American Values
Both articles, "America 2000: Fast and Furious Fun" by Jerry Adler and "Shopping" by Don DeLillo, examine various things that Americans value as a society. It may seem at first that articles are quite different, given the content variations, however, there is a similarity in purpose that authors are trying to achieve and the audience that they target. Clearly, both authors take a look at what is available to people in the US in terms of fun and entertainment, trying to address a younger portion of middle class Americans. In their own ways, Addler and DeLillo show various aspects of American live in all its richness, wealth and excessiveness. However, there is a hidden message between the lines that is common to both articles and it emphasizes a troubling trend within the society. In my opinion, authors attempt to show that US as a culture has become highly commercialized and at the rate thing are going US will soon be viewed by the world as unintelligent, exuberant, and irresponsible nation. The current entertainment and consumer retail industries in the US are the biggest insult to basic human intelligence. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week average American is being target by unavoidable and an
Apparently, US economy is in the best shape it has been in years. However, the overall prosperity and well being unfortunately become a base for ever-growing greed and exuberance in American culture. Without a doubt, Las Vegas, the city that is closely associated with American life style, is a good example of that. In Adlers article, he indicates that huge flows of cash are being poured into the world's capital of gambling. New multimillion-dollar hotels are rising at constantly growing rate. Hotels that mimic ancient cities like Rome, Venice and Luxor are pilling up with a fresh infusion of modern life - roller coasters. However, what author does not mention explicitly but certainly has in mind is that such developments destroy uniqueness and sentimental values of the city. Thus, enormous mega-projects of Las Vegas compromise the quality of entertainment that it has to offer. Another sign of over excessiveness roots in American culture are seen in Jack, a hero of Don DeLillo's article "Shopping". Jack describes how, when unable to decide between two shirts he would purchase both of them. Fascinated with a coil of rope he buys it for no apparent reason, "...just to have it around." He confirms that he regains some kind of self-confidence with every new purchase no matter how pointless it may be. The author notes that the more Jack buys the less important it seems how much he spends. The process itself is what he seems to be enjoying, the process of exchanging money for goods that makes him feel expensive. Thus, the desire for more and bigger but not necessarily better is quite apparent in many modern Americans. To conclude,
Some common words found in the essay are:
Addler DeLillo, Las Vegas, White House, Shopping Jack, Don DeLillo, Venice Luxor, Steward Gods, Americans Irresponsibility, Values Culture, american culture, Year's Eve, las vegas, shopping jack, compromise quality, deep inside, adlers article,
Approximate Word count = 1105
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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