The American Dream
Definition:
The
American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams
in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone,
with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement"
regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.
Study of the six documents:
Document nº1:
This document is a graph in which we can see the different aspects that people think of when they are asked about the American Dream. Firstly they think about "Opportunity" with 20% of votes, the "Freedom", "Family", "Financial security", "Happiness", "A good job", "Home ownership", "Wealth" and "Others". So people think that American Dream is a kind a perfect way of life in which nothing lack.
Document nº2:
Document nº3:
This is a cartoon were we can see a black father in a living room sitting in an armchair, with his two kids, he's telling them that NOW America can realise the dream that everybody dreams. This is what society thinks and tell to the new generation because before people thought that everyone could arrive at the top if he decide it, because The American Dream was that, but not always this dream keep. So nowadays people have the same chance.
Document nº4:
We can think that this document is a drawing made by Greanberg on which we can see a woman holding an instruction book of the American Dream. We can think that this document is a caricature because you must add money if you want to have everything that the American Dream gives you.
So, it want to show us that if you have money you can realise the American Dream and have everything that promises you to be happy. So it's a critique of the American Dream because instead of making easier everything people want, you need to have money to to do realise it.
Document nº5:
(I can't put the video, here is the link)
This video shows us a man Bob Herbert that gives his opinion about life nowadays; it's very hard to find a job even if you studied a lot and have an exelent curriculum because there aren't so much works to so many people.
This document is a video that criticises how banks work; they seem to help you giving you everything you want and more, but then when you don't have money they take you everything without negotiation.
Watching this video we get closer and the way it's made, make easier to understand because it's at the same time funny, instructive and informative.
Document nº7: Personal document
This is how people think the American dream gives you; Success, a good job where you earn a lot of money to buy a big house. And like this you can create the tipical family with your splendid blond wife and two children.
But in reality that's not true because nowadays there are more or less the same problems, not everyone can get a job easier and have a confortable way of life.
Conclusion:
In my opinion I think that The American Dream is just a myth and a way to attract people to America, it's true that some people arrive to realise their dream but no everybody. There are so many young people that worked a lot and can't find a job, a house to live, because they don't have money... American Dream is for people how have money and can pay everything they want.
So people expect that in America they can find their dream but it's false, it's another country like France, Spain, Germany...
