The Ambiguity of the American Dream and the Shift to Hollywood Dream

Abstract

Celebrities now dominate the American culture. From television shows to household products, Hollywood has burrowed itself into nearly every aspect of people‟s lives. Many people not only want to imitate celebrities, but more and more want to actually become celebrities, too. This growing trend has impacted the attitudes and aspirations of different nations‟ youth, shifting from the once-revered hard-working American Dream to the ego-driven Hollywood Dream. This change did not happen overnight; it has been hundreds of years in the making, but has accelerated with a series of events in the last two decades. History shows that societal and cultural attitudes tend to shift over time. While humans all share the same basic biology needs, major occurrences like wars, economic conditions and technological advancements shape each generation‟s view of the world.