The American Dream

There has been a major leap of technological advances from the decade of the 50’s until now. Our generation doesn’t know what is life like without a TV or a computer. The beliefs of our parents and grandparents are very different from ours.

I am fascinated by the 50’s in America and decided to make a comparison for my video project. I feel like the ideals and dreams that were born during that decade have taken America into what it is now. For instance, consumerism, suburbs, and the comfort of the American lifestyle in general, were strongly pursued during the 50’s and are deeply enrooted in our contemporary American society. All these advancements have been made possible by the development of new technology, including digital media.

People in the 50’s were very enthusiastic about all the new things that were happening. They were positive about the future and embraced the idea of having children to spread that happiness. They had the house with the white picket fence, the boy and girl, the dog, the working father, the warm meals, the perfect mother, etc.

Over fifty years later, there is a generation who is quite pessimistic about what surrounds them. Things are dull and stressful. The bliss of technology is in question. Everything has changed, the American Dream has become more expensive and difficult to achieve, creating frustrated citizens.

Americans are very concerned about achieving the American Dream but still, they know it is possible and that gives them hope. The political and economic disillusionment of the later years, has definitely affected the positivism of the American people.

The American dream is much harder to reach. Some of the people I interviewed believed that technology and digital media have reached a point where they are as destructive as they are productive. Therefore, what got us here is now taking something away from us.

I gathered different video footage from commercials, movies, and TV shows from the 50’s and paired them with the interviews creating a short of what it used to be and what is now. But at the same time, there is a historical message about the American spirit of endeavor and hope that will never go away no matter how difficult things become.