American culture

Novel: The Great Gatsby

            American novels help the reader see a vivid image of the American society and experience. For example, The Great Gatsby provides a comprehensive knowledge that America is materialism society. The novel shows a big difference between millionaires who existed in 1920s (West Egg) and old aristocracy (east Egg). West Egg is the newly rich who lacked social graces while East Egg is old aristocracy and individuals who pose elegance (Batchelor, 2014). From the novel, materialism in America still exists. All characters in the novel are materialistic and wealth creates social classes. Materialism and social classes makes the American dream to collapse since the way of life is defined by wealth and prosperity. Americans believes that American dream should change the way of living and allow all people enjoy rights and pursuit of happiness. However, materialism has made American to belong to the affluent people (Batchelor, 2014).

 

Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird by Robert Mulligan

When you watch this film, you will understand that America is a racism society. According to the film, during the depression era there was separation of races and black people were not allowed to socialize with whites. There was a social hierarchy where the black community was discriminated and could not enjoy social benefits. There was social class division in Macomb society and institutional spheres in the society (Mulligan, 1962). In modern America, racism is a big issue which is poisoning the society. Black people in America are referred to as inferior no matter their education, wealth or even prominence. Racism in America is structural- it is expressed in macro level where white supremacy is interconnected with power to oppress minority society. There are racial stereotypes which result to social inequality in different setting such health care, politics and education (Mulligan, 1962).

 

Reference

Batchelor, B. (2014). Gatsby: The cultural history of the great American novel. Scarecrow Press,

Mulligan R. (1962).  To Kill a Mockingbird.

Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYVsy_ctYE&list=PLoGRHOir1bt5JCGrlYCdE2WR3lmHOblhd