...American Dream Myth Charles Funk Popular Culture Professor Jenifer Garey November 22, 2015 American Dream Myth The American Dream of achieving economic equality among all people and providing equal opportunities to both the rich and poor alike is now no longer a dream but rather a myth. The reason being, the country has been plagued by the problem of an ever-growing inequality. According to Nobel-prize winner, Joseph Stiglitz, it is both a tragedy and irony that determination, work, and vision are no longer the keys to one's success in America (Streight, 2015). Instead, Stiglitz says, “being born to rich, well-educated parents is the best indicator of future earnings” (2015). The situation is now making it harder for Americans born to low-income families to climb the ladder of economic prosperity leaving them stuck in a poverty cycle. The current economic state is such that more than 80% of American resources are now controlled by only 20% of the American population (Domhoff, 2013) The indication is that the American dream of achieving economic equality among all U.S. citizens is indeed not only a myth but also dead (Wyatt-Nichol, 2011). Two different artifacts that illustrate the component of the American Dream Myth are songs and movies. First, songs are providing a revolutionary world in America where only the rich are represented. Gone are the days when the songs were composed with an aim of reflecting the problems in the American society. In America, songs...
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...1. Introduction "I am called the Virgin Queen. Unmarried, I have no master. Childless, I am mother to my people. I am the queen, I am myself." This quote from the movie “Elizabeth: The Golden Age“ describes the fascination about Elizabeth I of England in few sentences. A woman, who could prevail in a male-dominated society. A woman, who waived her own fortune for the sake of her subjects. A woman, who influences the national pride of the English even today. So it is not surprising that there is plenty of literature, opera and movies about Elizabeth I. The following term paper examines three movies, where Elizabeth I is the protagonist. “Elizabeth“, with Cate Blanchett in the leading role, is about the days of her youth. The 1998 movie shows the development of a young princess, who was crowned after the death of her half sister Maria. The first years of her reign are very turbulent, because the creation of a Protestant Church by her father Henry VIII and the return to Catholicism under Maria split the nation. The inexperienced Elizabeth has to determine which religion should be the official one in order to prevent a civil war. Meanwhile her consultants give her advice to keep the line of succession by marriage. But to whom shall she entrust her heart and kingdom? At the end of the movie all problems are solved and Elizabeth creates the icon of the “virgin queen“. Nine years later, the sequel of the movie from 1998, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age“ was released. She is in her 26th...
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...American Dream As a Myth Erica Rideout HUMN240-F1WW Professor Deborah Rosenstock July 7, 2012 The myth of the American Dream does not have to be taught or learned. Growing up in America, it is imbedded in our minds at a young age that America has it all. American is the land of opportunity and allows its citizens to work hard and gain an uncapped amount of success. However, it is more apparent that this “dream” has transformed into a myth over the several years since its creation. Once upon a time, America was seen as the place to gain opportunity and success. However, as times continue to change, this vision of the dream continues to slip out of American’s hands and more into the mind as a myth. The major component of the myth of the American Dream is a simple one. America is the land of the free and home of the brave. Our American ancestors have fought for freedom and gained it allowing fellow Americans endless opportunities that can lead to great success. These opportunities do not just end with Americans; they are extended to all nationalities that come to America with hopes of living the so called American Dream. Although the American Dream may just be a myth, it definitely gives people hope. Most times, that hope is enough to lead to the drive and determination necessary to reach some level of the American Dream. There are several artifacts that help display the myth of the American Dream. Two artifacts that I have chosen are relevant to views...
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...shows a moral and practical lesson. Mythology came to the interpretations of actual historical events, and other different retellings. There are five types of myths, one being theological, another being physical, which is the base of natural laws, animastic that is most defined by concerning soul, material and finally mixed. There are two types of theories, the first being the pre-modern theory and the other being the modern theory, the difference between both theories being that the pre-modern theory is the events of actual historical events, and the modern theory can be founded now in day in video games, movies, and books. In modern day using the term “myth” is becoming more common known more for being more of a lie or truth. The term “it is just a myth” now in days can be related to a fairy tale, folk story or an old wives tale. For example when younger, parents once told the children that when their tooth fell off, it was needed to be put underneath the pillow for that the tooth fairy can take it and leave the child a quarter. In a young age when one is naïve, one tends to believe in those myths, but when older myths tend to be more about storytelling to the younger generation and creating good ideas for books, movies, blogs, and songs in between other things. In academic context the meanings of the word “myth” are attempts of people from the past trying to figure out; who we are? How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come here? Different things...
