Page 179 - Šolsko polje, XXVIII, 2017, no. 3-4: Education and the American Dream, ed. Mitja Sardoč
P. 179
. gutman ■ the morphological and archetypal traces in the american dream
cepts can be designed, implemented and collectively perceived with pub-
lic relations techniques. It can be argued that a myth like the American
Dream cannot exist independently; even if carefully structured, it needs
to be imposed, forcibly promoted and advertised. It might be hypothe-
sised that the American Dream surpassed the test of time for two reasons.
Firstly, the narrative consists of a distinctive pattern – a solid structure
that can be immediately recognized by the reader; secondly, the narrative
has been vigorously maintained and promoted (produced, reproduced
and distributed) by the pop culture industry.
Furthermore, in order for (any) myth to function, the internal men-
tal structures of the human mind need to be aligned with the narrative
structure of the myth. The narrative unconsciously draws human’s atten-
tion and the external engineering of meanings and concepts is inevita-
bly related to the deeper understanding of internal mental processes that
follow the narrative as it unfolds. For instance, the core practice of effec-
tive public relations is based on the recognition of the hidden layers in
storytelling that are closely related to the psychological processes of em-
pathy and identification with the character. In addition to the narrative
flow, the myths also possess a potent sentiment. For example, an emotion-
al charge of the American Dream is based on a desire to become a better
version of oneself. Desire – the basic emotion of every human being – also
serves as a vehicle for external communication and commercialization:
the regime of success and individual empowerment has been based on the
notion of desire and it is safe to argue that all derivatives of the American
Dreams are conditioned by it.
It is reasonable to conclude, that the American Dream has been ac-
tively and seamlessly implemented in public discourse; its omnipresence
makes this ideal so persistent, that it has become nearly invisible. In other
words, due to its permeability, it has become the way to perceive the world,
without being aware of its existence, which is a trait, common to all cul-
tural paradigms. However, the implications of the American Dream are
manifold and can be identified and examined in various layers and forms
of popular culture, such as the Hollywood movie industry,34 celebrity cul-
ture industry, music industry, etc.
The concepts, along with the principled systems of understanding,
change with a given culture. Here, it has been argued that the American
Dream holds a relatively fixed narrative core that, along with the solid ar-
34 A short list of examples: The Great Gatsby (2013), The Social Network (2010), Rocky
(1976), An American Tail (1986), The Pursuit of Happiness (2006), Mr. Smith goes to
Washington (1939), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Wall Street (1987), Wall Street: Money
Never Sleeps (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), American Beauty (1999).
177
cepts can be designed, implemented and collectively perceived with pub-
lic relations techniques. It can be argued that a myth like the American
Dream cannot exist independently; even if carefully structured, it needs
to be imposed, forcibly promoted and advertised. It might be hypothe-
sised that the American Dream surpassed the test of time for two reasons.
Firstly, the narrative consists of a distinctive pattern – a solid structure
that can be immediately recognized by the reader; secondly, the narrative
has been vigorously maintained and promoted (produced, reproduced
and distributed) by the pop culture industry.
Furthermore, in order for (any) myth to function, the internal men-
tal structures of the human mind need to be aligned with the narrative
structure of the myth. The narrative unconsciously draws human’s atten-
tion and the external engineering of meanings and concepts is inevita-
bly related to the deeper understanding of internal mental processes that
follow the narrative as it unfolds. For instance, the core practice of effec-
tive public relations is based on the recognition of the hidden layers in
storytelling that are closely related to the psychological processes of em-
pathy and identification with the character. In addition to the narrative
flow, the myths also possess a potent sentiment. For example, an emotion-
al charge of the American Dream is based on a desire to become a better
version of oneself. Desire – the basic emotion of every human being – also
serves as a vehicle for external communication and commercialization:
the regime of success and individual empowerment has been based on the
notion of desire and it is safe to argue that all derivatives of the American
Dreams are conditioned by it.
It is reasonable to conclude, that the American Dream has been ac-
tively and seamlessly implemented in public discourse; its omnipresence
makes this ideal so persistent, that it has become nearly invisible. In other
words, due to its permeability, it has become the way to perceive the world,
without being aware of its existence, which is a trait, common to all cul-
tural paradigms. However, the implications of the American Dream are
manifold and can be identified and examined in various layers and forms
of popular culture, such as the Hollywood movie industry,34 celebrity cul-
ture industry, music industry, etc.
The concepts, along with the principled systems of understanding,
change with a given culture. Here, it has been argued that the American
Dream holds a relatively fixed narrative core that, along with the solid ar-
34 A short list of examples: The Great Gatsby (2013), The Social Network (2010), Rocky
(1976), An American Tail (1986), The Pursuit of Happiness (2006), Mr. Smith goes to
Washington (1939), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Wall Street (1987), Wall Street: Money
Never Sleeps (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), American Beauty (1999).
177
