pop Culture related, obviously.

One thing that always pops up, however, is race, sex, and class and how each medium meant something different for every class/race.

One major theme is the 'American Dream'.
Clearly the American Dream means something different to blacks than whites, Protestants than Jews, etc. What I am looking for are movies, songs, poems, paintings, etc that deal with this theme and how it's different for everyone.

Also, if anyone has a different theme I'd love to hear it.

Being Canadian I dont have access to what it really is to be American (although our culture follows yours), so I'd like some help.

Thanks Boys!

[Shaver]

Re: American Pop Culture

I think you are making a huge generalization and major UNDERSTATEMENT. The American Dream is not different between whites and blacks and Jews and Catholics... it's different between Joe and Jim. The American Dream is very personal. It's not a race thing or a religion thing... it's a person thing.

My American Dream is different than my Brother's.... same blood... same race... same upbringing.... same religion.... same environment.... different dreams.

[skitch]

Re: American Pop Culture

Clay's right on. What may be the American Dream for me, may be the farthest thing from it for Clay, and so on and so forth.

[Peji911]

Re: American Pop Culture

I think you are making a huge generalization and major UNDERSTATEMENT. The American Dream is not different between whites and blacks and Jews and Catholics... it's different between Joe and Jim. The American Dream is very personal. It's not a race thing or a religion thing... it's a person thing.

My American Dream is different than my Brother's.... same blood... same race... same upbringing.... same religion.... same environment.... different dreams.

For sure, but that goes without explaining. Im a 49ers fan because when I was in Buffalo for a game when I was younger, Joe Montana signed my jersey and ball. Ron might be a 49er fan cause he lives in San Francisco.

No one is alike for EVERYTHING, that is a given.

Now. Why did Jews pursue the American Dream? Because they wanted to come to a place where they wouldnt be persecuted (ie: Russia).

Why did Eastern Europeans pursue it? Because they were out of work back home.

EVERYONE is different, that's for sure.

But Langston Hughes believes that the American Dream, at least in his time, wasnt available to blacks for a certain reason. Tupac sang about the same thing, yet for a different reason.

That's what Im looking for. Do we have to generalize? Yes. But I need three forms of media that depict it in a different way for, preferably, 3 different groups.

[ehh]

Re: American Pop Culture

The American Dream isn't bound by race, sex or religion.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness......

That's the American Dream. The specifics will be different for different people, but it's that general principle that defines it.

[Peji911]

Re: American Pop Culture

The American Dream isn't bound by race, sex or religion.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness......

That's the American Dream.

Exactly. And without turning this into a thread about race and class, who gets the most oppertunities within American society for those three things you just mentioned?

Im starting to see that people living IN America dont see that racism exists and the nation isnt as unified as you might believe.

Thats the purpose of studying this in University--they give you examples.

Now... no one knows a Tupac or NWA or w/e song about the American Dream?

Surely you guys know some poems and songs, and movies etc. At least growing up you have to have been exposed to that...its different for canadians, however.

[ehh]

Re: American Pop Culture

Exactly. And without turning this into a thread about race and class, who gets the most oppertunities within American society for those three things you just mentioned?

Im starting to see that people living IN America dont see that racism exists and the nation isnt as unified as you might believe.

Thats the purpose of studying this in University--they give you examples.

Now... no one knows a Tupac or NWA or w/e song about the American Dream?

Surely you guys know some poems and songs, and movies etc. At least growing up you have to have been exposed to that...its different for canadians, however.

I took a Pop Culture class my jr year of college as well, it was honestly the second or third hardest class I took as an undergrad. I thought it would be a breeze, but it was brutal.

Although I hate the movie, Scarface is a pretty damn good example of the American dream. A nobody, low-class immigrant makes it all the way to the top in the US: rich, women, cars, etc. All the material BS that people dont' really need but our country is obsessed with.

EDIT: Also, for your first sentence in that quote, I think the white-middle/upper class has the most opportunities easily available to them, but everyone in this country has the opportunity to make their life whatever they want it to be. It may be harder for certain races, genders, etc, but it certainly can be done. That's why people like Jackie Robinson, MLK, etc are so important to the American Dream. They prove that anyone can achieve their dream, regardless of what/where they came from.

[ehh]

Re: American Pop Culture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

They've got some good stuff there too.


Literature expressing the American Dream

There are many books, plays and other forms of literature which have defined, explored or denounced the American Dream. Some more well known examples are:

• Horatio Alger's books
• The Great Gatsby
• Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
• A Raisin in the Sun
• Of Mice and Men
• The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence
• On the Road
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• The American Dream (play) by Edward Albee
• Rags to Riches by Richard T. Farmer
• Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby, Jr.

[Karlos05]

Re: American Pop Culture

The Great Gatsby is a great example. I studied that bad boy back in high school and all we talked about was the concept of the American Dream.

[Beantown]

Re: American Pop Culture

Death of a Salesman....that's the one I was trying to remember./