Dysfunction In American Beauty

"There is no religion in which life is not considered a prison; there is no philosophy or ideology that does not think that we live in alienation" (Eugene Ionesco). Alienation is a self inflicted situation and it is very unpleasant, so why would anyone do that to themselves? Marx and Blauner have theories on how people become alienated and these theories can be seen in the film American Beauty.

The definition of the "typical" American family has changed considerably over time. Ever since the age of television dawned on American culture, situation comedies have tried to portray the typical American family in an attempt to reach as many viewers as possible. In the 1950's, there was "Leave It to Beaver" which represented a generic view of the American family during its time. There was a father whose responsibility was to financially support the family and be a role model for his children. There was a mother whose job was that of a typical housewife, taking care of the home and caring for the children. And there were the children who had no responsibilities, except to respect their parents and listen to their advice when

This essay, The Myth of the Model American Family, is a discussion of the concept of an ideal family in the different perspective specifically social, cultural and economic. This is also an attempt to identify the structural changes in relation to the global development and the international economic crisis that immensely created impact on their lives. However, the discussion will limit itself on the different identifiable and observable transformations as manifested in the lifestyles, interrelationships and views of family members and will not seek to provide an assessment of their psycho-social and individual perceptions.

What is the American dream and what does the pursuit of happiness require? America, a country built on the foundation of freedom has established an image that millions from around the world idealize and travel to accomplish their dreams. Nowadays American’s view themselves as individuals with the right and freedom to explore ones identity, rise to riches, or even fall in love and have a family. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, depicts the reality of the American dream by illustrating characteristics of life in West Egg and East Egg, love affairs between characters, and the tragedy of Jay Gatsby.

“Hey Brianna, meet me at 12:00 a.m. in the cafeteria so we can discuss what happened in class today.

The traditional American family comes from the 1950s, when TV shows like Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet were released. They were the model to follow and create the family that the myth promotes. Parents happily married, nice house in suburbia, and a harmonious home are common traits of the model American Family. The myth of the American family creates a template for other families to follow; however, it only reflects to Caucasian families and creates a disappointment on today’s society.

Television shows during the 1950s such as Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best sketched out a rough draft of how families did not actually act. “People did not watch those shows to see their own lives reflected back at them. They watched them to see how families were supposed to live- and to get a little reassurance that they were headed in the right direction” (Coontz 31). This quote directly from the text explains that the American family was not as if television shows made them seem, especially not for minorities and nonmarital

We have all seen the classic television scene, where a happy family consisting of one mother, one father, and two children is hovered around a table or a couch. Although still prominent, this scene is becoming less common nowadays as more families become non-traditional. More families than ever are consisting of one mother and children, one father and children, grandparents and children, and even two mothers or two fathers and children. These households, although not what most people consider a normal household, are becoming more common and regular in today’s society. Homosexual parents and families are indeed different from more traditional families, but not for the worse. This trend is not increasing

Most American’s have grown up with this idea of what a family is supposed to be, how it is structured and how it functions. Throughout time the idea’s have changed and evolved but the ideal “American family” is generally the same. A father, mother, a little boy and girl who live in the suburban’s with the white picket fence. There is this idea that the earlier American family was perfect, or near it. Every person in the family had their place and did their duties. Few toed the line and families stuck together no matter what. That may have been more accurate at a time, but the reason is far from just the idea that times where easier. Families stuck together because of strong religious prohibitions and community norms. This was a time where

Is the American dream accessible to all? In the Jazz age/Modernist novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald suggest through Jay Gatsby, a new-money millionaire with a mysterious past, that its impossible for one to achieve his/her american dream. Fitzgerald narrates the novel through Nick Carraway, a old-money stock broker who has moved out to West Egg, “the less fashionable of the two” for the summer of 1922. The other “Egg”, named after their strange shape, East Egg, is where the old-money rich reside, and where Nick’s cousin, Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan live. Fitzgerald reveals that although there are people that live other American’s American Dream, it is impossible for one to achieve their dream if they are not born into it, by using motifs of the Social Hierarchy and using rhetorical devices such as imagery and symbolism.

The story presumably exploits the struggles and hardships of immigrants in America. Jurgis and co. come to America believing the promises of high wages and good happy living. From the start, they carry on an unshakable faith in this “American Dream” this idea that hard work and morality will gain material success and happiness. As the family

Throughout the vast country that is the United States, many people, unique as they are, have one common goal and want that is the same. For lots of those individuals, that goal is just to get around the immense amount of challenges that one day brings upon them. For many, they will do whatever it takes to provide financially for themselves and or their family, in an attempt to build supportable and desirable lives. This concept is known as the American Dream. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s, Nickled and Dimed and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the American Dream is an everlasting concept that is perceived differently by both of the book’s main characters. Although these two pieces of writing were written in different eras, the characters

Today society displays greater diversity within households. Most American households are now non-traditional or unconventional. Non-traditional or unconventional families include; single parenthood, singlehood and LGBT relationships. Modern family is a comedy exploring the different “modern” families. This show explores a huge unconventional family through a gay couple, made up of Mitchell and Cameron, and their adopted daughter Lily; a straight couple comprised of Phil and Clare, and their three children, Luke, Alex and Hayley; and a multicultural family which is comprised of Jay and his much younger wife Gloria and their son Manny. Modern family explores how the present day family is defined and , modern America means for family members. Despite Modern family’s groundbreaking success in representing non traditional families, the show continues to reinforce heteronormative values through stereotypes of queer identity in regards, gender roles within the relationship, gay adoptive parents and gay marriage.

In Stephanie Coontz’s article, The Way We Weren’t: The Myth and Reality of the “Traditional” Family, she states that many Americans revived the nuclear family ideals that had so disturbed commentators during the 1920s. This disruption was people looking upon the same sex for their companionship and friendship. During this era, this was a normal occurrence, now it is shunned and looked at as though it is morally corrupt. This is not a typical family situation. In today’s society, some people would consider this behavior as non-familial and it would not be described as a “traditional” family

The end of the 18th century was a turbulent time in American history. The country had just won its independence from Great Britain and was attempting to find an identity for itself. Up to this point families in America were similar to British families. The father was the head of the household, but lived in harmony with his wife. The children were seen as part of the