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...Humanities 130 October 4, 2011 Love in the City of Angels Love: the all-consuming, all-encompassing life source we search for. It can be found in almost everywhere. Movies and songs are dedicated to sharing the myths of love. So I chose the movie “City of Angels” as the one of the movies I can see the love myth in. “City of Angels” is about an angel who looks over the city of Los Angeles. Thousands of angels keep watch over the city. Seth notices a surgeon, Maggie, while she is trying to save a life. He feels as though she can see him, and he is intrigued by her. Seth follows her, watches her, and wills her to see him. Finally Maggie does. She is curious about him, and yet seems to have a fear of him. When Seth tells Maggie he is actually an angel, Maggie runs from him. This is too much for her to bear, and she seems to think he is a bit deranged. She is engaged to marry another surgeon, so she goes back to him. While roaming the hospital halls Seth meets a patient, Mr. Messenger, who was once an angel himself. Seth realizes that he has a choice to make. He can have everlasting life as an angel, or he can choose Maggie and a natural life. “I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it”, says Seth (City of Angels). Mr. Messenger tells him he must fall, in order to love and live. He falls from a building, and for the first time experiences true human emotions and pain. Seth...
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...Foundations of Mythology The purpose of this essay is to answer a few short questions concerning the word myth. I will be giving details and definitions in my own words to explain how the word myth is used, common mythological themes, the differences between mythology, religion, and belief, and whether or not I believe if mythology is relevant. The word myth is used popularly to explain or tell a story or legend that is not fully truthful. Portions of the story maybe true but other portions of the story are exaggerated or told in a way that the person understands. Tall tales, fairytales, or urban legends are examples of myths that help explain things to people or children especially in a way they can understand. The statement, “It’s a myth” means that the story is not true, there is little truth in the story, or an explanation of the unknown. For example, as a child many of us are told about the boogey man. He is a mythological creature created to spook or scare children into behaving or to stay away from dangerous places. The boogey man is a common mythological theme told across different cultures. Each culture has a name for the boogey man, such as the Chupacabra, the Lady in Black, Bloody Mary, the Man under the bed, or the most common of all the Devil. The myth of an allege boogey man was created to scare children or bring fear of the unknown. The myth of the boogey man explains to children that there are bad people or places in the world and to be cautious. Another common...
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...been this way throughout the ages. Myths can be common across different cultures and places in the world. Myths have a place in religion, knowledge and beliefs and in contemporary society. The word myth is used popularly in stories that have been told over time that are not true, but are told in a way to be believed as true (White Hat, 2014). Today the phrase “It’s a myth” is just another way of saying a story that is told is not true but is said to be true. An example would be the story about my Uncle Kennard Freeman. He died November 21, 1966 in the house I grew up in and still live in today. The story or myth was that he had a heart attack while sitting on the toilet, collapsed and cracked his head open on the old porcelain tub. My sister, myself, several cousins were all told this and believed it for a long time until discussing it with my father and my uncle did have a heart attack but was in his bedroom. The story sort of became an urban legend in our family. In contrast, in academic context, myths are ancient narratives that try to satisfy the persistent and essential questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles are as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What our values should be? How should we behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways (Leonard & McClure, 2004)? My idea of a myth is a fantastical story from many generations...
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...knowledge and understanding of the topic and more understanding of thyself. By answering these questions the foundations of mythology can be better understood. Basics of Myth First, let’s consider how the word myth is used popularly. In popular literature, popular television, and throughout human interactions the word myth is uses to address or categorize what is really and what is not real. Throughout society myths are used in stories and legends told. Overtime these stories become part of everyday life. This embedment into everyday lives happens through watching science fiction movies, reading fiction books, and other types of literature whether verbal, text, or movies that are about mystical characters. Some more popular legendary and traditional stories told throughout time include that of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, and even the stork. These type of myths were created for young children but there are some that are geared towards adults. According to Leonard (2004), "Official myths like the Illiad and Odyssey, The Theogony- or the Bhagavad Gita or the Bible- are inevitably reconstructions from snatches of folklore and legend, artistically put together with an eye for drama and meaning. But real myths are, like one's own dreams, so fresh they are not yet recognized as myth or scripture and are fragmentary, imagistic rather than verbal, emergent, capable of forming many different stories at one.”...
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...Monster of the Sea period 4 Alex Rosales Do you ever wonder what may lay beneath the ocean, where myth and reality come to life? What is the giant squid aka; “THE KRAKEN” as told in tall tales. In ancient myth, sailors told of giant squid attacking the boats. Now movies make them come to reality more feared and scary. Finally a group of scientist called the “squid squad” are looking for the giant creature aka “Kraken” in the big blue ocean. In the beginning ancient sailors told tales of there ships being attacked by a giant squid. They said that some squids would be larger than whales, towering over there ships. Sailors also told tales of the giant squid being stronger than...
