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PSU COMM 110 - American Beauty
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Lecture 4American BeautyHow do you define the American Dream?There is no more one American dream, but individual dreamsRelation to democracyHave you achieved it?Will you achieve it?American Dream videoA lot of people are happy with the life they live, but at the same time no one mentioned they achieved the American dreamPeople still want something moreWhen you live in a 5 bedroom house why don’t you want a 7 bedroom houseAmerican BeautyA critic on the American dreamAre the characters in the film living the American Dream?No they are trying to present themselves as achieving the American dream, but they’re really notHow does the American dream relate to other spectators of society?Corporations? Consumptions? Media?Dominant themesEmpty promises of materialism“its just a couch!” – part of the moviethere is symbolic value of the couch to herthey’re both trying to be happy, but at the same time you’re supposed to be a certain waymaterialism does not equal happinessthe gay couple was the “weird” couple, but ultimately they were they happy onesAppearances vs realityThe mom isn’t really happyRicky’s dad isn’t really happyPlatoAmerican culture at largeDiscussion QuestionsWhat are your main takeaways from the film?What are the problems with the current definitions of the American dream?Should we strive for a different kind of dream?Are all people allowed to have the American dream?Why was this movie assigned?Connecting to Plato when he stepped down and saw the lightPeople in the movie started doing things differentlyHappinessWhere does it come from? The concept?All the media and stuff promotes what it means to be happyCOMM 110 1st Edition Lecture 4American Beauty How do you define the American Dream?- There is no more one American dream, but individual dreams- Relation to democracy- Have you achieved it?- Will you achieve it?- American Dream videoo A lot of people are happy with the life they live, but at the same time no one mentioned they achieved the American dreamo People still want something moreo When you live in a 5 bedroom house why don’t you want a 7 bedroom house American Beauty- A critic on the American dream- Are the characters in the film living the American Dream?o No they are trying to present themselves as achieving the American dream, but they’re really not- How does the American dream relate to other spectators of society?o Corporations? Consumptions? Media?- Dominant themeso Empty promises of materialism “its just a couch!” – part of the movie there is symbolic value of the couch to her they’re both trying to be happy, but at the same time you’re supposed to be a certain way materialism does not equal happiness the gay couple was the “weird” couple, but ultimately they were they happy oneso Appearances vs reality The mom isn’t really happy Ricky’s dad isn’t really happy Platoo American culture at large- Discussion Questionso What are your main takeaways from the film?o What are the problems with the current definitions of the American dream?o Should we strive for a different kind of dream?o Are all people allowed to have the American dream?- Why was this movie assigned?o Connecting to Plato when he stepped down and saw the lighto People in the movie started doing things differentlyo Happiness  Where does it come from? The concept?All the media and stuff promotes what it means to be


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