american dream
Inhaltsverzeichnis |
Links
Mindmap: The American Dream
Madonna: American Life
Explain the function of the massive use of questions in "American life"!
Collected Ideas
- Make audience think about questions
- Express a generally doubtful attitude about the American dream
- What do I have to live the American dream?
- Express the insecurity of the speaker
- all the changes in questions affect how you are seen by others
Final answer
In Madonna’s song American life are many questions that have a special meaning. Generally these questions express a doubtful attitude towards the American dream, which is not clearly defined. The speaker wonders if the attitude of the American dream fits him/her at all. (l. 7) Furthermore he wonders what she has to do to live the American dream and even thinks about changing her name. (l. 1) This shows the extreme insecurity of the speaker, who is almost willing to give up her identity. Doing this would all mean to change the impression that you make on other people. Audience may find that opportunistic or at least strange or sad. All in all these questions aim at making the reader doubt the American dream and try to find answers to these questions. Some readers may see themselves in these lines and critically rethink their own attitude towards the American dream.
What is the special effect of the rap section (2nd part of song)?)
Collected Ideas on tone and content
- machine-like sound of the rap part
- shows how fast modern life moves on
- list of fashionable or trendy materialist items/ goods that you must have ==> critisism
- speed of song is confusing as modern life is
- contrast between first and second part of the text: doubts vs. reality of the American Dream
- contrast between "I am satisfied" (repeated 4 times) and "Do you think I am satisfied ?"
- "I just realized that nothing is what it seems" finally shows her attitude towards the American Dream, which is not what it should be
