The American dream : a cultural history / Lawrence R. Samuel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Samuel, Lawrence R.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American Dream.

National characteristics, American.

Popular culture--United States--History.

Popular culture.

United States--Civilization--1945-.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (258 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Syracuse : Syracuse University Press, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

There is no better way to understand America than by understanding the cultural history of the American Dream. Rather than just a powerful philosophy or ideology, the Dream is thoroughly woven into the fabric of everyday life, playing a vital role in who we are, what we do, and why we do it. No other idea or mythology has as much influence on our individual and collective lives. Tracing the history of the phrase in popular culture, Samuel gives readers a field guide to the evolution of our national identity over the last eighty years. Samuel tells the story chronologically, revealing that there have been six major eras of the mythology since the phrase was coined in 1931. Relying mainly on period magazines and newspapers as his primary source material, the author demonstrates that journalists serving on the front lines of the scene represent our most valuable resource to recover unfiltered stories of the Dream. The problem, however, is that it does not exist, the Dream is just that, a product of our imagination. That it is not real ultimately turns out to be the most significant finding about the Ameri­can Drea, and what makes the story most compelling.

Contents:

The epic of America

The status seekers

The anti-paradise

Born in the USA

The anxious society

American idol.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-227, 229-234) and index.

ISBN:

9780815651871

0815651872

OCLC:

844345019