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 to a source (article, movie, blog, etc) relating toeither 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.
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ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPOxEo7NtpQ
ReplyDeleteThe song "Black America Again" by rapper Common is about all the injustices that black Americans face today even though we are meant to be equal. Due to many of these injustices, many black Americans must jump through countless more loops to be successful and achieve the American Dream. He discusses social injustices to young black teens in lines such as:
"Trayvon'll never get to be an older man
Black children, they childhood stole from them
Robbed of our names and our language, stole again
Who stole the soul from black folk?"
He also talks about how we need more black idols to inspire the new generation if we are to move forward in the line:
"We need Avas, Ta-Nehisis, and Cory Bookers"
Really hard hitting song
DeleteI've always enjoyed Common's work as he speaks to the people in ways no one else can
Deletehttp://www.backstage.com/news/10-plays-faced-major-controversy-throughout-history/
ReplyDeleteSeeing as the topic of my report is: "Theater and it's ability to address taboo subjects and inspire change", I thought a list of 10 plays that faced major controversy throughout history seemed fitting. These plays all addressed major issues that were not talked about during their time. For example, "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, premiered in 1879 and introduced the idea of a woman leaving her unhappy marriage to create a better life for herself. Another example is "Angels in America" by Tony Kushner, which in 1993 stirred up great threats and protests in response to the homosexuality, sex, and AIDS related events taking place in the show. All of these plays inspired controversy because they finally pointed the finger at important, unspoken problems in their society. And in doing so, they forced people to finally discuss these topics... thereby paving the way for change.
I love the idea that performing arts and social justice could go hand-in-hand. It's like people's way of saying "fuck the system we need to change" in an entertaining way.
DeletePerforming arts is all about expression and i love seeing it being used to express feelings regarding issues at hand.
DeleteIt is a known fact that issues are better understood when one experiences and/or lives them. Therefore, the idea of expressing feelings towards them-even through the means of performing arts- emphasizes their effect.
DeleteThis is a real fun topic, theater has been a way to address controversial topics for many years and it's interesting to see that addressed.
Deletehttp://asianjournal.com/news/fil-ams-respond-to-mail-order-family-cancellation/
ReplyDeleteBack in September, NBC announced that it would be creating a new sitcom called Mail Order Family which tells the story of the writer, Jackie Clarke, who was raised by her Filipina stepmother who, coincidentally, was a mail order bride. I'm not going to get into the gritty parts of the story, but in the end the sitcom was cancelled due in part by solidarity of the Filipino community. There are many points that the article touches on in regards to Asians and their status as second class citizens. First and foremost, the apparent use of human trafficking and the sexist approach on women. It further enhances the idea that our society normalizes this exploitation of women. Second, the lack of consideration for the community. In the article, NBC purchased the work without first consulting the Filipino community. This mindset, I believe, augments the stereotype of the "invisible race." Lastly, the lack of apology towards the community which strives to end racism brought by American imperialism in the Philippines. The mail order industry is deeply rooted in American imperialism and the current economic state of most Filipina women who often sacrifice everything to give their families a better life. To turn this into a sitcom is revolting.
I'm incorporating this as one of the last points in my research paper, which focus mostly on sexism and the exploitation of Asian women in our society.
It's wrong that asian women are seen as these exotic "creatures" in our society and they're highly favorable above other minorities.
DeleteI wonder what causes unique stereotypes such as this one in America.
Deletehttps://jhruoftmag.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/the-american-dream-is-it-worth-our-mental-health/
ReplyDeleteThis article ties both the "American Dream" and my topic for my research paper surrounding mental illness. This article talks about how we sacrifice so much including our mental health to achieve the "American Dream". We stress and overwork our physical bodies and minds to pursue the "American Dream" and this article debates on whether its worth going through that or not.
That is a really good topic to talk about, we see a lot of people in this day and age overwork themselves to achieve their goals and wind up disappointed in the end.
DeleteNever even crossed my mind to link mental illnesses to the American Dream, however this article really changed that. It is easily forgotten that mental health directly correlates to how much one works and, in America's case, this determines the probability of one achieving the goal.
