Frank Hu
�The American Dream by Wim Wenders
Wenders does not believe in the American Dream. For him, the American Dream is merely a set of images America projects on other countries, leading outsiders to believe the United States is a land where one can realize a better life. But the images that America advertises worldwide end up being entirely superficial for Wenders. He believes that America has reduced itself to a land of big business and 24 hour advertising not just on commercials, but within regular TV programming, as well as film. People who end up staying in the United States end up forgetting what the Dream is all about and instead become sell-outs to a glitzy world of advertising and commercialism. The American Dream is lost.
According to the essay (or poem?), Wenders describes his interaction with the USA as one of careful observation, but not necessarily interaction. One cannot understand what America is about by simply watching TV and movies, there is more to it. Commercialization and entertainment are massive factors in the American experience, but that stuff is not mutually exclusive to the States, its present all over the world. My problem with Wenders thoughts is that he can understand the American Dream by simply driving across the country, watching TV, and watching movies. Hes thinking too much like a filmmaker.
In Alice and the Cities, we see Wenders distaste for commercialization. In The American Friend, we see a stark contrast between a feisty American and a down to earth German. What does this say about America? What does this say about Wenders? Discuss?