WAGING A LIVING

“Dreams may take many forms—wistful expectations for the future, nostalgic longings for the past, escapist fantasies about the present—but all dreamers eventually find that they must reconcile their dreams with the facts of the real world”

Presenting for Waging a Living came at a busy time in my schedule; with thesis deadlines approaching, a very busy work week, and applications for after graduation plans. It is easy in the blur of activity to focus entirely on oneself. It was honestly hard to watch the video at many times. During this busy time I continually focus on the ideas that I can accomplish all of my goals if I just work hard enough, and that individually I CAN accomplish great things. All mantras that follow closely with the American Dream. At this time in my life watching the film created deep distress, beyond just emotions of sadness. Yes, the stories were sad, full of tragedy, and heartbreak. However, it was feelings of confusion and disillusion that I was left with at the end of the film. Are all these ideals of individual accomplishments or hard work directly resulting in success false? Does the American dream and it values only apply to the middle and upper class.

Dr. Hobby in class talked about how he believed that the American dream is a myth. It got me thinking on why myths perpetuated. Myths provide an order and reassurance to things unknown. The myth allows for individuals to universalize their struggles, in doing so the danger becomes that many times the minority is marginalized. The quote at the top of the page in summarizes the struggle I faced watching the film. The American Dream categorizes in all three of the forms: wistful expectations for the future, nostalgic longings for the past, escapist fantasies about the present. In understanding that the American Dream is just that a dream freedom can be found from the sometimes powerful grasp. In culture, politics, and even school the American dream is presented an attainable reality rather than an idealistic generalization. The film shocks the viewer into the reality. It forces many of us to deal with the ideals of the dream in relation to the facts of the real world. In doing so many of us, myself included, have to acknowledge our actual place in society as a privileged class. In a society and culture that emphasizes individuality, acknowledging the incredible impact our social-economic class, race, and environment have on our success can be challenging.

Below is a graduate paper that applies to these ideas…it is very good example of applying theory in an education realm. The author presents the idea that understanding the delusion and inequality of the American dream allows everyone to begin to find their own dream. And the focus becomes less on the end goal and more on the process. http://www.coe.uga.edu/~smago/VirtualLibrary/Howell.pdf