DeleteIt's pretty sad to think that people work so hard to try to achieve it and don't
DeleteAmerican Dream is either dying or dead
Deletehttp://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/top-5-mental-health-problems-facing-college-students/
ReplyDeleteThis is a source that relates to my main research topic, the source talks about the main issues that college students face regarding mental health. The website lists the issues as well as the statistics that go along with them, providing a clear overview of the issue as a whole.
This is a great topic to discuss as many students do suffer from stress and depression from overworking themselves in order to achieve success in school.
DeleteI like how you connected it back to your research topic! Smart move !
DeleteEminem's "White America"
ReplyDeleteIn the rap icon's song, he tears about the American society and what it truly means to be American. Although he highlights the American Dream we are forced to believe in, he emphasizes how much our nation actually fails to remain true to these ideas.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pressure-proof/201012/is-the-american-dream-still-alive
ReplyDeleteThis article shows how the beauty of the American Dream is that many people have their own definition of the American Dream and how they achieve it while constantly evolving the definition overtime.
Yea I agree as there are different factors for people's view on the American Dream such as class, as people with more money would expect more from the American Dream while poorer people have a less insane view on it such as getting a steady job.
Deletehttp://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/10/latest-covergirl-breaks-gender-role-barriers
ReplyDeleteWho would have ever thought that a male would be a Covergirl model, EVER? It's gotta be one of the most stunning moves ever done by a normally pure female modeled organization.
Its interesting to see. Both parties probably have a strong agreed set of ideas and values that they made this happen
DeleteI totally agree!! Who would've ever thought!!
DeleteBreaking norms, super cool!
Deletehttp://www.reimaginerpe.org/node/2806
ReplyDeleteMy research paper is about civil rights. This link is basically a short summary of the civil rights situation then v.s now. This allow me to see the difference and see what is effective and what needs more improvement. This relates to my paper as i'm trying to determined does the tactic need to change.
it's interesting to see how times have changed
Delete"Martin Luther King did not march from Selma to Montgomery by himself... Thousands marched with him and thousands more did the dirty work that preceded that triumphant march."
DeleteI believe that political participation is very important and that people shouldnt be discourage to do so because of this unrealistic idea
https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-american-dream-today-3306027
ReplyDeleteThis article places the government responsible for our American dream since it's deeply rooted in our nations foundation. It argues that the government is ought to protect your opportunity to improve your life, no matter who you are. With evidence from the Declaration of Independence: "The Founding Fathers stated the revolutionary idea that each person's desire to pursue their idea of happiness was not self-indulgence, but a necessary driver of a prosperous society. They agreed to set up a government to defend that right for everyone. The pursuit of happiness became the driver of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the American free market economy."
I feel like government protection of the American dream does not happen today.
DeleteThey government only worry about themselves and money as seen with their investment in business.
Deletehttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton-5491.html
ReplyDeleteI'm interested what you guys think about this election. What I'm curious about is if the American Dream will be affected by who gets elected. It's possible that the chance of an American Dream may be affected for people of color if Trump gets elected. What about Hillary..? Its an interesting spin on the debate
its quite possible for issues of race (their should be no issues smh) to affect prosperity of the average person in a certain ethnic group if we do have a person like trump as president smh again
Deletehttps://youtu.be/cqLApGR5xn8
ReplyDeleteWe can't live the American Dream if we're all drowning in debt. Many think we loose either way, but she's better than Trump. In this video, a "Hillary supporter" calls her out on her connections with Wall Street.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYXSdvKuklE
ReplyDeleteThis a song called " Dreamz w a Z" and it relates to the American Dream. To begin with, the song basically is about how people tend to believe that the American Dream is very hard to achieve, therefore when an individual attempts to acheive the american dream, he/she will want to give up more than once. So basically, in order to truly acheive the american you have to work hard and it all pays off all in the end.
http://abc.go.com/shows/blackish/episode-guide/season-3/06-jack-of-all-trades
ReplyDeleteThis is an episode of Black-ish that describes the current situation and anxiety many parents feel in America over a child's future.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=spigot-nt-gcmac&p=donald+trump+on+the+american+dream#id=3&vid=efe3000ac50bccbab6b8b531381df57b&action=view
ReplyDeleteVideo where Donald Trump says that the American Dream is dead and we should no longer believe in it.