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Post by jillian on Feb 8, 2016 5:06:08 GMT
Today, there is so much thought put into the American dream. It can be interpreted into so many different ideas. Many different media outlets each have their own perception of what makes up the American dream, which all contribute to modern time's idea of what makes up the dream as a whole. Among teenagers, there is a very distinct aspiration that is pushed upon them as an example that they should follow. Take for instance, Magazines. Many Magazines promote a specific body image for girls that is put forth for them to strive for. Today we have been getting better at accepting all body types, but there is still one specific body type that is favored the most, and it is the body type that is tall, skinny, and slightly muscular (give or take a few variations). As for men, they are expected to be tall and muscular with a nice jawline. On TV many shows and news programs promote the idea of wealth and prosperity among the common man. The news looks up on individuals who take it upon themselves to start their own career and further it to its pinnacle. On instagram, many girls aspire to be the one posting their kale juice in the morning and their outfit of the day with millions of subscribers and millions of likes. Guys on instagram are always posting shirtless pics that have captions with deep meanings. on vine, your a nobody and no one will follow you, if you don't have one of those weird hover board things (which if I my add are not even hover boards.First of all, they have feels, and second of all, they touch the ground.) Today, in a teen's perspective, the one goal is to be famous, good looking, and well liked by those around you. THere is a lot of pressure to have the most followers and the most likes on everything.
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Post by hopekim on Feb 8, 2016 5:41:40 GMT
I really appreciate and enjoy your take on the American Dream by relating it to teenagers! I think that we are really caught up in and categorize the American Dream with solely adults, but there is a reason that adults have these goals and dreams: they have them as teenagers! And I completely agree with you that social media has a major role in shaping how teenagers develop and perceive a Teenage American Dream, but I also think that not only does social media affect this new version of the American Dream, but I think that the society that the social media stems from does as well, especially in the older generations.
This idea of the tall, muscular man and the skinny, hour-glass shaped woman came from previous generations. And in my opinion, I think that our parents, relatives, and lineage not only act as role models for us to develop our Teenage American Dream, but I think they force us to either stray or follow directly from their path.
Depending on your personality, if you are rebellious, and your parents expect you to work hard, go to college, and be successful, you might want to do the exact opposite of that. If you are obedient, and your parents live a healthy lifestyle, you might take on this healthy lifestyle as well and naturally fall into the same habits as your parents, essentially shaping the teenage generation.
Additionally, although the Teenage American Dream constitutes many popular ideas like the ones portrayed in magazines, I think as students, we know that we look towards and constantly think about the future and the same American Dream that we read about currently. We want to work hard and be successful, and seeing people in social media as well as our parents who may have or may have not achieved this American Dream starts a new era of a Teenage American Dream: a time where teenagers begin thinking of their future and their possible road to success.
As a result, I think that both social media and parents play a huge role in this new Teenage American Dream, both the kind portrayed in magazines as well as the one dealing with success in the future.
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pavansuresh
New Member
I am Pavan the Skeptical Elf.
Posts: 26 
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Post by pavansuresh on Feb 8, 2016 21:29:49 GMT
Your relating the American Dream to modern teenagers is very interesting, and I'd like to add on to that. Not only is the physical "perfect body" the gold standard for teenagers today, most high school kids (our age, and slightly above) also have a different dream. Adding onto what Hope said, as students, we are beginning to think of our futures now, but there are many obstacles to overcome along the way, not least of which is our parents' expectations. I don't know how most kids' parents are, but mine are sticklers when it comes to good grades. Over my life, they've drilled into me that grades and school come above everything else, and that future success is based on how hard I work now. This, I think, contributes to the teenage American Dream. It's no secret that a large portion of our class is made up of serial overachievers. Many of us have had the same message pounded into our heads by our parents; that our goal in life is to have a better one than they did; that to reap the rewards of financial stability, relative prosperity, and familial life, we must work hard now while we still can.
Have you guys experienced this as well?
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Post by aamornwichet on Feb 10, 2016 2:55:37 GMT
Wow, yeah Pavan you are totally right. I think lately especially now in Junior year, things have been so focused on our futures, and what we plan to do, that we neglect to realize that, we kind of are living the American Dream. We are "the suburban children playing in the street" and now it is our turn to focus on that growing up and being somebody with their own dreams. But it is terrible because looking to the future, means forgetting to live now. It is probably why so many of us focus on social media, and media in general, because it provides us a benchmark to what our lives should be. The number of likes on a facebook post is a numerical representation of peer approval. Since we have been trained to believe so heartily in grades, we need a measurable justification of not only academic success but social success
Our idea of the perfect American teenager is someone who can do everything physically, academically, and socially. But very few of us can be 100% on all three sides of the trifecta all of the time. Sometimes it is good to remind yourself, that fact that you live in a nice suburban school district you are probably living somebodies American dream.
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