Interview Questions:
1. Describe the American Dream of our society today?
2. Where do people get this dream from? (what encourages them to strive for the American dream)
3. Has the American Dream changed? In what ways?
4. Do you find any problems with the American Dream as seen today? Does it
become an obsession?
5. Is the American Dream realistic to achieve? What happens if a person falls
short of their personal American Dream?
6. Does it satisfy them?
Answers:
1. Many people in our interviews described the American dream as being materialistic, self-absorbed, and full of greed. Wealth and status play a large role in the American Dream of today’s society. The mindset of this era is filled with a “get-rich-quick” mindset and that with money, people can achieve anything. If a person is seen as having it all together, they are thought to have the dream. No longer is the dream something that a poor person can achieve
2. The media and the overall society contribute heavily to skewed views of success. They tell people that in order to flourish in life, they must be rich, good-looking, and conniving. Surrounded by this message, people begin to believe that they can be satisfied with material possessions. Also, people are pressured by society to be “great.” Society praises “Great People” and shuns failures.
3. The American Dream has changed from being a hardworking, others-focused dream, to a self and money-seeking one. The old American Dream held onto to high morals such as being well educated and providing for your family. However, the American Dream has become a goal that is centered on money and fame. If a person is lacking is this area, the dream can not be achieved.
4. Greed and self-indulgence feed the American Dream today. This teaches society to only look out for them and what will benefit them in the long run. Looking out for others interests is extremely important for a society to cooperate. It can easily become an obsession to continually get more things. If people hold on to this perspective of the dream, then they will become obsessed.
5. Most people answered that the American Dream has become much more realistic today then ever before because of the large amount of lucrative opportunities that surround society. Yet, striving to reach a person's dream can leave him or her miserable and depressed. The unreasonably high standards that people subject themselves to ultimately crushes them. If a person is solely focused on a materialistic dream, and they fail to accomplish it, nothing is supporting their fall.
6. If a person is striving for the “wrong” American Dream, then it will ultimately leave them unsatisfied. However, if a person’s dream is tangible, and they know that the things on earth can not satisfy, they will be content. They must acknowledge that God is the only one who can truly fill the voids in our hearts, not possessions.
Answers:
1. Many people in our interviews described the American dream as being materialistic, self-absorbed, and full of greed. Wealth and status play a large role in the American Dream of today’s society. The mindset of this era is filled with a “get-rich-quick” mindset and that with money, people can achieve anything. If a person is seen as having it all together, they are thought to have the dream. No longer is the dream something that a poor person can achieve
2. The media and the overall society contribute heavily to skewed views of success. They tell people that in order to flourish in life, they must be rich, good-looking, and conniving. Surrounded by this message, people begin to believe that they can be satisfied with material possessions. Also, people are pressured by society to be “great.” Society praises “Great People” and shuns failures.
3. The American Dream has changed from being a hardworking, others-focused dream, to a self and money-seeking one. The old American Dream held onto to high morals such as being well educated and providing for your family. However, the American Dream has become a goal that is centered on money and fame. If a person is lacking is this area, the dream can not be achieved.
4. Greed and self-indulgence feed the American Dream today. This teaches society to only look out for them and what will benefit them in the long run. Looking out for others interests is extremely important for a society to cooperate. It can easily become an obsession to continually get more things. If people hold on to this perspective of the dream, then they will become obsessed.
5. Most people answered that the American Dream has become much more realistic today then ever before because of the large amount of lucrative opportunities that surround society. Yet, striving to reach a person's dream can leave him or her miserable and depressed. The unreasonably high standards that people subject themselves to ultimately crushes them. If a person is solely focused on a materialistic dream, and they fail to accomplish it, nothing is supporting their fall.
6. If a person is striving for the “wrong” American Dream, then it will ultimately leave them unsatisfied. However, if a person’s dream is tangible, and they know that the things on earth can not satisfy, they will be content. They must acknowledge that God is the only one who can truly fill the voids in our hearts, not possessions.
