LastName 2
Thesis Statement: Every American and immigrant aspires to achieve the American
Dream, and it is the principle of many of the American icons. Initially, the American Dream
meant having a nice home and a good family, but that has changed over the years. Many
historians have interpreted it as the numerous opportunities that exist in America, which only an
ambitious person can achieve through hard work and determination. Some people chase their
dream through pop culture such as the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Anna Nicole Smith, and Lana
Del Rey. Although the connotation of the Dream has changed, the result remains the same;
achieving success. Many Americans cherish the American Dream, and pop culture represents it.
Pop culture emphasizes the need and importance of this Dream in the minds of its audience.
Happiness was the key goal of the American Dream as James Truslow had indicated in
his book. However, in the modern-day world, people have interpreted it as the procurement of
material things. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, describes how the American
Dream changed from promoting equal opportunity to acquiring more material things. The greed
to acquire more and be better than others has deprived others of the opportunity to grow
themselves(Fitzgerald, F. Scott and Matthew Joseph Bruccoli). Many people turn to pop culture
to help them achieve the new American Dream. Pop culture allows men and women to live in an
upscale setting away from their families and enjoying a degree of abundance and personal
freedom. Most of the Hollywood stars did not have a proper upbringing, and they had to toil hard
to achieve their success. The American dream has led to many people leaving their place of
origin and moving into the U.S. it defines a person’s goal in America and what they want to
