Z is…
- 19 Years-Old
- Female, Cisgender
- Indigenous
- Hispanic/Latina
- South American
- Atheist
- Lower Middle Class
- Bisexual
Author’s Note
My project tells the story of the American Dream through three advertisements. These advertisements are disruptive because they present powerful images and elicit emotions in the viewers, which challenge the more traditional narrative about the American Dream, that you can achieve upward mobility with hard work. The subject of my interview discussed her family’s immigration to the United States from South America in pursuit of their American Dream. Based on her viewpoint, I drew inspiration for the advertisements on the billboards.
The advertisements tell the story of immigrants coming to America, what they find when they get here, and how the American Dream is a fallacy. The airline company’s advertisement seeks to sell the idea of the American Dream to immigrants. The image of Uncle Sam challenges its viewer to come to America, where they too can obtain a house with a white picket fence, and a fancy car—the stereotypical images of prosperity.
The second advertisement reflects the reality of today’s America—the high cost of home ownership and the exorbitant cost of education, means many have to resort to borrowed money. With poor credit history and low- wage earners, companies such as “loaners” prey on these individuals with usurious rates. The final advertisement reflects that the American Dream has died, and the funeral home image presents a caustic commentary on the demise. As noted by my interviewee, the American Dream is an idea sold to people—a marketing scheme. The chance for individuals to achieve economic success with hard work has diminished and died.