The American Dream has come to define what every American should reach for. You'll hear it in almost every Presidential campaign speech, you'll read about it in every American novel, and you'll see it depicted in every classic American painting (basically anything by Edward Hopper), but do we even know what it is? Is it the same for everyone? And how can you get it?
In this episode we are going to take a closer look and figure out if there's any actual reality to this Dream, or if it's one big PR scam, as we answer the question... what is the American Dream?
Joining me on the podcast for the first time, but hopefully not the last, is Christopher Bigsby, an emeritus professor at the University of East Anglia. He has published more than sixty books, co-written radio and television plays, and published a number of novels, as well as a biography of Arthur Miller.
Points of Discussion:
- The first use of the American Dream and its popularization through works such as The Great Gatsby
- Is the American Dream really just the Caucasian Dream? We discuss the intent behind the American Dream, and its applicability to non-white, non-males.
- If you want to achieve the American Dream, is it more complicated than just buying some land and a gun?
Additional Resources:
BOOK: The Epic of America by James Truslow Adams
SONG: Only in America by Jay & the Americans
PLAY: The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O’Neill
BOOK: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
BOOK: Who Are We? by Samuel P. Huntington
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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map
What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219
