Please post your weekly link to a source that you've found regarding
the class theme of the "American Dream" as a part of American culture OR
one of the research topics you are exploring.
As always, guidelines are the following:
For participation, we will post a link by every Monday by 5 P.M. to a source (article, movie,
blog, etc) relating to either the class theme of the formation of
the American Dream or your own individual research topic. Post a short
summary of how the source relates to the aforementioned topic (1-2
sentences).
To
receive full credit for each response, please comment on at least
two of your classmates’ posts.
http://commediaschool.com/the-course/buffoon/
ReplyDeleteThe topic that I have chosen is the idea of theater as entertainment versus a means to bring awareness and change. Something that I think is important to point out, though is that the term "Theater" doesn't just mean a play written by Shakespeare or David Mamet. Theater performances can take on a multitude of different shapes. "Buffoon", (or "Bouffon" as it was originally named in French) is a performance style that uses crazy costuming and comedy as means of mocking society and raising an awareness to our cultural/political shortcomings.
Its crazy since people now a day only focus on theater as entertainment, those not entertaining tend to be avoided and is unable to convey its point.
DeleteI remember reading a play that Oscar Wilde wrote (don't quote me on that) where his characters were rich people. The whole point of the play was to mock rich society. Great point.
DeleteVery cool point, Wei. And Andrey, I'm pretty sure you're talking about "The Importance of Being Ernest"! Yeah, awesome play... Wilde did focus strongly on bringing to light the sometimes crazy priorities that the wealthy people of that time lived with on a daily basis. The coolest thing is that there is also something timeless about the piece... I think that some of it can even represent or relate to mocking the wealthy in modern-day!
Deletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/americans-not-ready-for-driverless-cars-2016-9
ReplyDeleteA lot of immigrants have found work in taxi cabs and more recently, Uber. The emergence of driverless car will present a problem for drivers as there will be no more need for them, removing jobs from these immigrants which is obviously an issue.
This goes back to the cbs short with the father coming to America to give opportunity to his kids and he works as a taxi driver.
DeleteThe thought of a driverless car being mass produced in the states seems to be in the distant future for now. This should hopefully still keep the American dream open for people.
DeleteI love uber, but I wasn't aware it was a job destroying monster. It certainly is an excellent topic and one that will shed light into the problem.
DeleteCombined with similar results from increasing the minimum wage hopefully it doesn't take too many Americans out of their jobs
DeleteThe loss of taxi jobs will impact a great deal of people in a very bad way. Thankfully that is a far off problem that we won't have to deal with for a while.
DeleteMonopolies of businesses are always impacting people.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLvqoHBptjg
ReplyDeleteThe Movie Forrest Gump tells the story a a man who manage to accomplish great feats regardless of his disabilities. This goes back to the idea of the American dream as even though he is limited compare to everyone around him, he was given an opportunity and he took it and made it big even settling down with a family after all that.
Great example. I definitely see how forrest against all odds was able to become a millionaire through hard work and tenacity.
DeleteForrest Gump is a perfect example of the American dream as he defied the odds with his disabilities and worked his way up while starting his own business.
DeleteI really enjoy this example, very out of the box while still sticking to the main topic.
DeleteTom Hanks slayyyed this movie
DeleteRIP Bubba
This is a great example to show that everyone can obtain their version of "American Dream"
Deletehttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/26/the-american-dream-is-on-the-ropes.html
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how your socioeconomic status can so avidly affect your chances of reaching the American Dream. In the article the author discusses mass differences between troubled and successful communities. For example troubled communities most likely have non working adults who live under the poverty line, while Successful communities have citizens who at least have a Highschool Diploma. Your chances of an American dream can come down to your zipcode in this case.
I agree that one's socioeconomic status has a large role in making it harder to achieve the American dream.
DeleteI definitely see how the way you're raised and your socioeconomic status can play a big role in how you achieve your goals and dreams.
