American Apparel is a company that presents its American-ness in a number of ways. As vertically integrated company, American Apparel's headquarters is in Downtown LA. From here they: design, manufacture, market and distribute all in the same place. The company's employes earn approx. $12 an hour with benefits, helping its primarily immigrant work force live a sustainable life in the US. The principles behind the companies business model indicate a code of ethics that has been removed from other large companies in the US, a prime example being Apple who produce all their products in China. American Apparel on the other hand encourage and cherish they all American roots.
The companies founder and CEO Dov Charney has retained primary control over his company and is an active participant in the day to day running of the company. He ensures the preservation of the company's vertical integration and Charney's authority in the company allows its continued use of its business model and at the same time American Apparel is able to become involved other large companies would avoid in order to remain neutral. This is evident in its Legalise LA and Legalise Gay campaigns. The slogan T's have become symbols of protest in political movements in the states and American Apparel donate the shirts to relevant charities to show support if the issues.
The way in which American Apparel is run and its interaction with current political issues illustrates the morals and beliefs that the company stands for. The website details how its treatment of employees '...is often a path to the American Dream for their families.' This conveys that despite its modern interpretation of what it means, fundamentally what it stands for is the very idea of what it is to be American that had persisted in society, through ideologies such as: no class divide, equal opportunity and a land that welcomes immigrants.
The 'American dream' has become somewhat a symbolism of American culture and it's famous optimism of the country and it's future. The video above is the music and lyrics to the 1971 hit by Don McLean - 'American Pie'. Based around the events of a changing America through the late 50's to the 70's, the song basically shows the heart break of the end of the American dream. It was the fifties - the postwar years - where the idea of the American dream was at it's heights and America was the dominating country in terms of economy and prosperity. The sixties, however, were a time of drastic changes in America and that is exactly what McLean emphasises in the lyrics. He called the sixties "the death of America." even the opening line for the chorus "Bye bye, Miss America pie." relates to that. He uses the saying "As American as apple pie" and twists it, converting it in the song to come across as a final farewell to all things American.
Chorus - American Pie
Bye bye, Miss American pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Those good ol' boys drinking whisky and rye
Singing "this will be the day that I die,
This will be the day that die."
Historically, it was in the 60's that some of the biggest events of the Civil Rights Act history took place. Of course, even today there is still racism in many parts of America, but is that what the American dream is about?
It would seem that some still believe in America that the dream is only possible if you work hard... And have skin like snow. This strongly contradicts the ideas that Horatio Alger depicts in 'Ragged Dick'. Dick, even as as a child living in poverty is still given the hope of not necessarily success, but respect in his future, by working hard - which is fair enough.
However, if we were to look at something like segregation in the US, we see that no matter how hard someone works - if they were black (in the 1960's), they would never be able to reach their full potential. Take the 2011 American drama film adaptation of 'The Help' staring Emma Stone and Viola Davis. Even just this poster alone tells the story of how it once was. The two white girls are able to sit down, relax and do as they please, whilst the two black women after forced to stand and work.
In the realm of the 'American dream' if someone were to work as hard as the black maids and servants did, then they would very quickly find themselves in a much higher position and to continue rising until they reach they're goal or at least a respectable position, similarly to Dick. But no, because they are coloured, suddenly it makes it impossible for them to break the barrier enforced by society and become successful.
To paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche "The American Dream is dead. And greed has killed it." Just take a look at this famous speech given by Michael Douglas's character Gorden Gecko in Oliver Stone's 1987 film Wall Street. Which is all the more chilling given the current economic climate, and the state of the banking industry as a whole in this modern age, as it typifies the corruption Jefferson warned about in his famous letter to Madison, over 200 years ago. Horatio Alger Jr. tried to address this as well in his novel Ragged Dick, trying to remind readers that in the heart of the madness that was the Industrial Revolution, the American Dream was all about having a respectable job and being comfortable, not about being super rich. However somewhere down the line that message has been lost, in an America where the rich keep getting richer and the poor, well they get poorer. Where veteran's from a war (2nd Gulf War), which conspiracy theorists believe is all over oil, to make even more money for the super rich, can't find work, and where companies move factories abroad, cutting jobs, just because people in those countries will work for pennies, in order to boost profit margins. It's safe to say Jefferson and the founding father's would be turning in their graves if they could see the country America had become.
