Beginning by outlining the basic development of the ‘land of opportunity’-concept through massive immigration from Europe in the 19th and 20th century, I will continue to show why even back then there have been quite a few contradictions between the new nation’s ideals and the reality that people, especially blacks, experienced in those days, implying that opportunity was only available to a very limited amount of people.
The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s was merely able to raise society’s awareness of the problem because afterwards most people simply kept on believing the lie of living in the ‘land of the free’. Education, housing and income continued to differ widely between blacks and whites, causing not only resentment and poverty on one side, but also leading to pseudo- scientific attempts to explain those differences based on racial characteristics.
Analyzing ‘The Pursuit Of Happyness’ I will try to show the ambiguity of criticism of racial differences and America’s ruthless individualism on the one hand, and of promotion of the traditional American Dream concept on the other.
Following the question, if the movie is as critical and sarcastic as the title suggests, I will then try to point out some of the major symbols and metaphors used to enhance the contrast between rich and poor and black and white in the movie, also explaining why Chris Gardner could be seen as an American Adam.
Finally, I will try to give a short overview of racial inequality today, connecting it to my movie analysis in order to answer the question whether ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ manages to portray an adequate picture of the contemporary perception of the ‘land of opportunity’-concept: Is money still a matter of color?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The ‘Land of Opportunity’ – Concept Revised
- The American Dream – A Contradiction?
- From ‘Land of Opportunity’ to ‘Land of Color’?
- ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ – A Critical Portrayal of the American Dream?
- The American Adam and the 'Land of Opportunity'
- Symbols and Metaphors in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’
- The Color of Wealth
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main goal of this paper is to analyze the 'land of opportunity' concept by examining its historical development and contemporary manifestation in Steven Conrad's movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness". The paper will explore the contradictions between the ideal of equality and opportunity and the reality experienced by certain groups, particularly African Americans. The film is used as a case study to illustrate the persistent presence of racial inequality in America.
- The evolution of the "land of opportunity" concept in the United States
- The role of racial inequality in shaping the American Dream
- The portrayal of socioeconomic disparities in "The Pursuit of Happyness"
- The representation of African Americans in the context of the American Dream
- The relationship between wealth, opportunity, and race in contemporary America
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by outlining the historical development of the 'land of opportunity' concept in the United States, highlighting its origins in the Mayflower Compact and its subsequent expansion through the Declaration of Independence. It explores how the concept, while appealing to masses of immigrants, was often contradicted by realities such as the existence of slavery and subsequent restrictions on immigration. The paper then discusses the Civil Rights movement and the lingering disparities in education, income, and wealth between black and white Americans, questioning the true extent of equality of opportunity.
The analysis then shifts to Steven Conrad's "The Pursuit of Happyness", examining the film's portrayal of the American Dream through the story of Chris Gardner, a black protagonist struggling to achieve financial success. The paper explores how the film uses symbols and metaphors to highlight the contrast between rich and poor, white and black, and how it critically examines the concept of the American Dream.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and topics of this paper include the "land of opportunity", the American Dream, racial inequality, socioeconomic disparities, African American experience, "The Pursuit of Happyness", and the portrayal of wealth and opportunity in contemporary America.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2014, The ’Land of Opportunity’-Concept Revised. The Color of Wealth in Steven Conrad’s ”The Pursuit of Happyness“, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336345
