Page 174 - Šolsko polje, XXVIII, 2017, no. 3-4: Education and the American Dream, ed. Mitja Sardoč
P. 174
šolsko polje, letnik xxviii, številka 3–4
It is worth pointing out that each biographical narrative utilizes
Propp’s elements in different order. Regardless of the sequential nature of
each story, the pattern can be seen: as shown in Fig. 1, most of the given ex-
amples of American Dream stories include the following narrative func-
tions (not necessarily in that order): [Absentation], [Violation of Interdic-
tion], [Mediation, The Connective Incident], [Beginning Counteraction],
[Departure], [The First Function of the Donor], [Struggle], [Victory],
[Difficult Task], [Solution], [Recognition], and [Transfiguration]. Given
the examples in this discussion, it can be concluded that 12 out of 31 func-
tions form a stable morphology of the American Dream narrative. The typ-
ical American Dream story is largely built on 12 narrative elements, which
can be described as “key narrative functions” that form a distinguishable
pattern of the examined concept. All examined biographies have in com-
mon the following elements: (i) Absentation of at least one parent (aban-
donment, death); (ii) Violation of certain cultural norms or rules (not ful-
filling other people’s expectations, for example leaving college, or freeing
oneself from parental oppressions); (iii) Meditation, i.e. turning points in
a personality’s life, the decisive moments (meeting the billionaire, witness-
ing murder, being molested …); (iv) Reaction or counteraction that can be
interpreted as initial activities taken in order to achieve the goal (creat-
ing an album, signing a contract with a modelling agency), (v) Departure
(typically as leaving hometown); (vi) The First function of the Donor: in
the context of the American Dream, it can be explicit (a person) or implic-
it (a city – in the case of Madonna or Charlize Theron, it is the city that
represents a challenge or even a threat. Once the challenge is passed, both
heroines enjoy their city’s ‘magical’ advantages that helped them on their
quest, like for example the benefits of agent network in Hollywood); (vii)
Struggle is the central theme in the American Dream narrative. It is usu-
ally depicted as open combat with the media, agents, movie critics, insti-
tutions and other opponents (artists from the entertainment industry);
(viii) Difficult task in the American Dream is mostly referred to the ef-
forts to achieve goals: as already emphasized, this element represents the
unavoidable hard work, sacrifice and risk taking. All examples show that
Solution (ix) is presented as a set of moral rules, which guide characters in
their most difficult moments. This moral principle is related to the idea of
determination, optimism and work ethics. Victory (x) is depicted as an up-
ward class mobility, home ownership (personal wealth, estate) and own-
ing one’s own business (record labels, own production, own cloth-line).
Recognition (xi) is related to cultural capital and social acknowledgement
(Oscars, Grammies), and (xii) Transformation is typically associated with
physical and psychological conversion (“from no one to someone”).
172
It is worth pointing out that each biographical narrative utilizes
Propp’s elements in different order. Regardless of the sequential nature of
each story, the pattern can be seen: as shown in Fig. 1, most of the given ex-
amples of American Dream stories include the following narrative func-
tions (not necessarily in that order): [Absentation], [Violation of Interdic-
tion], [Mediation, The Connective Incident], [Beginning Counteraction],
[Departure], [The First Function of the Donor], [Struggle], [Victory],
[Difficult Task], [Solution], [Recognition], and [Transfiguration]. Given
the examples in this discussion, it can be concluded that 12 out of 31 func-
tions form a stable morphology of the American Dream narrative. The typ-
ical American Dream story is largely built on 12 narrative elements, which
can be described as “key narrative functions” that form a distinguishable
pattern of the examined concept. All examined biographies have in com-
mon the following elements: (i) Absentation of at least one parent (aban-
donment, death); (ii) Violation of certain cultural norms or rules (not ful-
filling other people’s expectations, for example leaving college, or freeing
oneself from parental oppressions); (iii) Meditation, i.e. turning points in
a personality’s life, the decisive moments (meeting the billionaire, witness-
ing murder, being molested …); (iv) Reaction or counteraction that can be
interpreted as initial activities taken in order to achieve the goal (creat-
ing an album, signing a contract with a modelling agency), (v) Departure
(typically as leaving hometown); (vi) The First function of the Donor: in
the context of the American Dream, it can be explicit (a person) or implic-
it (a city – in the case of Madonna or Charlize Theron, it is the city that
represents a challenge or even a threat. Once the challenge is passed, both
heroines enjoy their city’s ‘magical’ advantages that helped them on their
quest, like for example the benefits of agent network in Hollywood); (vii)
Struggle is the central theme in the American Dream narrative. It is usu-
ally depicted as open combat with the media, agents, movie critics, insti-
tutions and other opponents (artists from the entertainment industry);
(viii) Difficult task in the American Dream is mostly referred to the ef-
forts to achieve goals: as already emphasized, this element represents the
unavoidable hard work, sacrifice and risk taking. All examples show that
Solution (ix) is presented as a set of moral rules, which guide characters in
their most difficult moments. This moral principle is related to the idea of
determination, optimism and work ethics. Victory (x) is depicted as an up-
ward class mobility, home ownership (personal wealth, estate) and own-
ing one’s own business (record labels, own production, own cloth-line).
Recognition (xi) is related to cultural capital and social acknowledgement
(Oscars, Grammies), and (xii) Transformation is typically associated with
physical and psychological conversion (“from no one to someone”).
172
