Author, Stuart Ewen, in his essay “Chosen People” talks about how the middle class has fooled America. The middle class is presented as an imaginary structure in American society. The middle class is an illusion to Americans; it has changed the meaning of the American dream. Ewen throughout his essay shows how the middle class was created in the United States. Ewen then moves the industrial revolution created, such as the perceptions. With the two perceptions then came the two ways to identify class. Ewen begins by presenting the American Express Gold Card.
Ewen presents the gold card as an example, of how “luxuries” can appeal to Americans. Ewen states, “The promise of ‘unspoken prestige’ that runs through this elegant packet of junk mail …show more content…
They have made up an imaginary class that is made up of materialistic people. He introduces the “yuppies” in the 1980’s as, “Amid a declining standard of living for many, these young professionals- many of whom are employed by the new ‘information industries’- scramble to surround themselves with the ever changing ‘latest’ in designer clothing, consumer electronics, and other commodified symbols of the good life” (196). He is basically saying that people were buying items to be a part of the “dream.” Authors R. Wilburn Clouse, Terry Goodin, Joseph Aniello, Charles Stowe, and Noel McDowell also disagree with the American dream, but extend on how the American dream has changed. In the article, “Living the American Dream: But What is It?” they explain how the American Dream has changed in housing and education. They state, “People now are beginning to congregate in large numbers per acre as opposed to smaller numbers per acre in previous generations.” (Clouse et al. 27). They explain that the dream has changed, by stating people who have left the crowded cities to live the American Dream are moving back. The dream is changing, before dreamers wanted to live in a big house with their family, unlike today where they share land. Education has also changed the American dream according to Clouse, before people were eager to go to big universities to gain a degree for a career. They suggest this dream has changed, “To some extent, the American educational system has become disconnected from the real issues of the American society and the world economy. We are creating large numbers of college graduates for which there are limited job opportunities” (Clouse et al. 28). They are basically saying that the American dream has changed since jobs are being limited. Ewen and these authors both demonstrate faults in the American dream but in different time
Ewen presents the gold card as an example, of how “luxuries” can appeal to Americans. Ewen states, “The promise of ‘unspoken prestige’ that runs through this elegant packet of junk mail …show more content…
They have made up an imaginary class that is made up of materialistic people. He introduces the “yuppies” in the 1980’s as, “Amid a declining standard of living for many, these young professionals- many of whom are employed by the new ‘information industries’- scramble to surround themselves with the ever changing ‘latest’ in designer clothing, consumer electronics, and other commodified symbols of the good life” (196). He is basically saying that people were buying items to be a part of the “dream.” Authors R. Wilburn Clouse, Terry Goodin, Joseph Aniello, Charles Stowe, and Noel McDowell also disagree with the American dream, but extend on how the American dream has changed. In the article, “Living the American Dream: But What is It?” they explain how the American Dream has changed in housing and education. They state, “People now are beginning to congregate in large numbers per acre as opposed to smaller numbers per acre in previous generations.” (Clouse et al. 27). They explain that the dream has changed, by stating people who have left the crowded cities to live the American Dream are moving back. The dream is changing, before dreamers wanted to live in a big house with their family, unlike today where they share land. Education has also changed the American dream according to Clouse, before people were eager to go to big universities to gain a degree for a career. They suggest this dream has changed, “To some extent, the American educational system has become disconnected from the real issues of the American society and the world economy. We are creating large numbers of college graduates for which there are limited job opportunities” (Clouse et al. 28). They are basically saying that the American dream has changed since jobs are being limited. Ewen and these authors both demonstrate faults in the American dream but in different time