The American Dream

[Floppertje]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

 

[Steelfists]

It applies today, simply because of the large amounts of people who still want to be Americans. That is America's greatest strength, so many people look to it as a place where they can find success, which means they are the no. 1 for talent worldwide.

 

[TheDuckbunny]

I think the term goes back to a time when America's economy was still booming and people from other countries would move across oceans to start a new life there.
That and it's always being labeled as a poor American man/woman rising up to be a celebrity later in life.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

Okay basically there are different kinds of American dreams. For example, in the 1800s it was move out west. Later own, it was own a home, and a car. Ya know, typical middle class stuff. Now, that is the American dream for Americans. As for the American dream of immigrants, such as the Irish, I really don't know.

I don't think the American dream is being able to do whatever you want, but more about living in comfort ya know? The way I understood it was that, for example, when the Chinese were immigrating to America during the Gold Rush, they wanted money and room. I'm pretty sure thats the basic American dream, now that I think about it. I am sure it still applies, but with so many other developed nations now, and American's reputation shot straight down the crap hole, I doubt it is as prevalent today was it was, in say, the Roaring Twenties.

 

[khaimera]

The American dream is to have a house, car, career, 2.5 children, a dog, and a white picket fence. All of these cost money so getting money is the Amercain Dream.

For me, the American Dream is to be happy, but I'm the minority on that one, at least among my peers.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

The American Dream is about being able to achieve your goals, no matter who you are. It's a concept that alludes to America as the "land of opportunity," suggesting that a person can freely pursue happiness and success regardless of their background or social identity.

 

[Darkenwrath]

If you have the time read "Of mice and Men," it's all about the American dream and how it can be lost.

 

[Floppertje]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

The American Dream is about being able to achieve your goals, no matter who you are. It's a concept that alludes to America as the "land of opportunity," suggesting that a person can freely pursue happiness and success regardless of their background or social identity.

soo... that includes if you're black, or gay? I'm not saying you can't get to the top if you are, but I think you're chances are largely reduced...

 

[Floppertje]

If you have the time read "Of mice and Men," it's all about the American dream and how it can be lost.

I have and I hated it. maybe I read it too young, that I didn't get the symbology or something like that...

 

[dark707]

The American Dream is a metaphor, that's as far as I go.

 

[Darkenwrath]

If you have the time read "Of mice and Men," it's all about the American dream and how it can be lost.

I have and I hated it. maybe I read it too young, that I didn't get the symbology or something like that...

Maybe I'm quite surprised you hated it, it's generally considered a great piece of literature. The entire book is based around striving for the American dream and how futile it is in some cases.

Meh tis not for all, just the American dream is an underlying theme thought you might want to have a look.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

The American Dream is actually a bit shallow and expected: Have a family, a house, a car, maybe a pet, and get as much money as can be gotten to upgrade the stuff you have.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

The American Dream is about being able to achieve your goals, no matter who you are. It's a concept that alludes to America as the "land of opportunity," suggesting that a person can freely pursue happiness and success regardless of their background or social identity.

soo... that includes if you're black, or gay? I'm not saying you can't get to the top if you are, but I think you're chances are largely reduced...

I'm not saying anything about "getting to the top"-- whatever a person's individual goals are, the tangible aspect of the concept of the American Dream is that you have the freedom to try. So yes, it applies to blacks and gays as well-- perhaps even moreso, because the connotation of the American Dream suggests that the goal is always beyond you-- I'd argue that a person's idea of the American Dream changes as their life goes on.

The revelation that one has "lived the American Dream" does not occur when or if the ultimate goal is achieved-- in my opinion, it occurs in retrospect. It's all about the pursuit-- the experience of living in America.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

As a student of human geography who is currently studying North America, I thought I'd gather some background information. specifically on the american dream, which I don't really know anything about and studying the region made me curious. so...
What exactly IS the American Dream? I think it's got to do with being able to do whatever you want but I'm not quite sure.
Is it true/ does it work? or does it no longer apply in today's society?
has anyone here had any personal experience linked to this subject?
any other thoughts/opinions on the matter?

The American Dream is about being able to achieve your goals, no matter who you are. It's a concept that alludes to America as the "land of opportunity," suggesting that a person can freely pursue happiness and success regardless of their background or social identity.

This seems to be the most accurate answer so far.

 

[Floppertje]

If you have the time read "Of mice and Men," it's all about the American dream and how it can be lost.

I have and I hated it. maybe I read it too young, that I didn't get the symbology or something like that...

Maybe I'm quite surprised you hated it, it's generally considered a great piece of literature. The entire book is based around striving for the American dream and how futile it is in some cases.

Meh tis not for all, just the American dream is an underlying theme thought you might want to have a look.

I think I was just too young for it. I read 1984 and one flew over the cuckoo's nest later, liked them better. anyway, getting offtopic. In hindsight I remember that it was about those two guys going from farm to farm to work, and the big one being so stupid that he fucked it up all the time. and in the end the other one shot him for being stupid. and killing that girl. It was too long ago to really remember any metaphors. though the mice in his pocket were probably a methaphor for something... I just don't know what.

 

[Pills_Here]

Read "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson, behind all the drugs and desert bike races it's about the search for the American dream.

 

[Floppertje]

snip

I'm not saying anything about "getting to the top"-- whatever a person's individual goals are, the tangible aspect of the concept of the American Dream is that you have the freedom to try. So yes, it applies to blacks and gays as well-- perhaps even moreso, because the connotation of the American Dream suggests that the goal is always beyond you-- I'd argue that a person's idea of the American Dream changes as their life goes on.

The revelation that one has "lived the American Dream" does not occur when or if the ultimate goal is achieved-- in my opinion, it occurs in retrospect. It's all about the pursuit-- the experience of living in America.

Ok, that makes sense, the american dream isn't really the goal then, as much as it is the journey, going after what you want, regardless of wether or not you achieve it.

 

[Nmil-ek]

The American Dream is actually a bit shallow and expected: Have a family, a house, a car, maybe a pet, and get as much money as can be gotten to upgrade the stuff you have.

Sounds like a bad RPG, think I'll stick to the Scottish dream get hammered and hope to wake up with your clothes on.

 

[Floppertje]

The American Dream is actually a bit shallow and expected: Have a family, a house, a car, maybe a pet, and get as much money as can be gotten to upgrade the stuff you have.

Sounds like a bad RPG, think I'll stick to the Scottish dream get hammered and hope to wake up with your clothes on.

the american dream seems to have better long term prospects and you'll have to pay less health insurance

 

[Nmil-ek]

The American Dream is actually a bit shallow and expected: Have a family, a house, a car, maybe a pet, and get as much money as can be gotten to upgrade the stuff you have.

Sounds like a bad RPG, think I'll stick to the Scottish dream get hammered and hope to wake up with your clothes on.

the american dream seems to have better long term prospects and you'll have to pay less health insurance

Hah NHS, see our country keps the dream alive!