The Concept of the American Dream - Essay Example

California Dream The concept of the American Dream is widely known worldwide, although for Americans the Dream looks differently, as it is implemented in the notion “California Dream”, a vague lifestyle-based imagination of a good life that is presumably possible to be achieved in California. The concept of California Dream is probably less realistic nowadays, but not because it is actually unobtainable. Probably, the reason is that modern people look at the reality more critically and acknowledge the fact that it is not California itself that makes them happy but some other forces may implement the California Dream in real life. The history of the notion traces its roots in late 19th century, when California was considered to be the golden state of America, as it literally had huge golden resources, which led to the California Gold Rash of 1848-1855 (Brands 103).Hence, bunches of immigrants flew to California, hoping to gain easy wealth and live happily ever after. Since then the name of California became closely related to the image of smooth happy life with wealth and prosperity. California Dream initially meant the life that Americans strived to achieve, because they believed that moving to California would mean constant luck and prosperity. One of the important reasons why California was considered to be a heaven on earth is because California is a state rich for resources, pleasant climate, and multiple job opportunities. In some time the original term was slightly changed and transformed in people’s minds. As far as California was rapidly growing, multiple industries have appeared in the state. They include film production of Hollywood, the Silicon Valley with its enormous technological development, California wine industry etc. The brand new industries created new job places and vast career opportunities. The image of California that used to be engaged with golden resources turned into the image of California as a state of the most ambitious and wealthy industries possible. Hence, California has preserved its image of America’s golden state, as it is still a pleasant region for many people who believe that living in California makes people more successful and happier. Although people are not coming to California looking for placer gold mines, working in such industries as filmmaking and Silicon Valley’s progressive technological area for most people means a constant resource of pleasure, glory, and money. This is the reason why the concept of California dream has become so popular in American mass culture, as it symbolizes what people ever wanted to have and achieve in their lives. The famous song “California Dreamin’” performed by The Mamas and The Papas in 1965 is still iconic because of the imaginary concept that stands behind its meaning. Such popular American artists as Lana Del Rey are also representing California Dream, demonstrating luxury and great opportunities for leisure and fame. It is important to analyze the resources where people take this image of California Dream from and why is it so important for them. First of all, California Dream is the core of American mass culture, which is crucial for the entire nation. American film industry, located in Hollywood, forms the fashionable tendencies and creates those lifestyle idols that masses are striving to. In fact, this California dream has created a whole new class of people called “celebrities”, who are famous for being famous and authoritative because they are famous (Kurzman 355). Celebrities’ lifestyle would be different apart from California, where they are located in, because the smooth climate, stylish houses, and the Californian romance construct the system of views, in which California is the integral part of fame, prosperity, and the kind of job that consists of entire fun (the way how most people consider acting). This modern day vision of California and the symbols of money and glory that living there may bring is very important for understanding of people’s wishes and values. Considering the California Dream more precisely, it appears that the essence of the dream is laziness and egocentrism. What people really want is to be wealthy by having fun, and American social media maintain the image of California as the place where life is in full swing and it is very easy to join this smooth and simple life. However, does anybody consider the fact how hard it is to achieve this kind of success and how many affords it requires to succeed in California? This aspect of California Dream is probably skipped for some reasons. My personal life experience has shown that California dream is a very controversial concept that causes multiple reflections concerning it. On the one hand I definitely want to believe in the idea that living in a particular place like California would bring easy success and wealth. However, who doesn’t wish to believe in it, as life would be so much easier, living in this place. But in fact I realize that pursuing the dream of leisured life without hard working and any efforts would be headfirst of me. Some sociological researches have revealed that Californians are not happier than average American citizens of the Midwest (Schkade & Kahneman 341). The point is that the problems Californians face with are the same as the problems of people from other states: job shortage, high prices, intensive flow of illegal immigrants etc. Thus I may like the idea of California dream, but I don’t think it works so easy and achievable for everyone. However, I indeed believe that California dream is not just a dream, as for some people it becomes their reality. Being rich, successful, and famous is definitely attainable and multiple examples of celebrities prove the statement. Although not everyone gains cusses in California, those who keep working hard and keep trying may achieve very high results and start living their California Dream some day. However, it also often happens that people come to California, live there for a few years and still have nothing. Probably, the point is that California dream is some kind of lottery, where a person might win or not win, but it doesn’t make California Dream unobtainable. Like in any lottery, you indeed may gain success very quickly, but fortune doesn’t smile upon everyone. In addition, if the concept of California Dream has existed for so long, then there must be something in it that makes people think that it is attainable. As the concept contents such crucial elements as quick fame, easy money, a prestigious job place, and smooth climate I don’t think there is another place in the U.S. that would fit the requirements of California Dream better than this state. For some people California Dream might be just a figment of imagination, because they probably don’t really understand the entire concept of the Dream. They want to achieve the Dream easily, which in fact also is a part of California Dream idea, but if to consider it as a result, it is definitely attainable. Hence, it is difficult to argue that there are indeed people who live the way that California Dream is considered to be imagined by most people, or at least they seem to live so. But we never know how the Dream feels like in real until we try it or talk to people who have achieved it. However, in some cases moving to LA becomes the prizewinning ticket and the people indeed become rich and famous by accident. The existence of such examples of California Dream attained either by luck or hard working proves that indeed the concept is realistic and it works although not for everyone. Works Cited Brands, H. W. The age of gold: the California Gold Rush and the new American dream. New York: Anchor, 2003. Kurzman, Charles; Anderson, Chelise; Key, Clinto;, Lee, Youn Ok; Moloney,Mairead; Silver Alexis and Van Ryn, Maria W. "Celebrity Status". Sociological Theory. 4(2007): 347-367. Schkade, David A. and Kahneman, Daniel. "Does iving in California Make People Happy? A Focusing Illusion in Judgments of Life Satisfaction". Psychological Science. 9(1998): 340-346. Read More