Introduction to ArtificiaI Intelligence in Higher Education
Dtthe american dream2
1. The American Dream: ForThe American Dream: For
Better or for Worse?Better or for Worse?
(Prompt 1, 2, 3)(Prompt 1, 2, 3)
By Danny TeichBy Danny Teich
2. What is the American Dream?What is the American Dream?
The American Dream is somebody’s hope for theThe American Dream is somebody’s hope for the
future. It is a dream of living a life where onefuture. It is a dream of living a life where one
wakes up every morning feeling happy with his orwakes up every morning feeling happy with his or
her life and looking forward to every day. Theher life and looking forward to every day. The
specific dream is different for almost everyspecific dream is different for almost every
individual.individual.
The “American Dream”, despite its name, is notThe “American Dream”, despite its name, is not
exclusively American. The concept of theexclusively American. The concept of the
American Dream is a dream that is shared byAmerican Dream is a dream that is shared by
individuals all around the world.individuals all around the world.
3. Examples of DreamersExamples of Dreamers
-Pablo Picasso, Spanish 19-Pablo Picasso, Spanish 19thth
-20-20thth
centurycentury
painterpainter
-Jay Gatsby, wealthy literary character in-Jay Gatsby, wealthy literary character in
The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
--Kurt Cobain, lead singer of NirvanaKurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana
4. The American Dream can have veryThe American Dream can have very
positive or very negative effectspositive or very negative effects
The American Dream is generally a lofty goal. It requiresThe American Dream is generally a lofty goal. It requires
hard work and dedication, and it should also givehard work and dedication, and it should also give
purpose to one’s life. However, not all dreams comepurpose to one’s life. However, not all dreams come
true, and sometimes, an initial dream may turn out to betrue, and sometimes, an initial dream may turn out to be
worse than what one expected.worse than what one expected.
In pursuing the American Dream, people may findIn pursuing the American Dream, people may find
success, purpose, and happiness through their work, butsuccess, purpose, and happiness through their work, but
may also experience failure, regret, and depression.may also experience failure, regret, and depression.
5. Pursuing Your Dreams: Pros andPursuing Your Dreams: Pros and
ConsCons
ProsPros
-You can spend your life doing-You can spend your life doing
what you love, living the life youwhat you love, living the life you
desire.desire.
-Actively pursuing hopes and-Actively pursuing hopes and
dreams brings purpose anddreams brings purpose and
determination into your life.determination into your life.
-The harder you work towards-The harder you work towards
achieving your dreams, the moreachieving your dreams, the more
likely they are to become reality.likely they are to become reality.
-Purpose and passion can be-Purpose and passion can be
discovered and expressed evendiscovered and expressed even
through dreams that do notthrough dreams that do not
become reality.become reality.
Cons
-Not all dreams come true.
Many people have overly
ambitious dreams, only to learn
the hard way that they would
not happen.
-Be careful what you wish for;
dreams are not always as
wonderful as one initially
imagines.
-If one pursues a dream too
intensely, s/he may leave
behind the rest of a life s/he
could have had.
6. Picasso Blue Period: Not All DreamsPicasso Blue Period: Not All Dreams
Come TrueCome True
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter
and dreamer. However, in the early
1900s, his dreams were temporarily
broken. His paintings were not selling
and he was nearly in poverty, and a good
friend of his committed suicide.
Picasso expressed his sorrow and
depression in almost all-blue paintings in
a period of time known as his Blue
Period. The paintings (Clockwise from
top left, The Old Guitarist, Portrait on
Angel Fernandez de Soto, and Femme
Aux Bras Croises).
Picasso illustrated through his Blue
Period that pursuing the American
Dream, or whatever one’s own dream
might be, can become a problem and
can lead to failure.
