Le rêve américain
Le rêve Américain
The French daily Le Monde, in 2013, titled “Barack Obama facing the decline of the American Dream”. But what is the American Dream, really ? I’ve always heard about it without stopping to think about what it actually means. I always accepted this optimism with a kind of blind obviousness, without pondering the truth of this hope given to people.
“The American dream is the belief that everyone in the US has the chance to be successful, rich and happy if they work hard” (Cambridge International Dictionary of English) “An American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity” (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)
The Founding Fathers already invoked this spirit of emancipation from the old Europe, to create a democracy based on freedom of choice and equality of chances. “We have come closest to the ideal of prosperity for all in a classless society” (Nixon). This powerful financial democracy surely understands the meaning of « prosperity », but tend to forget to take into account the human factor. Hedrick Smith, in his book “Who Stole the American Dream?” writes "Americans, more than people in other countries, accept some inequality as part of our way of life, as inevitable and even desirable — a reward for talent and hard work, an incentive to produce and excel. But wealth begets wealth, especially when reinforced through the influence of money in politics. Then the hyper-concentration of wealth aggravates the political cleavages in our society.” Ariana Huffington, in her book “How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream”, reminds us how important it is for a society to avoid individualism “America’s enlightened elites…their long term well being and security depended on the middle and lower classes having an equal stake in the nation’s prosperity and political institutions” And Emmanuel Gehrig, in the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, warns « The American Dream remains the ultimate beacon of their collective psyche », but Hollywood, “l’usine à rêves” said Malraux, is there to keep this beacon alight and perpetuate the myth.
The reality is, nevertheless, here to remind us that this illusion has been a disaster for many Americans. Recent examples have shaken American society and the core of its dynamic.
- The bankruptcy of Kodak, one of the reasons for a depressed local economy. Paolo Pellegrin, photographer, reported in Rochester NY (“The Crescent”), renowned for its high crime and murder rates.
- BBC Titled “Detroit: from the american dream to American nightmare”. The shakiness of the automobile industry, which has bankrupted Detroit, throwing thousands of people into precarious conditions
- The mortgage crisis in a society of media brainwashing which encouraged the people to over-consume and enter in debt
Photo reports have already been done, to awaken consciences and show the dark side of the Dream, for instance Walker Evans, who like a sociologist documented the countryside, cities, industrial areas, and mines, shining a light on people whom we don’t wish to see.
Whether it exists or not, the American dream, like a mimetic desire, still makes people dream. In the end, dreaming is the most important thing, so Gentlemen, do not steal their dreams: for some it’s the only thing they have left.
The French daily Le Monde, in 2013, titled “Barack Obama facing the decline of the American Dream”. But what is the American Dream, really ? I’ve always heard about it without stopping to think about what it actually means. I always accepted this optimism with a kind of blind obviousness, without pondering the truth of this hope given to people.
“The American dream is the belief that everyone in the US has the chance to be successful, rich and happy if they work hard” (Cambridge International Dictionary of English) “An American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity” (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)
The Founding Fathers already invoked this spirit of emancipation from the old Europe, to create a democracy based on freedom of choice and equality of chances. “We have come closest to the ideal of prosperity for all in a classless society” (Nixon). This powerful financial democracy surely understands the meaning of « prosperity », but tend to forget to take into account the human factor. Hedrick Smith, in his book “Who Stole the American Dream?” writes "Americans, more than people in other countries, accept some inequality as part of our way of life, as inevitable and even desirable — a reward for talent and hard work, an incentive to produce and excel. But wealth begets wealth, especially when reinforced through the influence of money in politics. Then the hyper-concentration of wealth aggravates the political cleavages in our society.” Ariana Huffington, in her book “How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream”, reminds us how important it is for a society to avoid individualism “America’s enlightened elites…their long term well being and security depended on the middle and lower classes having an equal stake in the nation’s prosperity and political institutions” And Emmanuel Gehrig, in the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, warns « The American Dream remains the ultimate beacon of their collective psyche », but Hollywood, “l’usine à rêves” said Malraux, is there to keep this beacon alight and perpetuate the myth.
The reality is, nevertheless, here to remind us that this illusion has been a disaster for many Americans. Recent examples have shaken American society and the core of its dynamic.
- The bankruptcy of Kodak, one of the reasons for a depressed local economy. Paolo Pellegrin, photographer, reported in Rochester NY (“The Crescent”), renowned for its high crime and murder rates.
- BBC Titled “Detroit: from the american dream to American nightmare”. The shakiness of the automobile industry, which has bankrupted Detroit, throwing thousands of people into precarious conditions
- The mortgage crisis in a society of media brainwashing which encouraged the people to over-consume and enter in debt
Photo reports have already been done, to awaken consciences and show the dark side of the Dream, for instance Walker Evans, who like a sociologist documented the countryside, cities, industrial areas, and mines, shining a light on people whom we don’t wish to see.
Whether it exists or not, the American dream, like a mimetic desire, still makes people dream. In the end, dreaming is the most important thing, so Gentlemen, do not steal their dreams: for some it’s the only thing they have left.