American Dream Research Articles

Different perspectives on Latin American identity

The given research article deals with the discussion of issues concerning the identity of the Latin American people by examining its history and cultural representations as well as modern perceptions. Latin American people had a mixture of cultures in their own identity, as many ethnicities, such as pre-Columbian civilizations, colonial Europe, Africans, and contemporary socio-political movements, influenced them. To undertake this investigation, the study explores diverse multicultural views originating from different regions and people from social, political, and ethnic origins to acquire a perfect understanding of what it means to be a Latin American individual. This is evident in demonstrating the influence of the colonial past, the rich heritage of indigenous and African communities, and the dynamic nature of identity in provoking the problems of the present day as characterized by globalization, immigration, and change in leadership. Based on the case studies of Brazil, Mexico, and Bolivia, the article emphasizes that despite the diverse members of the region’s population, the residents continue to strive to create a united Latin American subject. The conclusion reiterates the authors’ approach to embracing this complex history and the fight for social justice in creating a united and integrated Latin American people.

The representation of African American identity on screen for a Spanish audience

Existing studies of translations of audio-visual productions that explore African American issues focus exclusively on African American Vernacular English and culturally specific references, the standardisation or omission of which are seen to compromise the originals’ critique of race and their value for in-group identity. This article takes a multimodal approach to three such productions dubbed for a Spanish audience. Firstly, it examines how characters’ African American identity is rendered not only by language but also visually and aurally. Comprehension in dubbed versions is more likely to be affected by non-linguistic matters, such as casting of voice talent. Secondly, it is shown how translations shape the audio-visual creation of a fictional world and extra-diegetic elements that address a particular audience and thus enable in-group identification along ethnic lines. Lastly, an alternative translation strategy is outlined that targets audiences from the international Black diaspora to whom such productions might appeal.

American Dreams, American Nightmares: Culture and Crisis in Residential Real Estate from the Great Recession to the COVID-19 Pandemic

American Dreams, American Nightmares: Culture and Crisis in Residential Real Estate from the Great Recession to the COVID-19 Pandemic

National identity in Italian westerns and post-westerns

Since Schatz defined the western genre as America’s foundation ritual, several film critics have emphasized the role of the western as a foundational fiction. Interestingly enough, just like American westerns deal with American identity and its foundational myth, one can find westerns and post-westerns made in other countries that are also concerned with these countries’ national identities. This article analyses how spaghetti westerns set in the United States deal metaphorically with Italian identity and foundational myths, and how post-western films set in Italy approach similar topics more directly. The article considers several films, by directors like Pietro Germi, Sergio Sollima, Florestano Vancini or Pasquale Squitieri, from the perspective of transnational post-westerns in order to scrutinize the way they deal with the difficulties of integration of the North and the South of Italy and present different perspectives on the Italian foundational myth of Risorgimento.

Celebrating Polish American Identity

Celebrating Polish American Identity

Excavating Myth and Memory in Congressional Papers

ABSTRACT Congressional papers constitute some of the most unique archival collections to find their way into American repositories. Often voluminous, complex, and appended by donor stipulations and financial considerations, they have been the subject of decades’ worth of archival conferences, scholarship, legislation, and practical manuals. These discussions have long upheld the belief that congressional papers retain inherent research and historic value, largely due to their documentation of legislative processes and topical subject areas. This article interrogates the origins of that presumptive value, positing that archivists have customarily drawn on traditional narratives of American identity and democratic governance to justify and inform the acquisition, appraisal, processing, and deployment of congressional collections. The article first reviews the robust history of the congressional papers community, surveying the evolution of rhetoric around archivists’ assignation of inherent value to congressional papers and critically examining the ways in which that value is shaped by American practices of myth-making. Drawing from memory studies and concepts of the mythic imagination, the article then problematizes the passivity of American democracy in congressional archival praxis, taking into account burgeoning national reckonings and re-reckonings with the nature of American government itself. Implicating archival praxis in the perpetuation of narratives that do not reflect or represent the current state of the nation, the article then suggests modes of alternative intervention for archivists working with congressional papers, calling for a critically contextual reimagining of the field.

The American Dream, the Dream of America

The American Dream has long been a symbol of hope and opportunity for individuals seeking a better life in the United States. This dream encompasses the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or social status, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. It is a driving force behind the founding principles of the nation and has inspired generations of immigrants and citizens alike. Through The Dream of America anyone can achieve their goals and create a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Throughout history, the American Dream has been a central theme in literature, art, and popular culture. It has been depicted as the ultimate goal to strive for, the beacon of hope in times of hardship, and the driving force behind countless success stories. The Dream of America has been a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world, who see the United States as a land of opportunity and a place where dreams can become reality. However, the American Dream is not without its critics. Many argue that it is an unattainable ideal that perpetuates inequality and social division. They point to the disparities in wealth, education, and opportunity that exist in American society and argue that the Dream of America is nothing more than a myth designed to keep people striving for an unattainable goal.