Although it's safe to say that the corruption of the American Dream has been going on for much longer than just in recent years, crime has undoubtedly become synonymous with it, and has been romanticised as being the only way to achieve it in some cases - with greed corrupting the dream to be about making as much money as possible, which isn't what de Creveceour and the others originally imagined it as. Just look at the way Jesse James was romanticised in the dime novels as being a Robin Hood type character, stealing from rich and giving to poor, when there was no such evidence he or his gang had done anything of the type. To quote Oscar Wilde "Americans are certainly great hero-worshipers, and always take their hero's from the criminal classes" which goes along with the idea that many believe the American Dream cannot be achieved without committing crimes - glorified bank robbers during the Public Enemy Era such as Dillinger, Baby Faced Floyd and Bonnie and Clyde, the prohibition era gangsters such as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano and of course the modern day crooks, the bankers up on Wall Street. Which is perhaps why Crime and Gangster films remain popular to this day - Lawless and Killing Them Softly both gangster films came out this year, and The Godfather films, The Departed, Once Upon a Time in America, Goodfellas, and TV show The Sopranos, remain extremely popular to this day. The concept has even been parodied in film, a notable example being the 1983 remake of Scarface, with the traditional rags to riches gangster tale, running parallel to social criticism of excess.
It's probably safe to say the original vision of the American Dream has long since died, ironically since members of the middle class have achieved that such vision, a respectable job and comfortable life just like in Ragged Dick, but greed has overwhelmed that original vision, to quote Scarface "The American Dream comes with a price tag."
Contemporary statement;Michelle Obamas "Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it, and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love," Michelle Obama said. "He believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."
I have chosen this statement because I feel it is very similar to the message of Ragged Dick. Dick worked hard and 'walked through that doorway of opportunity'. He was helped by others such as Frank's uncle,Mr Greyson and Mr Rockwell, these men had all come from poor backgrounds and had made a decent living for themselves. It appears they all saw themselves in Dick and if it was not for their help Dick arguably would not have become "spectable". Dick then goes on to help others to succeed like he did just as the statement says, he helped Fosdick by giving him a place to stay and he also helped Tom Wilkins pay his rent. In terms of Tom Wilkins,Dick saw helping him as paying back Franks uncle for the money he had provided Dick with "when you are a prosperous man,you can repay it in the form of aid to some poor boy,who is struggling upward as you are now". Unlike in the book the statement suggests anyone can live the American dream "no matter who we are,or where we're from, or what we look like". The books interpretation of the American dream appears to discriminate against minority groups such as Micky Maguire and Bridget the servant girl, these characters are both stereo-typically Irish. Both characters are not portrayed as being able to achieve the American dream and are arguably obstacles that try and stand in the way of Dick achieving the dream for himself. An example of this would be Micky's constant put downs about Dicks new clothing as he felt "our hero was putting on airs" and the fact Bridget was implemented in the stealing of the bank book; although she was innocent she was the first suspect perhaps because of her position in society.
For some the American Dream is a sham. In many ways the 21st century is a time of crisis. From its beginning America was devastated by 9/11 and the resulting Iraq war created vehement outcry from the global community. The recession and various incidents in big banking has crippled the economy. There is unease evident from every element of American society: immigration, military, national security, economy, healthcare etc. This environment and its negative influence has created a harsh and cynical view of the American Dream. Prosperity whilst undoubtedly still present in American society has become steadily exclusive and often Partisan. A current example would be the 2012 election, the issues debated illustrate the problems facing America today, high unemployment, benefits for those on the poverty line and women's rights. Theses elements are indicative of the disparity caused by the ideology of the American Dream and its reality within society.
The website The American Dream, (http://endoftheamericandream.com/) indicates just how severe the crisis in faith over the ideology has become. The strength of the response to its perceived collapse is shockingly fatalistic. The importance of the ideology itself whether seen as myth or reality is still viewed through a very personal lens. As such, its failure embodies a form of betrayal to the American public, who envision its defeat as a catalyst for a crumbling of society on a apocalyptic level, as evident on the website. Adverts line the page offering advice on seemingly incredible topics, such as: necessary supplies, survival kits, solar panel power systems and preparation guides. This is an example of a very extreme reaction to the disillusionment linked to the American Dream, but its existence signifies just how much of an impact on American society the idea has. In comparison to Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick, the very notion of the American Dream's collapse juxtaposes to Alger's implication of the everyman being able to make a good life. Through this view, Alger's idea of 'luck and pluck' becomes moot, as the infrastructure is unable to support the key aspects that are promoted by Alger and the American Dream. Alger's message for adults is also conflicted in this extreme reaction as the individual becomes concerned solely for their own security and survival, their obligation to ensure the well being of others is disregarded.
Whilst this extreme and seemingly disproportionate response to the supposed end of the American Dream, can be viewed as somewhat ludicrous, the principals behind are evident in every day society through the media. The modern audience has a fascination with apocalyptic, dystopian environments. Primarily this is witnessed in TV shows, films and books. The post-apocalyptic setting has become a zeitgeist for the current media, what was once a more cult industry has evolved into a predominant genre. The presence of which perhaps indicates and exaggerates the loss of identity that has been created through the destabilising of the American Dream. However, it could also be said that the dystopian/apocalyptic landscape is in fact a resurgence of belief in the American Dream, as it presents a new frontier for society to counter, effectively establishing a more modern visualisation of the American Dream that acts upon the unrest in America's infrastructure.
