The American Dream, Dawn Depouli

The term, “30 Thousand Dollar Millionaire” is used to describe people who spend money lavishly while in public, but live either mediocre or poor lives in private. Perceived wealth in America conveys prestige. Luxury cars, expensive watches and classy clothing are all markers of a person living the American dream. People in America will kill themselves to obtain just the mere illusion of wealth.

Prestige, in America, is heavily dependent upon your career. Certain careers produce nearly limitless amounts of prestige, such as being a politician or doctor. Other careers can be shaming in our society, particularly the older you get; for instance, working with fast-food or being a valet driver. Wealth and prestige play a combined role in American culture.

Power, it seems, derives from the proper use of actual wealth. For example, wealth can be invested in starting a business, which in turn equates into power; which power, according to the text, is the capacity to persuade individuals to accomplish tasks they would not otherwise accomplish. The powerful railroad and steel tycoons had immense power in historical America, just as the oil tycoons exhibit nearly limitless power in our society today.

Concerning my subculture, I find substantial differences from the accepted norms of American society. My subculture encompasses a variety of different people with only one similarity, the ability to play music. In my subculture, wealth is determined more by the beauty of an object rather than the price. Prestige is obtained through skill rather than status. Power only becomes possible if you are indeed a capable leader. Though we may gain wealth, prestige and power from the stage, we do not fancy ourselves as a part of this society. We have abandoned the American dream in favor of something more real, something tangible; a world where friendships do last a life time, a world where you can finally be who you are at the very core of your being. Music brings all types of people together, and from that vantage point we are able to take the good from different cultures, and leave the bad somewhere behind us.