Walt Wittman: The Universal Poet and the American Ideal - A Socio-Cognitive Analysis

Walt Whitman is one of America's most iconic poets. He is renowned for his innovative and linguistic style, which embodies the spirit of revolution. His poem "Song of Myself" from his collection "Leaves of Grass" captures the essence of this revolutionary spirit, as it challenges traditional norms and explores the possibilities of realizing the American ideal. The study delves into the process of power and its ability to regenerate a sense of life. This analysis not only sheds light on Whitman's unique use of language and form but also explores how his poetry captures the possibilities of realizing the American ideal. Whitman’s use of the present participial form in the closing lines of "Song of Myself," where he writes "I stop somewhere waiting for you," is a prime example of his innovative linguistic style and his vision of the present being connected to both the past and the future. This paper attempts to analyze this poem in the light of socio-cognitive approach.

Syntactic and Rhetorical Analysis of Joe Biden’s Inaugural Speech at Washington D.C.

Inaugural speech is the first chance for a president to engage the public in new strategies for success. Every inaugural speech is an example of the aims and objectives of the future. As president of America, Joe Biden has faced many challenges, including foreign affairs, a poor economy due to COVID-19, and, most importantly, American unity. The focus of the present investigation is to lead a stylistic examination from the viewpoint of syntax and rhetoric on Joe Biden's inaugural speech in Washington,D.C., on January 21, 2021. The researchers discovered that the speech is full of rhetorical and syntactic devices. The analysis revealed that the speech emphasized on unity and solidarity to preserve and promote American Identity through the excessive use of First-person pronouns and planned use of similes, repetitions, modality and conjunction. In this way, Biden made his speech productive and readily revealed his plans and motives to his audience.

Facing the world as it is? On irony and (counter)terrorism

ABSTRACT Terrorism and counterterrorism are often described as “ironic”, but conceptual engagement with irony has been very limited. Building on the lifework of cultural anthropologist Joseba Zulaika, this article considers irony as an analytical meta-perspective in the critical study of (counter)terrorism. It draws on the life and work of German-American Christian ethicist Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) to argue that the ironies of (counter)terrorism under U.S. president Barack Obama, who admired Niebuhr, point to an unconscious failure of collective self-understanding. Dissolving these ironies requires new narratives of American identity that cut across foreign and domestic politics, state and non-state actors, the “war on terror” and white supremacy in a long view of history. Facilitating this multidirectional process of self-reflection and -transcendence is a key task for critical scholars of (counter)terrorism.

The Impact of Islamophobia on the Education and Religious Identity of Muslims in the USA

The experiences of Islamophobia among Muslims in Western countries, especially in the United States, escalated rapidly following the aftermath of 9/11. This study aims to investigate the Islamophobia experiences of American Muslims and its impact on their education and religious identity. By employing a systematic literature review, this research indicates that the challenges endured by Muslims not only complicated the reconciliation between their Muslim and American identities but also impeded the proper education of Muslim children. In the resurgence of Neo-racism, Muslims have experienced numerous adversities, ranging from hostile stares to the extent of being deported. Muslims have responded to this in various ways, such as hiding their Muslim identities or educating themselves and non-Muslims about Islam. Muslim women have been subjected to unfortunate incidents, including staying indoors, removing their headscarves, and facing negative perceptions in the mainstream American media. Muslim children have encountered difficulties in their education due to misconceptions about Islam both in the media and school curriculum. Although completely eradicating Islamophobia from the USA may be an unrealistic goal, it is feasible to mitigate its adverse impacts through decent education about Islam. This education could be achieved through elevating the voices of knowledgeable Muslims in the American media, increasing Islamic educational programs on TV, raising awareness among the American public, and integrating details about the origins of Muslims in the USA, the contributions of Muslims to science, the similarities of Islam with other major religions in the USA, and the diverse spectrum within Islam into school curriculums.

Analysis on Bicultural Identities of Chinese Americans Based on Acculturation Theory

Analysis on Bicultural Identities of Chinese Americans Based on Acculturation Theory

Rewriting The American Dream: Ahmet Mithat’s Narrative Of The New World

Rewriting The American Dream: Ahmet Mithat’s Narrative Of The New World

Desis’ identity crisis in America: examining cultural and racial politics in Samira Ahmed’s Love, Hate and Other Filters (2018) and Sanjena Sathian’s Gold Diggers (2021)

ABSTRACT This paper examines literary representations of Desis, who are commonly associated with the South Asian American diaspora, in terms of their simultaneous identity formations as ethnic Indians and American citizens. It analyses the vulnerabilities of second generation Desis in America while growing up in the post-9/11 era. Poststructuralist philosopher Judith Butler’s concept of a precarious life is critically employed to investigate sociopolitical agendas that underpin racial and cultural othering of Desis. Through a comparative analysis of Samira Ahmed’s Love, Hate and Other Filters (2018) and Sanjena Sathian’s Gold Diggers (2021), the cultural and psychophysical vulnerabilities of the second generation Desis for whom success is configured in the political construct of the American dream are discussed. This critical attention to an emergent genre of Indian diaspora fiction in English paves the way for nuanced understandings of marginal identities within America’s sociopolitical and cultural locales.

