American Dream 2.0
The American Dream 2.0 Project is based entirely around the idea of meritocracy, the original American Dream. Meritocracy was the belief that if one worked hard, they would be rewarded. Similarly, if one was a slacker, they wouldn't get much. But through time America and it's citizens have gone through many changes. Many events made the idea of an American Dream seem lost, and thus the purpose of this project was to redefine a American Dream, and to figure out if it really existed or if it was only a myth.
For this project we as a class decided the best way to showcase our work was through a book. A book about people's stories and opinions revolving around the American Dream. How some people had to struggle to get even a taste of the American Dream, while some had it handed to them from the start. The stories and experiences behind it all is what we decided to base our book around, which led to the creation of The American Dream 2.0: Redefining the Journey.
For this project we as a class decided the best way to showcase our work was through a book. A book about people's stories and opinions revolving around the American Dream. How some people had to struggle to get even a taste of the American Dream, while some had it handed to them from the start. The stories and experiences behind it all is what we decided to base our book around, which led to the creation of The American Dream 2.0: Redefining the Journey.
These then led us into the actual creation of the book, which started with our interviews. Each student was given a task of choosing someone to interview and find out the experiences they went through along with their thoughts of what the American Dream was and if it existed or not. Each interview gave us plenty of information that led into the biographical narrative aspect of the story. We had to turn our interviews into an exciting story from beginning to end in about 2 pages, capturing the interviewee's experience. This proved to be a hard task at first for many of us but we prevailed. Our task of being able to show the experience and not just tell a story about it was essential to being able to create a quality work of art showcased in our book.
Self Evaluation
What is your most important content take-away from this American Dream 2.0 Project? How has it impacted your thinking?
This project has given me a new perspective when thinking of dreams and goals in life in general. My thinking is still unchanged in the sense that I don't know whether the American Dream is available to all or if it's just a myth we all choose to believe in.
What is your most important production take-away from the American Dream 2.0 Project? How has it impacted your skill sets?
My biggest take-away from the project is the realization of how well I can take initiative and accomplish multiple tasks with quality. I now am able to trust myself to take on more difficult tasks and know that I can complete it with a final result that I am proud of.
What part of the Project did you find most challenging? How did you address this challenge?
The most challenging part of this project in my opinion was the creation of the stencils for the crankie aspect. The reason why I felt this was the most difficult is because during our work time I chose to put too much time on quality rather than quantity, which got me very behind in this process. I managed to catch up but I did struggle to do so.
As writing is a huge element in this project, what connections, if any, do you see between your work in this project and your growth as a writer?
I do in fact think my writing has improved significantly with the help of my peers and reading other writing styles and word choice. I am very happy with where my writing skills are now and have many ideas for my writing future.
This project has given me a new perspective when thinking of dreams and goals in life in general. My thinking is still unchanged in the sense that I don't know whether the American Dream is available to all or if it's just a myth we all choose to believe in.
What is your most important production take-away from the American Dream 2.0 Project? How has it impacted your skill sets?
My biggest take-away from the project is the realization of how well I can take initiative and accomplish multiple tasks with quality. I now am able to trust myself to take on more difficult tasks and know that I can complete it with a final result that I am proud of.
What part of the Project did you find most challenging? How did you address this challenge?
The most challenging part of this project in my opinion was the creation of the stencils for the crankie aspect. The reason why I felt this was the most difficult is because during our work time I chose to put too much time on quality rather than quantity, which got me very behind in this process. I managed to catch up but I did struggle to do so.
As writing is a huge element in this project, what connections, if any, do you see between your work in this project and your growth as a writer?
I do in fact think my writing has improved significantly with the help of my peers and reading other writing styles and word choice. I am very happy with where my writing skills are now and have many ideas for my writing future.
Exhibition
Our exhibition was featured at the New Americans Museum in Point Loma. We had an amazing opportunity to work with a multi-cultured artist named Shinpei Takada, whose theme of "Arrival" was very similar to ours. His idea of coming to terms with yourself and what you identify as (whatever that means to each individual) was another one of our major inspirations. We were very lucky to be able to feature our work alongside his piece called "Inscription" in this museum. Inscription was a very large fiber art piece that took weeks to finish. The piece was based off of short stories and poems that were submitted to Shinpei that were all incorporated into the piece. Each strand represents one's story from beginning to end and the journey they took to get there. Inscription was truly a beautiful work of art and is still being featured in the museum today.
The American Dream 2.0 exhibition is definitely my most memorable exhibition experience. The amount of effort, dedication, teamwork, and quality work that was put into the project is what makes showing off our work as a class so much more worth it. During the exhibition I felt that a majority of the bands played to their best ability and played very well.
The American Dream 2.0 exhibition is definitely my most memorable exhibition experience. The amount of effort, dedication, teamwork, and quality work that was put into the project is what makes showing off our work as a class so much more worth it. During the exhibition I felt that a majority of the bands played to their best ability and played very well.