annaiswriting, 10/26

        During class on Tuesday, we discussed Louis Althusser and his analysis of ideology. While talking about his work, I found the concept of an ideology being an imaginary relationship between individuals and their real lives intriguing. I immediately thought about the concept of the American Dream because this dream seems to be an ideology that dominates many people’s lives in this country. Due to the overarching idea of the American Dream in our culture, many people believe that they can be successful as long as they work hard. Even though hard work can pay off, and it is possible for a person to earn more than their parents made, the different social classes that individuals are born into give some people an immensely high chance of achieving the American Dream, while also giving some people a low chance of achieving this dream. The American Dream is a dominant ideology in the United States of America because people believe that hard work will guarantee success. Rather than criticizing how capitalism makes it difficult for people from lower-income backgrounds to move up in social class, many people continue working hard in the capitalist system because they want to believe that if they work hard they will achieve the American Dream, even though that is not always the case.

        While reflecting on and criticizing the dominant ideology of the American Dream, I thought about the song “American Dream” by MKTO, as it demonstrates how artists have used their talents to criticize dominant ideologies, such as the American Dream. The song begins with the words, “do something with your life,” showing the importance of career success in the United States of America. MKTO sings, “and we don't want two kids and a wife, no I don't want a job, I just want a life” criticizing the common idea in the American Dream that getting married and having children is a necessity for happiness and success. MKTO also criticizes the idea of career success being the only way to live a happy life. This song has a catchy tune that keeps the audience listening to the song on repeat, allowing the audience to hear MKTO’s critique of American society and the dominant ideology of the American Dream. 

Link to the Music Video of “American Dream” by MKTO 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPLeuBXoPXI