What We Hope to Achieve Through this Project

Why We Chose the Topic

  At first, we thought that East Asian culture— especially South Korean— had went under a significant influence of the American Dream. We expected to do a critical research on this, and found out actual problems that fit our concerns. However, there were other aspects of East Asian culture that could potentially solve the following problems of the American Dream and global capitalism. Seeing the problems of our society faces by practicing global capitalism allowed us to understand the negative aspects of the American Dream. Plus, the increasing demand on past traditional practice of philosophy or culture in East Asian countries along with the growing influence of East Asian trends on a global scale could be interpreted as the fade and shift of the American Dream. 

Why Understanding the Changing Face of the American Dream Matters to Us

  We are living in a global society where one force/trend does not stay within a nation. Thus, the American Dream that once dominated not only the nation US but also other societies and the change of this dominant trend has directly/indirectly influenced our way of thinking and life as a whole. Therefore, by understanding its shift in modern days, we can act more independently, not just unconsciously conforming to such double-sided concept. 

What We Hope to Achieve in Future by this Project

  The American Dream was a dream that was not equal to all from the beginning. We hope to prevent our new trend or future trends in East Asia to be conscious about it and try to avoid such injustice. Thus, we find it our duty to stay critical on such social trend and share this view with others. This website is the product of our collective goal and research.

  Below are the answers of each of our group members about their future goals:

  Changho, Cai : By reading American literary works to enhance my understanding of American culture, and based on this, I will try to look at the various phenomena of the United States from more angles. I also hope to improve my English ability in this process.

  Da-eun, Jeong : As a person who is majoring in literature, I hope to better understand American culture and life through this project.

  Jieun, Lee : By recognizing the problems of American Dream from this project, I want myself to abandon desire for buying things.

  Junwoo, Jung : I hope to develop critical thinking skills and apply them at the right time. Also, I think being able to read between the lines of books, movies and other media that promote the ideology of America in the subtlest levels is an important attitude that I should develop.

  Seoyoung, Lee : This project of critically thinking on the subject of the American Dream was very practical and encouraged me to be responsible on my acts, as I believe they are all directly/indirectly influenced by the social reality that I face. As I dream of a creator/social influencer on a certain field, I will keep this critical view on social trends in mind and cautiously handle such issues when I myself practice or create new trends.