7. Picasso Rose Period: Expression andPicasso Rose Period: Expression and
Purpose through Failure and VictoryPurpose through Failure and Victory
Pablo Picasso’s dreams took a turn for the better inPablo Picasso’s dreams took a turn for the better in
1904. His depression faded upon entering a new1904. His depression faded upon entering a new
relationship, and he began his Rose Period.relationship, and he began his Rose Period.
While he had emphasized his sadness with blueWhile he had emphasized his sadness with blue
paintings during his Blue Period, Picasso illustrated thatpaintings during his Blue Period, Picasso illustrated that
he was becoming cheerier from 1904 onward. Hishe was becoming cheerier from 1904 onward. His
paintings were more brightly colored, with an emphasispaintings were more brightly colored, with an emphasis
on orange and rose-red.on orange and rose-red.
Although Picasso’s dreams appeared to have beenAlthough Picasso’s dreams appeared to have been
crushed in 1901-1903, he persevered, kept followingcrushed in 1901-1903, he persevered, kept following
the dream, and discovered just how rewarding it couldthe dream, and discovered just how rewarding it could
be to continue that pursuit.be to continue that pursuit.
Paintings:Paintings: Garçon à la pipeGarçon à la pipe (Top),(Top), Family ofFamily of
Saltimbanques.Saltimbanques.
8. Picasso Blue Period: Not All DreamsPicasso Blue Period: Not All Dreams
Come TrueCome True
One of Picasso’s most famous paintings, “The
Old Guitarist”, is shown on the left.
Picasso was having difficulty pursuing his
dreams due to poor sales and the suicide of his
good friend. He expressed this sorrow in his
“Blue Period”
The man’s miserable physical condition reflect
his poverty and sadness. The almost-pure blue
color of the painting was also used to convey
depression and dullness. The one non-blue thing
is the guitar, which is the last hope in the man’s
life.
9. Picasso Rose Period: Expression andPicasso Rose Period: Expression and
Purpose through Failure and VictoryPurpose through Failure and Victory
Garçon à la pipeGarçon à la pipe (Boy With a Pipe), shown(Boy With a Pipe), shown
left, is a painting by Picasso during his Roseleft, is a painting by Picasso during his Rose
Period.Period.
In contrast to his Blue Period paintings, theIn contrast to his Blue Period paintings, the
boy in this work appears to be strong andboy in this work appears to be strong and
confident. The painting uses bright colors;confident. The painting uses bright colors;
shades of red and orange, which give theshades of red and orange, which give the
impression of a bright future.impression of a bright future.
The boy is also wearing a headband ofThe boy is also wearing a headband of
flowers, and there are flowers in theflowers, and there are flowers in the
background, emphasizing the beauty ofbackground, emphasizing the beauty of
people’s surroundings and the growth ofpeople’s surroundings and the growth of
Picasso’s hopes.Picasso’s hopes.
10. Gatsby’s First Dream: Hard WorkGatsby’s First Dream: Hard Work
Pays OffPays Off
““So he invented just the sort of Jay GatsbySo he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby
that a seventeen year old boy would bethat a seventeen year old boy would be
likely to invent, and to this conception helikely to invent, and to this conception he
was faithful to the end.”was faithful to the end.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald–F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream wasJay Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream was
initially to live life to the fullest, to become rich,initially to live life to the fullest, to become rich,
famous, and godlike.famous, and godlike.
Gatsby fulfilled his dream of becoming such aGatsby fulfilled his dream of becoming such a
significant and mysterious person. He becamesignificant and mysterious person. He became
incredibly wealthy and lived a lavish lifestyle.incredibly wealthy and lived a lavish lifestyle.
Gatsby’s dream was liberating to him simplyGatsby’s dream was liberating to him simply
because he was so dedicated to it (“faithful to thebecause he was so dedicated to it (“faithful to the
end”), and would never give up. Having thisend”), and would never give up. Having this
dream and having ambition helped Gatsby livedream and having ambition helped Gatsby live
his dream for a while.his dream for a while.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby
in The Great Gatsby (2013).
11. Gatsby’s Second Dream: Hard WorkGatsby’s Second Dream: Hard Work
Also Causes Hard Falls.Also Causes Hard Falls.
When Gatsby was rich, he lingered forWhen Gatsby was rich, he lingered for
years on a dream that proved to be overlyyears on a dream that proved to be overly
ambitious; he dreamed of winning theambitious; he dreamed of winning the
heart of his true love, Daisy.heart of his true love, Daisy.
When Gatsby followed his dream soWhen Gatsby followed his dream so
intensely, he realized he had nothing leftintensely, he realized he had nothing left
to live for. He clung too hard to the dreamto live for. He clung too hard to the dream
of being with Daisy, and when he failed, itof being with Daisy, and when he failed, it
was a horrible loss for Gatsby.was a horrible loss for Gatsby.
Pursuing dreams and working hard ledPursuing dreams and working hard led
Gatsby to become extremely wealthy.Gatsby to become extremely wealthy.
However, the goal of achieving theHowever, the goal of achieving the
American Dream can become oppressiveAmerican Dream can become oppressive
when it takes over one’s life.when it takes over one’s life.
“…he had lost
the old warm
world, paid a
high price for
living too long
with a single
dream.” –F. Scott
Fitzgerald
12. Kurt Cobain Success: Purpose in LifeKurt Cobain Success: Purpose in Life
““I'm not like themI'm not like them
But I can pretendBut I can pretend
The sun is goneThe sun is gone
But I have a lightBut I have a light
The day is doneThe day is done
But I'm having funBut I'm having fun
I think I'm dumbI think I'm dumb
Or maybe just happy”Or maybe just happy”
The above lyrics are from the song “Dumb”, by Nirvana, written by Kurt Cobain,
the band’s lead singer. Cobain, who came from a family of musicians, had a
dream of becoming a musician himself. In “Dumb”, Cobain emphasizes his victory
and happiness that his career has brought him.
13. Kurt’s Decline: Dreams are NotKurt’s Decline: Dreams are Not
Always What they Appear to Be.Always What they Appear to Be.
I would never bother you I would never bother you
I would never promise toI would never promise to
I will never follow you I will never follow you
I will never bother you I will never bother you
Never say a word again Never say a word again
I will crawl away for goodI will crawl away for good
I will move away from here I will move away from here
You won't be afraid of fear You won't be afraid of fear
No thought was put into thisNo thought was put into this
I always knew it would come to this I always knew it would come to this
Things have never been so swell Things have never been so swell
And I have never failed to failAnd I have never failed to fail
Above are lyrics to “You Know You’re Right” another Nirvana
song sung by Kurt Cobain. Over the years, Cobain had
become more and more depressed with his career, and felt
that it was not what he had hoped for. This song was written
shortly before Cobain committed suicide, and reflects his
dismay with his life and where his dreams have led him.
14. ConclusionConclusion
Pursuing the “American Dream”, or simply pursuingPursuing the “American Dream”, or simply pursuing
one’s dreams can have both positive and negativeone’s dreams can have both positive and negative
effects.effects.
Pablo Picasso experienced failure in his aspirations, asPablo Picasso experienced failure in his aspirations, as
well as success, and he depicted this through his art.well as success, and he depicted this through his art.
Jay Gatsby inJay Gatsby in The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby achieved his dream ofachieved his dream of
becoming wealthy and successful, but was heartbrokenbecoming wealthy and successful, but was heartbroken
after his failed dream to marry Daisy.after his failed dream to marry Daisy.
Kurt Cobain had a successful music career, but hisKurt Cobain had a successful music career, but his
“dream” turned out to not be as good as he had hoped.“dream” turned out to not be as good as he had hoped.
15. ““It's not about how to achieve your dreams,It's not about how to achieve your dreams,
it's about how to lead your life.”it's about how to lead your life.” –Randy–Randy
PauschPausch
