“Predictively, any attempt at abstracting from the plethora of relevant publications something even faintly resembling a definition of the ‘Dream’ is doomed to failure.”
Peter Freese
As Peter Freese precisely points out, defining the American Dream is a difficult if not irresolvable task. The reason for this is that “beyond an abstract belief in possibility, there is no one American Dream.” Nevertheless, it is easy to find short definitions in various encyclopedias. In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language it is defined as
“[a]n American ideal of a happy and successful life to which all may aspire: “In the deepening gloom of the Depression, the American Dream represented a reaffirmation of traditional American hopes.”'
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy offers a different definition:
“[a] phrase connoting hope for prosperity and happiness, symbolized particularly by having a house of one's own. Possibly applied at first to the hopes of immigrants, the phrase now applies to all except the very rich and suggests a confident hope that one's children's economic and social condition will be better than one's own.”
A rather short and simple explanation of the term American Dream can be found in the dictionary WordNet by the Princeton University which says that it is
“the widespread aspiration of Americans to live better than their parents did.”
All of these definitions describe various facets of the dream, but none of them gets to the point.
In order to get an idea of what the dream really is or what it is assumed to be and how the idea of it came up, it is necessary to have a look at American history. The recapitulation in this work will make an attempt to reveal why it is the American dream and how it is related to American national identity. It will give a brief overview of the most important concepts in the history of the country, starting back in 1585 when the first colonists arrived. It will deal with important topics which, besides colonialization and the connected reasons for leaving Europe, are the establishment of the Declaration of Independence, the Frontier and the westward movement, Manifest Destiny all the way up to the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for equality. Besides, it is supposed to not only show the bright side of the dream but its shady sides as well in order to give full testimony of the idea of the American Dream.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The American Dream – Historical Background
3. The American Dream today
4. Gabriele Muccino’s The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – The American Dream
4.1 Story
4.2 Chris Gardner and Symbolism
4.3 Images of the American Dream
4.4 Realization of the American Dream
5. Sam Mendes’ American Beauty (1999) – The American Nightmare
5.1 Story
5.2 Suburban Life
5.3 Suburbs related to the American Dream
5.4 Failure of the American Dream
6. Andrew Bergman’s It Could Happen to You (1994) – The American Dream over Night
6.1 Story
6.2 New York Living and Dreaming
6.3 Gambling in the USA related to the American Dream
6.4 Gambling as a Way to Happiness?
7. Oliver Stone’s U Turn (1997) – The American Bad Dream
7.1 Story
7.2 Dreams and Desires
7.3 The other Side of the Dream
7.4 American Nightmares
8. Realization of the American Dream – Positive Examples
9. Failure of the American Dream – Negative Examples
10. Conclusion
11. Bibliography
12. Appendix
12.1 Gambling in the United States
12.2 Poverty Rate in the U.S. 2002 by Race and Hispanic Origin
12.3 Prisoners and jail inmates in the U.S.
12.4 Superior
Objectives and Research Themes
This thesis examines the multifaceted nature of the "American Dream" and its antithesis, the "American Nightmare," by analyzing four specific films released between 1994 and 2006. The central research question explores how these films depict various layers of the American Dream, how they relate to American history and national identity, and whether they can be definitively categorized as positive or negative reflections of this concept.
- Historical evolution of the American Dream and key concepts like Manifest Destiny and the Frontier.
- Analysis of "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "It Could Happen to You" as modern interpretations of success.
- Examination of "American Beauty" and "U Turn" as depictions of the American Nightmare and societal failure.
- The role of symbolism (e.g., the American Flag, the Declaration of Independence) in mediating cultural narratives.
