Post by subhanikp on Feb 7, 2016 1:43:57 GMT
The films of today have radically broadened the concept of the American Dream. In the past, the American Dream represented the ultimate success of an individual in his or her life, which was measured by the amount of wealth and possessions he or she was able to obtain. This quite restricted definition of the American Dream comprised of men and women seeking success in jobs and professions by climbing up the industrial ladders in the hopes of reaching the top. All of their efforts were focused on becoming rich and elevating their societal status. These materialistic connotations of the original American Dream have been set aside to broader, more humanistic connatations. The film industry has been one of the premier mediums with which this new definition of the American Dream has been propagated. The films of today display an American Dream that gives more importance to achieving happiness and developing passions that are more humanistic than just wealth. Apart from succeeding in a job solely with the hopes of gaining money, the American Dream can be achieved by pursuing certain hobbies and passions, such as music, sports, theater, writing, and many others. The success of an individual is now measured by the happiness evolved from pursuing one of these passions, rather than the money that it brings. There are many examples of films that emphasize this broader definition, two of which are August Rush and Million Dollar Arm. In August Rush, the main character is an orphan who has a natural skill for playing the guitar. Even though he lacks the support system of a family and is unable to obtain a lot of money, he is still able to achieve the American Dream by pursuing his love for music and leading a happy life. In Million Dollar Arm, two Indian cricket players move to America in the hopes of leaving the seemingly hopeless condition of their Indian village and finding success in "the land of hope". They arrive in America and try out for several baseball teams, ultimately finding a minor-league team for their future. Although the two men were not able to reach the major leagues and obtain a lot of money, they secured happiness for the rest of their lives. Both of these films emphasize the various ways in which individuals can achieve the American Dream in modern society. America, out of all the nations in the world, offers its citizens with numerous pathways to happiness and success in life. No longer are money and possessions the sole motivators in American society. All of these ideas are reinforced by the film industry of today.