TV shows: The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, Revolution, Jericho and Falling Skies.
Films: Romero - Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead etc..., The Road, The Mist, Children of Men, 28 Weeks Later, Resident Evil, Soylent Green etc...
Books: Warm Bodies, Hunger Games, World War Z, The War of the Worlds, The Handmaids Tale, The Stand etc...
This video, taken from a George Carlin stand-up comedy show clearly lays out a huge sense of doubt in the ideal of the "American Dream". Carlin states that the everyday American is blind to the oppression that he/she is under, from the people who have the real power and control over America (large corporations). He carries on to state how these corporations do not want individuals who can realize the oppression they are under, but obedient workers, who will simply go to work and ignore the fact that have little to no pensions, working "shitty" jobs for "shitty" pay and the fact that these corporations have the American people "by the balls" and how no one notices and no one cares.
This sort of viewpoint would go directly against the ideas put forward in Ragged Dick, ideas such as the morals of the American Dream and the social mobility that can stem from it. Through the eyes of people who share a similar view with George Carlin, there is no "American Dream" it is a facade that has been created to give the American people a faint hope, when it is more of an "American Farce", there is no social mobility, you get a job and become another cog in the machine that is Corporate America and the American people are essentially trapped in a false reality, much like a fantasy. Its not real, just a "Dream".
Guns are
undoubtedly one of the most well-known representations of American culture, but
as symbolic as a gun may be – how wonderful has the 2nd amendment ‘The
right to bear arms’ really become?
It would
appear that many think the right to gun ownership in the US is truly a gift
from God. Maj. L. Caudhill wrote a letter title, ‘The Gun is Civilisation’ that
I being labelled as ‘The best pro gun argument ever’ and in all honesty, it is
a very well written statement and even had me thinking otherwise about the way
guns have become a necessity for Americans:
“When I
carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m
looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only
persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be
unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who interact with me through
reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force
from the equation... and that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act.” –
last paragraph, ‘The Gun is Civilisation.
Just as I
read the title: “The Gun is Civilisation’, I rolled my eyes because,
stereotypically, Americans would refer to something as dangerous and
publically unacceptable as guns as being something that should involve and
reach out to everyone.
Texas is
second in the Guardian’s table for the highest number of gun related murders in
the US during 2010, California was first. Having a friend from Texas who first
lived in California gave me the opportunity to ask her what her opinion was on
the current gun situation in Texas.
“I know that in the state of
Texas guns are legal and I'm glad, because where I live we have a lot of
break-ins and its great to have something as self-defence, but at the same time
most of the deaths we have here are caused by guns. I don't have a problem with
people buying guns here... Most of the time if someone shoots someone with a
gun they most likely didn't buy that gun, they stole it.... And also here in
Texas, hunting is a BIG tradition... I doubt you will find a Texan who doesn't
go hunting or who doesn't go to a shooting range..... We're psycho. I will say
this. If someone owns more than three guns and they're American, they most
likely go hunting or they just like to collect guns. My brother (16 yrs old) owns 6
guns, 60 pocketknives, 3 cross bows, and 2 tomahawks and it’s not like he likes
to hurt people. He just like collecting weapons, he's fascinated by them... He
has a case for each gun/knife/crossbow/tomahawk he has... He said "I don't
know how to explain it other than it’s just a hobby - something I like to
collect" – Tracy Smith, 20, Texas.
Again, this is quite an optimistic view on the
legalising of guns, although the idea of collecting weaponry for a hobby at
such a young age I couldn’t help but find worrying. When I questioned her on
especially something like the ownership of the crossbows, she simply replied. “We’re
fans of the Hunger Games.”
So some may think that guns are life savers, which may very
well be true, however, there is no questioning that no matter how good they are
made out to be, they are still lethal weapons that are dangerously easy to get.
In an article written by Linda Feldmenn for ‘The Christian Science Monitor’,
she discusses how the Colorado cinema shootings would help Obama in his run for
a second term for presidency. It was said that Obama was trying to protect the
second amendment by ensuring that those who are capable of handling a gun
responsibly may own one; however, those who can’t will not be allowed to
possess a gun. This advert below stars one of the survivors of the Batman
screening shootings from earlier this year, Stephan Barton.
'Demand a Plan'
The Brady Campaign was founded in 1974 after it's founder, Mark Broinsky was robbed and treated at gun point. The campaign is strongly fighting against gun violence and is trying to get guns banned from households and everyday uses. I found that I didn't need facts or pictures to be shocked by this. Just the banner alone was enough. At the time I print-screened this, 207 people had been killed in America today because of guns.
After all this, I can't help but see and agree for both sides. I found that Caudhill's letter was very powerful and evoking. I also found it very persuasive and it made me swing slightly in the pro gun side of the matter. However, I couldn't agree more with Obama's aim to at least make sure that those who are incapable of handling a gun responsibly are banned from owning one.
