the 1950s american dream essay

The American Cinema of the 1950s can be noted for its various portrayals of masculinity and dominating consumer culture geared toward male gender. Arguably hidden behind punks and gangsters was a class of defiant girls who subverted the gender ideals of the time and are evidenced through a series of “Bad Girl” films. The bad girl film cycle is one of the latter trends of the ‘50s Social Problem film and an examination of this cycle will provide theoretical speculation regarding its influence on the

America: the land of equal opportunity? The American dream has caused many people to believe in something that is not necessarily achievable. The American Dream is similar to a contract that claims in order to have a good life you must work hard for it, but the small text “Terms and Conditions” says otherwise. These Terms and Conditions are racial profiling, gender discrimination, status, and a certain time period in the United States. These factors limit people's opportunities to improve their quality

publication in 1951. Its contemporary critics, however, gave the novel mixed reviews. Compared to the ideals of 1950s America, Holden Caulfield, the emotionally immature, extremely judgmental, teen-aged main character of “Catcher,” embodies the antithesis. Holden was an affront to the new social order, which demanded conformity and propagated the “father knows best” mentality. Americans, however, despite the postwar economic boom, remained suspicious of authority. In idyllic suburban neighborhoods

is about a poor African-American family living in the southside of Chicago in the 1950s that is on a situation where they received a large life insurance check from their father’s death. Each member of the family has his or her own ideas with spending of the money, and they also have their own struggles that they need to deal with. In this play, Hansberry embedded many hidden meanings that are used to expertly express the family's situation and each of their hopes, dreams, and conflicts. Symbol that

that his outfit, which reflects 1950’s clothing style, coordinates with the colour-palette of his home. This is significant as fashion became incredibly influential in the 1950’s and became a way to show conformity. The coordination also provides a clean look and ties Truman to the environment he is in, this is ironic as Truman is unable to leave Seahaven. Further along in the scene we view an array of white picket fences, giving another reference to the American dream, as well as clean and neat paved

James Truslow Adams defines the American dream as the: "dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances

development of African-American drama since the Second World War. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by African-American author which was set on Broadway and was honored by the circle of New York theater critics. Drama of A Raisin in the Sun (1959) brought Hansberry to the Award Society of New York Critics as the best play of the year. A Raisin in the Sun shows the life of an ordinary African-American family which dreams of happiness and their desire to achieve their dream. A Raisin in the Sun

The 1950s were defined by security, social advancement, and social change, in the home and racial fronts. Speakers such as Joseph McCarthy drew out the remains of the Red Scare, and controversy influenced the public over the American dream and how the Cold War had changed it. The 1950s were an era of social conformity, proven by the suburban middle-class lifestyle and threat of wartime possibilities. During the Cold War security was never guaranteed, and as a result during the 1950s people grasped

Life in the 1950s was a simple time. People were simple, people wanted simple, and products for people were simple. For their everyday products, people were inventing new and improved ways to make simple life tasks easier. In this time period, everyone claimed that their product was the number one, and the cheapest to the common person. With each brand of cigarettes, alcohol, type of home appliance, and name of cars, everyone wanted their product to the the best one out there. With examples such

the Korean War (1950-1953) was a direct outcome of the Cold War; as U.S. forces fought to stem the expansion of communism Tension heated up again in 1957 when the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first earth orbiting satellite America responded with Explorer 1, as the Space Race took the Arms Race into outer space Fear of nuclear Armageddon was matched by widespread anxiety about the spread of communism This was the era of Senator Joseph McCarthy who led a witch hunt against alleged communist sympathizers