The American Dream and Ragged Dick

The American Dream

	The American Dream Waking People Up And Getting Them To Realize That The American Dream Is Quickly Becoming The American Nightmare	CommentsBy EmailPosts

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...