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Paul A. Cantor's The Apocalyptic Strain In Popular Culture

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Back to the Future of the US For many years Americans have been cherishing the dream of having a loving family with a few children, a decent job, a spacious house and a garage with a car or two, and maybe a dog. In addition, good structured financial, medical, educational, and governmental systems made up a sustainable environment for being happy. This description is what people believe to be an ‘American dream.’ However, what was earlier portrayed in the TV series about typical happy families, nowadays progressed into a wicked understanding of society and the role of people in this society. In his article “The Apocalyptic Strain in Popular Culture: The American Nightmare Becomes the American Dream,” Paul A. Cantor compares and contrasts the basics of once outdated American dream with the TV shows that supply the new understanding of what Americans lack to feel content. The author states that having exposed the characters to highly extreme conditions and casualties, the real value of a human life and all the excitement around the things that make up the happiness of …show more content…

Given series show different post-technocratic era where ordinary people survive and interact with each other and the hostile environment to reveal their true nature and the real value of the things needed for everyday survival and living as well as new understanding of being secure and content. People who are tired of endless pursuit of wealth which they believe can give them happiness make up the target audience. The audience is supposed to open its eyes to the reality that the list of things to buy and loans they have to pay out do not cost anything in different circumstances. The essay provides an in-depth analysis of the series with reference to other sources as well as the author succeeds to convey the idea through consistency of ideas, including self explanatory examples, and using rhetorical

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The United States of America is a big, powerful and wealthy country in the world. The division of class, individuality, religion, and race are but a few of the embellishments within the society. The blend of these numerous diversities is the crucial ingredient to the modern nation. America has been formed upon them, with that said the “average American”- have a single means in common; a single concept; a single goal; the American Dream. The Dream consists of a seemingly simple theory; success.

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Purchase of Perfection The American dream - conceived by the American man to solidify materialistic achievements as the basis of success and the path to Heavenly earth - incessantly remains as the societal expectation for each individual. Often derived from aspirations to rise from “rags to riches,” this impractical ideology proves contrary to reality. Prominent during the 1920s, this economic and social facade of prosperity enhanced the importance of materialistic gain and disregarded naturally accumulated bliss. The “Roaring Twenties” became a superfluous era of recklessness, as the short-lived inflation led to excessive spending and a disregard for one’s moral compass.

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The American dream at one point was what drew people to American; the right to life, liberty, and the happiness. The American dream is the hope to acquire currency, large homes, raise a middle-class family, and pursue what brings people joy in life. But in the year 2016, the American dream becomes hard to believe in. The American dream may still exist, but it is not equally accessible to all Americans. This is true because the American dream is not affordable for everyone, it is not available to everyone from different degrees of education, and race and ethnicity creates large social barriers.

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The American Dream has undergone a metamorphosis from principles to materialism. " - John E. Nestler,

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Everyone has their own idea of the American Dream. Although everyone’s idea of the American Dream is similar, media has done a very good job at altering our ideas of that dream. The dream used to be to work hard and get a good job that you enjoy and to make good money, now however, the dream is to have to latest and best technology, make a lot of money but not take any pride in their job, and become famous and known from all of the stuff that you own. Although this may seem appealing, America’s media has distorted the people’s view on the American Dream.

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America is known as a place you can be anything and anyone. For the most part, this remains true today, but the America dream is undergoing some changes. What once was held at high value is becoming less appealing. We live in a society where it's essential to have a source of income that’s just how life is. Countless of movies and TV shows portray this fantasy which a man or women have everything they need and want, but feel some void in their lives.

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