Serving diaspora in the homeland: Korean American culinary entrepreneurs in Seoul’s food and beverage industry

ABSTRACT This study examines the culinary entrepreneurship of Korean American ‘returnees’ in Seoul’s food and beverage industry, paying special attention to the identitarian and meaning-making impetuses and consequences that emerge in the production of Asian American food in Seoul. Utilizing in-depth interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, this study finds that ‘returnees’ emphasize their ‘cosmopolitan Koreanness’ in marketing their ventures and products and in explaining the relative success of Korean American entrepreneurs in Seoul. We conclude by exploring how the culinary entrepreneurship of Korean American ‘returnees’ in South Korea both add to and complicate contemporary understandings of Asian American identity, entrepreneurship, and foodways.

Why is this (K)night Different: Passover, Blood, War, and the Conflict Between Jewish and American Identity in Jo Sinclair’s Wasteland and Dara Horn’s All Other Nights

ABSTRACT For hundreds of years, non-Jews have accused Jews of dual identity. Living in the diaspora, Jews were often accused of loyalty to their own religion or people, which sometimes collided with allegiance to the country they lived in. In the U.S. Americans sometimes suspected Jews of preferring their own well-being when having a conflict of interests. In times of war, American non-Jews sometimes perceived Jews as unpatriotic, evading drafts or profiteers. Jews, for their part, highlighted their contribution to America, minimizing their own differences. However, among themselves, they sometimes struggled with a clash between their two identities. This paper analyzes two Jewish American novels that take place during wars – Jo Sinclair’s Wasteland and Dana Horn’s All Other Nights. While the former is set in WWII and the latter in the Civil War, both dramatize the conflict between American and Jewish identity. Examining the tropes of war, blood, and Passover, shared by both novels, I demonstrate that whereas Wasteland sweeps anti-Semitism under the carpet, depicting the conflict as easy to resolve and embracing the army, All Other Nights accentuates the clash between Jewishness and Americanness especially through the army, raising questions about American Jewry which are extremely relevant today.

Multiple Unbelongings: Filipino American Theology and the Problem of Home

After centuries of colonial violence, Filipino American identity and Christianity are characterized by experiences of unbelonging. To show this, I trace these developments historically and sociologically, highlighting pastorally and ecclesially significant ways this unbelonging manifests, as US Filipinos negotiate Christian faith with increasing distance from the Philippines itself. This unbelonging sets Filipino American Christianity and community apart from other Asian Americans, and this uniqueness must be understood in order for Filipino American theology to be grounded contextually. Finally, I demonstrate that Filipino American theology and ministry are works of “home construction,” as the idea of home is continuously contested and reconceived. 1

The Phenomenon of “the Other" in the context of the American Dream in American Proletarian Literature and Left-Wing Political Discourse of the 1920s and 30s

The global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic generated serious social upheavals, intensified the politicization of the literary process and awakens literary discourse, highlighting the “enduring reality" of national identity and social class. The proletarian literature of the USA of the 1920s and 30s and the left-wing political discourse of this period echoing it are a vivid example of understanding these issues in American society and in the life of the common man. This article aims to analyze and summarize the most fundamental aspects of American proletarian literature, as a phenomenon of the 1920s and 30s, and left-wing political discourse, shedding light on the relationship between two phenomena directly related to American identity – the "Other" and the "American Dream". The themes of identity and otherness in American history and literature of this period were critically analyzed using the example of historical documents, literary texts and theoretical studies. The novelty of the study lies in its synthesizing nature; the important aspects and patterns have been identified that combine a body of sources of various scales on the topic of the American Dream and the concept of the Other, relating to individuals or groups who are excluded from the idealized vision of success due to the existence of systemic obstacles to access to the same opportunities and results that the mainstream or dominant culture possesses. The results of the study open the way for further literary studies of the broader socio-political contexts that shaped the production and perception of proletarian literature, and their significance for the modern understanding of American society and the social challenges that it faces.

Lured by the American Dream: Filipino Servants in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, 1952–1970

Lured by the American Dream: Filipino Servants in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, 1952–1970

A Progressive History of American Democracy since 1945: American Dreams, Hard Realities

A Progressive History of American Democracy since 1945: American Dreams, Hard Realities