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...even good and bad, such as: Athena the Goddess of Wisdom, Zeus the God of ( ), Aphrodite the god of ( ), Poseidon the god of ( ), Hades the god of ( ), and many more. For many years, the people worshipped these gods like their lives depended on it. Sometime later, the Gods started to turn into mythology, passed on as stories of what once was. In my opinion, I feel as though the movies that were made based off Greek or Roman mythology have impacted people’s perspectives, and the stories themselves. When thinking of Greek or Roman mythology, it’s safe to say that people think of movies first before thinking of real mythology. In today’s day and age, many people still believe in Greek and Roman mythology. Mankind made many movies on what they thought the myths might be like, and tried to give a visual for their audience. Although the making of these films and books seem to be exaggerated and of somewhat, it is a reminder that they were made for entertainment purposes only. There is one more point to the exaggeration of the films; no...
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...How is the word myth used popularly? For example, what does the statement, “It’s a myth” mean? In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? After considering the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words. The word myth is used popularly in stories or tales that have been told over periods of time that are usually not completely true, but are told in way to be believed as true ("The white hat," 2010). The statement, “It’s a myth” means or refers to something that is not fully true, but it is claimed to be true. It’s basically like if some random person was to tell you a story that something happened to them that was seen as farfetched, in reality no one really knows if it actually happened or not. In contrast, the word myth in academic context is used as follows; Myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions such as: How did the universe and world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave or not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways (Leonard & McClure, 2004)? My definition of a myth would be a farfetched story that we really do not know if it is true or not that are usually told to children to either inspire them or scare them. Why do myths from different cultures...
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...universal. One woman may think Johnny Depp is gorgeous and another may think there is no one uglier, which is why we as a society frequently say, “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder.” Stereotypes, too, can effect one’s perception of what or who is attractive. If you fit into certain stereotypes it can broaden one’s appeal to some, while decreasing one’s appeal to others. Media, movies and television have caused stereotypes to explode throughout the world. If we believe what we see and hear, then skinny, beautiful women are the only ones who get boyfriends. Guys with “six pack” abs and great hair are the only ones who get girlfriends. When we see this over and over in movies, television, and advertising, we start to believe it is true. So, people start going on diets because one never sees a chubby girl or guy walking down the runway, or getting the guy or girl in the end. Girls start wearing more makeup to cover up perfectly beautiful faces. Guys start wearing clothes they do not like because what they wore before wasn’t portrayed as attractive in the media. We are trained by the media, television, and movies at an early age to know how our society defines physical attractiveness. Everyone has seen a Disney movie or read a story about a beautiful princess, who falls in love with a prince. The princess is always...
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...La Llorona, also known as the “weeping woman”, is a vast legend which has existed for years, being believed by many people and countries throughout Hispanic America. Over the years, the legend of La Llorona has been used to frighten and horrify many people, as they have believed in the weeping woman’s frightening and ghostly spirit. Maria was said to be a beautiful woman who had fallen in love with a wealthy rancher. Maria and the rancher had later married each other, living happily and having children who had been greatly loved. Months after Maria and the rancher’s marriage had occurred, the wealthy man had left Maria and his children, and after returning home, the rancher had never seemed to care and adore Maria, as he desired to be with...
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...Hero’s and Monsters In today’s films, there seems to be many superhero movies being produced. History has shown, that superheroes like Superman were created after the depression and World War I when the country needed a heroic figure in time of hardship. Along with every superhero, there is also a villain or monster, in which case the depression was, since it was what society had to overcome as nation. The image of Superman was used to uplift society and showing what America should represent. Through the readings, heroes and monsters have general characteristics that are seen in people in modern day society. Looking at superheroes seen in comic books or movies, they have very similar qualities from their upbringing to their adversities as a superhero. Through “The Hero: Man Divided against Himself” it reveals the roles of superheroes and how most of them derive from Greek myths. It begins with showing the heroic pattern that heroes tend to follow, for example Superman or Batman came from a royal family, becoming an orphan, overcomes a near death experience and defeats the villain. These are a few of the many patterns heroes follow. The chapter goes on to acknowledge that these characteristics can be seen in. modern day people, like first responders during a tragedy or soldiers fighting on foreign soil. According to The Hero and Society (sub point), “the hero has unique gifts that allow him to excel at protecting human societies from threats to personal, economic, or cultural...
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...They are represented as the “bad guys” who are crazy, unstable, and unbelievably violent within movies that play a big role in the entertainment business. The movie American Psycho is a perfect example of how people with mental issues are represented in movies. Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale, clearly has mental conflict and has sick fantasies of killing people he is associated with which results in many people’s brutal deaths. Movies like such constantly portray the mentally ill as always on a breaking point and is ready to do a completely unethical act of violence. What they forget to mention is that the mentally ill are actually ten to twenty times more likely to be victims of violence because of the stigma that continues to persevere ("Mental Health Myths and Facts”). Timothy Rice, who is a part of the Department of Psychiatry in New York, explains it best by reminding people that violent thoughts are normal for everyone to have (849). Yes, that means that if you have voice in your head wondering what would happen if you punched the person you were talking to in the face or when your sibling eats the last piece of hot cheesy pizza and you want to slap them...
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