When thinking of how to personally define the American Dream, I keep coming up blank. I keep seeing the idyllic 1950s scene with the suburban houses, flamingo lawn decor, bright poofy dresses, and sunny skies. Back then I would define the dream and having a nice family, house, steady job, with not a worry in the world. On the other hand, the is most definitely not the case anymore. Sure, many aspects to it can be desirable but more pressing issues have shown. When researching other’s definitions, three, in particular, have stood aside from the rest. Webster’s Dictionary defines the American Dream as “a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful”. This one is, by far, my favorite. This open-ended definition allows everyone to interpret it based on their prior history and goals for the future. In contrast, according to the New York Times, the general ideas of the dream have shifted. Back in the 1930s, the themes were primarily freedom, mutual respect, and equal opportunity. However, when talking with a few politicians in our government today, the themes have turned to “owning a beautiful home and a successful business”. The Times state that the 1930s definition “had more to do with morality than material success”. I find this extremely concerning. If the people who are leading our country have this material mindset, what does that mean for the rest of us? Investopedia’s defines it as “the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone”. This definition is super important. My take is how they suggest that just because someone wasn’t born here, it doesn't mean that they shouldn't have the same opportunities and you and me. All of these definitions have the overall theme of success and just living the life that you want. If I actually had to define my idea “American Dream” it would simply be “a way of living your best life with the resources to do so at your fingertips”. I created this piece to embody some of the themes of my “American Dream”. I had posters show through the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty all in front of the American flag. I used vintage posters showcasing popular states and topics in our country. I placed them in the Statue of Liberty because I appreciate what it stands for. The torch on the statue represents enlightenment and showing the way to freedom. Freedom and equality are topics that I value a lot in life. I muted the flag because I don't necessarily feel strongly about what I associate it with. I feel that while patriotism can be a good thing, but it's just not one of my top priorities. Personally, I don’t like to identify just a single definition of the “American Dream”. However, I believe this piece showcases one of the many takes on the historically known ideals of anyone who lives in the United States.
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