Natalie Weber
Professor Shimabukuro
ENG 200
May 6 2019
A Modern Interpretation of the American Dream
The American Dream is regarded as a defining characteristic of society in the United States. This idea of equal opportunity is supported by The Declaration of Independence, which states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founding fathers of the United States of America published this statement, putting into law the revolutionary idea that an individual’s pursuit of self-rewarding success results in ambition. The combination of these ambitious individuals created a society that supports and advocates economic advancement in pursuit of a better life. In the modern world, several centuries after the founding fathers, the country continues to be regarded as a land of equal opportunity. However, there are several political and economic complications in modern society that affect the American Dream. [THESIS] The 20th/21st century American Dream is less of a “dream,” and more of a competition, with worse consequences for failure to achieve this dream than ever before. [THESIS]
Sixto Rodriguez is an example of the consequences of a failed American Dream. Rodriguez was an aspiring rockstar from Detroit, Michigan who never attained the recognition he deserved for his musical talent in America. He released his first two albums, Cold Fact (1970) and Coming from Reality (1971) with Sussex records. Rodriquez seemingly had all the attributes for a successful musical career. He was recognizably talented, lyrically and musically, he was working under a successful record label, and he was creating music alongside some of the most famous producers at the time. Coming from Reality was anticipated to be one of the best albums of the decade. However, the album experienced no success following its release. Rodriguez reportedly sold less than 50 copies.
Following the album’s failure, Rodriguez retreated into the mediocre life of a struggling working-class citizen. It was unbeknownst to him that one of his album copies had found its way to South Africa, where it achieved outstanding reviews. In South Africa Rodriguez was regarded as one of the greatest rockstars of the century. This inspired Stephen Segerman, “Sugar Man,” to find out what ever happened to Rodriguez, the man who had all the potential but experienced no success. In the film Searching for Sugar Man (2012) Segerman discusses the search for Rodriguez “While it is still a bit of a mystery how the first copy of Cold Fact actually came to South Africa but it spread very quickly. To many of us South Africans he was the soundtrack to our lives. But nobody knew anything about him. He was a mystery,” (Sugar Man, 2012).
Rodriguez’ music gives an insight into his experience of the American Dream. Songs like “‘Cause,” illustrate his struggles as a working class citizen. “I lost my job two weeks before Christmas, and I talked to Jesus at the sewer, and the Pope said it was none of his goddamned business,” (Coming from Reality, Rodriguez 1971).
Rodriguez’s experience is very familiar to me. My mother comes from an immigrant family who has experienced several different sides of the American Dream. In the 1960s, my grandfather and his siblings immigrated from Cuba to Florida. Each of their pursuits of the American Dream carried them through different career paths and economic standings in the USA. While some experienced success, others experienced failure. My grandfather was very practical in his pursuit of the American Dream and followed statistics and realistic goals to achieve success. In contrast, my great uncle followed his intuition and artistic passion. Similar to Rodriguez, he had a hard time experiencing success as a result of his artistic endeavors. My great uncle struggled much more throughout his artistic pursuit of the American Dream than my grandfather did via practical pursuit.
I believe this comparison between my grandfather and great uncle is an excellent example of the evolution of the American Dream. Pragmatic approaches to achieving one’s goals are statistically more successful than idealistic strategies. One would assume that a concept titled with the word “dream,” would include successful outcomes for artistic romantics, yet this is rarely the case. Many visionaries struggle to achieve the American Dream due to increased competition, limited resources, and bad luck.
In comparison to Rodriguez, I would describe myself as a realistic visionary. Although I enjoy fantasizing and believing in abstract goals, I understand there is concrete proof that lies in statistics and reality. I believe I am a combination of both Rodriguez and reality. I understand that I have many talents, but I simultaneously recognize that many others possess the same characteristics.
When I was younger I wanted to be a professional surfer and surf photographer. I would spend countless hours in the water, perfecting my athletic skills and camera knowledge. At around the age of fifteen, I came to the bittersweet realization that many other young adults aspired to do the same. I understood that my dreams were attainable but my success rate was relatively low. I decided to pursue other alternatives and maintain my water activities as hobbies. To this day I continue to pursue my passions and spend most of my free time enjoying and photographing nature. In addition, I dedicate the majority of my life to academics and work. Although I wish I could have carried out my artistic dreams successfully, I understand that not everyone is so lucky. Similar to Rodriguez I have a practical life outside of my artistic pursuits. Unlike Rodriguez, I am dedicating more time to my practical reality than my artistic dream.
I currently go to school full time in pursuit of a degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. I spend most of my free time studying, exploring the world, and working. I try my hardest to follow my passions by traveling and experiencing as much as I can. This requires a lot of hard work, as I only allow myself free time if I am successful in school and work. In addition I work full time in order to support this lifestyle and my living expenses.
I believe I have accomplished a lot as a young adult. My accomplishments are a reflection of the American Dream. A combination of ambition, intuition, realistic expectations, and creativity has lead me to where I am now. Although I have not fully obtained my end goal, I am enjoying the journey. I have neither failed nor fully succeeded, but I believe I have a high success rate if I continue on the same path that I have been following. In conclusion, I believe a successful American Dream in today’s society is comprised of the realization of one’s idealistic passions and realistic strategies.
Works Cited
Bell, Whitfield J. The Declaration of Independance: Four 1776 Versions. The American Philosophical Society, 1976.
Bendjelloul, Malik, director. Searching for Sugar Man. Searching for Sugar Man, 2012.
Rodriguez, Sixto. “‘Cause.” Coming from Reality, Sussex Records, 1971.