DeleteIt's always been evident that socioeconomic status has driven someone's potential for the American Dream although it doesn't make it any less sad :/
DeleteI didn't realize that I commented on the wrong post .-.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/parents-want-elementary-pupils-to-learn-foreign-languages----but-where/2014/10/30/2b2f0864-4d7e-11e4-aa5e-7153e466a02d_story.html
This is a research topic I'm currently exploring. It's about foreign language and its implementation in early primary school. The article's concern is that children who are in pre-school foreign language programs will lose what they have attained there due to the lack of foreign language classes in the early grades of primary school. It's a very interesting article.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lncyvgKWt4
ReplyDeleteMobb Deep, consisting of rappers Prodigy and Havoc definitely represent my research topic well. These guys illuminate their fans on some gritty subject matter to say the least. In terms of popular hip hop music that was being produced at this time, nothing came close to the hardcore beats and often violent, yet realistic lyrics Mobb Deep had, so when The Infamous came out in 1995, the duo kind of blew up with respect in a perceptual underground hip hop scene that had been perpetuating itself since the late 70s. This particular song features two fellow prolific New York emcees, Nas and Raekwon. Mobb Deep's style may be all it's own in hip hop's context, so was everything else that was coming around at the aftermath of the Golden Age.
Very interesting topic and certainly a lot of history behind it
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/09/1328299/-Report-Credentials-inflation-locking-people-out-of-good-jobs
ReplyDeleteMany people today and in this generation are essentially forced to go to college and get a better degree to stay in the middle class range which was once obtainable with just a high school degree. If this trend continues, America needs to make college more affordable and accessible as you only go for the degree itself
Completely agree with you .
DeleteI agree that college has to become more affordable now that we are being forced to go to college in order to get a good job and survive in our economy.
Deletehttp://psychcentral.com/lib/depression-and-anxiety-among-college-students/
ReplyDeleteThis source is relevant to a research topic I'm currently looking into regarding depression on college campuses. the source delves into points about the contributing factors and even reasons why some students wont seek treatment for this problem.
Considering the fact that a lot of students tend to show these factors outright, it's hard to believe
Deletehttp://time.com/4050914/1965-immigration-act-pew/
ReplyDeleteThis article speaks on how immigration has affected the US. I am looking into this being a topic for my paper since immigration was a big part of Trump's presidential campaign.
https://www.fredonia.edu/department/english/shokoff/AmerBeauty2.htm
ReplyDeleteA college student, Brittany Deschler from SUNY Fredonia, wrote an analysis of the American drama film "American Beauty" (1999). This movie depicts an average American family that's living the "dream". The reason I chose this movie is because of the wife, Carolyn, she's obsessed with materialism and others opinions/views (reputation). All she wants to be is successful with luxurious items like the $4,000 couch. The author Brittany does a great good explaining this idea within the movie. She writes " In a scene in which she fights with her daughter, Carolyn yells at Jane for not appreciating the life she has (meaning the possessions she owns.) Material accumulation is what she views as a means to being happy, and does not understand that her daughter would benefit more from a close relationship with her mother." I feel that many of our parents who strive and struggle to success are so focused on "material accumulation" or luxury that they ultimately sacrifice the potential of a parent to child bond.
https://www.marketplace.org/2016/09/20/business/ikea-peak-stuff-american-dream
ReplyDeleteBusinesses like Ikea want to know the people's version of the "American Dream" to benefit them. By improving and molding household items to fit the criteria of the "American Dream household" it could increase profit for the business.
This was very well explained and you went straight to the point.
Deletehttp://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/09/25/jose-fernandez-killed-boating-accident/91077800/
ReplyDeleteJose Fernandez escaped Cuba several times to follow his dream of becoming a baseball player. He became a legend after he moved to America to pursue baseball.
This was very well briefly explained and I really like how you were able to explain how this related to the American Dream
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM_Y8BUc_X4
ReplyDeleteThe movie Forrest Gump relates to the American Dream because the movie is about a man named Forrest Gump ( played by Tom Hanks ) is about a man with a disability ( struggling with leg braces) and with that struggle Forrest is able to accomplish many things and even discovered the fact that he can run very fast. This led to Forrest getting accepted into the University of Alabama and receiving a full football scholarship. All in all, This relates to The American Dream because although many people have hardships in your life, you will still be able to accomplish many things in life.