- The socioeconomic impact of gambling and homeownership as symbols of realized (or failed) aspirations.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
“Predictively, any attempt at abstracting from the plethora of relevant publications something even faintly resembling a definition of the ‘Dream’ is doomed to failure.”1
Peter Freese
As Peter Freese precisely points out, defining the American Dream is a difficult if not irresolvable task. The reason for this is that “beyond an abstract belief in possibility, there is no one American Dream.”2 Nevertheless, it is easy to find short definitions in various encyclopedias. In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language it is defined as
“[a]n American ideal of a happy and successful life to which all may aspire: “In the deepening gloom of the Depression, the American Dream represented a reaffirmation of traditional American hopes.”'3
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy offers a different definition:
“[a] phrase connoting hope for prosperity and happiness, symbolized particularly by having a house of one's own. Possibly applied at first to the hopes of immigrants, the phrase now applies to all except the very rich and suggests a confident hope that one's children's economic and social condition will be better than one's own.”4
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the inherent difficulty in defining the "American Dream" and sets the scope for examining it through historical context and contemporary film.
2. The American Dream – Historical Background: Provides an overview of the origins of the American Dream, citing historical figures and documents like the Declaration of Independence.
3. The American Dream today: Analyzes the continued relevance of the concept in modern American politics and public life.
4. Gabriele Muccino’s The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – The American Dream: Examines this film as a positive example of rags-to-riches, focusing on Chris Gardner and historical symbolism.
5. Sam Mendes’ American Beauty (1999) – The American Nightmare: Explores the failure of the dream in suburban settings, highlighting materialism and the "façade" of perfection.
6. Andrew Bergman’s It Could Happen to You (1994) – The American Dream over Night: Analyzes the role of gambling and luck as modern vehicles for achieving the dream.
7. Oliver Stone’s U Turn (1997) – The American Bad Dream: Contrasts the American Dream with a nightmarish, hostile reality through the lens of a failed search for success.
8. Realization of the American Dream – Positive Examples: Synthesizes the findings from the "positive" film examples, concluding that happiness often stems from independence and family rather than pure wealth.
9. Failure of the American Dream – Negative Examples: Discusses how the pursuit of the wrong dream leads to societal and individual breakdown in the "negative" film examples.
10. Conclusion: Summarizes that the American Dream is a manifold concept that varies by perspective and can result in both fulfillment and tragedy.
Keywords
American Dream, American Nightmare, Film Analysis, Manifest Destiny, Frontier, Gambling, Homeownership, Suburbia, Pursuit of Happiness, Success, Materialism, American History, Social Stratification, Wealth, Cultural Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work focuses on the multifaceted and often contradictory nature of the American Dream as depicted in contemporary American cinema.
Which films are analyzed to represent the American Dream?
The author analyzes "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "It Could Happen to You" as positive examples, while "American Beauty" and "U Turn" are studied as examples of the American Nightmare.
What is the core research question?
The research investigates how these specific films illustrate different facets of the American Dream and how they relate to historical concepts and modern American life.
Which methodologies are employed?
The author uses film analysis combined with historical and sociological context to deconstruct how cultural narratives of success and failure are portrayed.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the historical origins of the Dream, the impact of the Frontier and Manifest Destiny, the role of gambling in American society, and the significance of suburban homeownership.
What keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include the American Dream, American Nightmare, Manifest Destiny, film analysis, materialism, social stratification, and cultural identity.
How does "The Pursuit of Happyness" define the Dream?
The film is presented as a quintessential rags-to-riches story where success is achieved through hard work, resilience, and the pursuit of happiness as established in the Declaration of Independence.
What does "American Beauty" suggest about the American Dream?
It suggests that the "American Dream" often functions as a shallow, materialist façade that masks deep-seated unhappiness, psychological distress, and societal dysfunction.
What is the significance of the lottery in the discussed films?
The lottery serves as a modern metaphor for the "get-rich-quick" aspect of the American Dream, representing both an opportunity for freedom and a source of greed and destruction.
How does the author interpret the concept of the "American Nightmare"?
The "American Nightmare" is characterized as the dark side of the Dream, encompassing failure, social inequality, racial segregation, and the loss of individual identity in the face of stifling conformity.
- Quote paper
- Jessica Narloch (Author), 2008, Facets of the American Dream and American Nightmare in Film , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116654
