The Great Gatsby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZINQmqszyU

The link above is from 'One Tree Hill' an American drama that features a narrator reading to us at the beginning and end of the programme. By having the narrator it allows the viewer to feel more connected to the characters and enables us to follow them more closely on a journey.  This is similar to 'The Great Gatsby' where Nick is the narrator of the novel, we follow him on his journey closely engaging with every character.

"A MAN of words and not of deeds Is like a garden full of weeds; And when the weeds begin to grow, It's like a garden full of snow; And when the snow begins to fall, It's like a bird upon the wall; And when the bird away does fly, It's like an eagle in the sky; And when the sky begins to roar, It's like a lion at the door; And when the door begins to crack, It's like a stick across your back ; And when your back begins to smart, It's like a penknife in your heart; And when your heart begins to bleed, You're dead, and dead, and dead, indeed."

The poem above is read by character 'Jamie' in 'One Tree Hill' that coincides well with the plot of the show, 'it's like an eagle in the sky' the use of American Freedom and the American Dream is communicated to the viewer, this is present in the novel with Nick as he is a middle class man that has worked to achieve his fortune, and is the only character that ends on a happy note. Similar to the end of the poem - 'and when your heart begins to bleed, you're dead, and dead, indeed' - the novel also ends in disaster, representing the decline of the American Dream for the novel on a whole.

Both medias are typically American and coincide well with one another.

The Great Gatsby

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl

Gossip Girl, the recent television series, depicts the daily life occurrences of the upper class in New York City, and all the scandalous and eventful aspects of their melodramatic lives. Not only is there an obvious comparison between this show and the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, due to the setting of the series being in New York City and many instances in the novel occurring in the eventful city, but, also due to many of the characters in each of the examples. The character Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl is a naïve and struggling writer and entrepreneur who is determined, yet, hesitant to become a part of the elite class and is eventually misled by it, reflecting the innocent and exploited Nick Carraway. The relationship between two of the lead characters Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf somewhat mirrors the relationship between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Chuck and Blair have a complicated relationship and are both aware of one another’s love for the other, but, are unable to officially be together due to complications and interferences. Like Gatsby, Chuck is obsessed with his female counterpart and is consumed by the idea of their future together. Although never represented by an actual character like most TV shows, the narrator is an important character, similarly Nick Carraway plays an important role as the narrator and acts as both the informer of many events that are not played out in the novel properly and the voice of reason in many instances, which often occurs in Gossip Girl as well. Both Gossip Girl and The Great Gatsby reveal the glamorous and evil side to the upper class in the north east and how it can devastate and amaze its victims. 

Great Gatsby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWb5Qc-fBvk

The Illusion of the American Dream

The video I have posted above is a link to a song written by Alicia Keys, about New York and its promise. This illusion that New York is the place ‘where dreams are made of’ is similar to the illusion that existed in 1920’s New York. In The Great Gatsby we see America in the microcosm of New York City, where all classes are pitted fairly close together. In Gatsby, the American Dream seems to be this wonderful lavish place, where money is no object, yet ironically money is the sole object that the lives of all classes revolve around. Similarly back then New York was where you ‘made it big’, a city full of opportunity and wealth. This illusion is still very much alive today; every typical American film is set in New York, endless songs written about its promise for success. Even I am guilty when it comes to the American Dream the first thing I associate it with is New York, Wall Street etc. all of those evolve around money. Whereas the American Dream used to stand for independence and the ability to make something of one's self with hard work, in Gatsby, the American Dream seems more about materialism and selfish pursuit of pleasure. This illusion is present in both 1920's New York in 'Gatsby', and is still very much present in today's society.

The Great Gatsby

Topic - The Illusion of Glamour

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/kim-kardashian-to-file-fo_n_1067424.html


The topic I have chosen from 'The Great Gatsby' that is still relevant today is the falseness and illusion of glamour. In 'The Great Gatsby' it is shown that Gatsby hosts large, expensive parties for wealthy, upper class guests. The book suggests that the costs of the parties do not matter and the damages created can be fixed easily because Gatsby has the money to do so. This suggests that there is a sense of carelessness towards their choices and priorities.

In 'The Great Gatsby' the reason Gatsby throws the glamorous parties is in the hopes that Daisy will be a guest. This questions whether the glamour is the most important thing to him and suggests that behind the money, guests and alcohol there are more important things - such as his love for Daisy. It shows that the glamour and wealth are just a facade and underneath the 'ideal lifestyle' of a rich man, there are issues in his life.

Today, this topic can be related to the celebrity culture. I have chosen the example of Kim Kardashian's wedding. In total, the wedding alone costed $10 millions and the marriage only lasted 72 days. This example can relate to 'The Great Gatsby' because it shows how a wealthy person can throw an glamorous, extravagant party (similar to what Gatsby would do) and have the money wasted on the 'idea' of the party rather than what the money could actually be used for. It suggests that behind the glamorous wedding there are more issues that are covered up by the illusions.

American Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyGCaTDgkUM

The above link leads to a American Ford Explorer commercial.

2012 Chrysler Advert

http://youtu.be/_PE5V4Uzobc

The advert above is a 2012 Chrysler advert, that is played in the super bowl half time. There are so many things that place this advert at the heart of American consumerism, right down to the language and the use of images of those working class citizens, who work hard each day every day. ‘who all pulled together’ After the downturn in the auto industry, using the metaphor of America being in a game; its ‘half time in America’, ‘and there people who are all wondering what they are going to do’ the financial crisis and rise in unemployment was ‘the fog, division, discourse and blame that made it hard to see what lies ahead’, but after more jobs are being created and the auto industry has received a stimulus package that has allowed ‘America to make a comeback’. America car industry is back on top and Chrysler is at the centre of this comeback, thus the centre of America. The use of Clint Eastwood, a very iconic figure, associated with America’s greatness and success. The language also displays a very ‘American’ sentiment, all very emotive, and the idea of ‘what’s ahead’. The idea that America is ‘one’, ‘together’, portrays the idea that its America against the world, and America ‘ cant not be knocked out with one punch, [they] get right back up again and when [they] do the worlds going to hear the roar of our engines’ and Americas ‘second half is about the begin’ all point to, America as the land of prosperity and opportunity, which it will remain in centuries to come. The basis of American Patriotism.

J. C. Penney Advert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJbCerJivgM

J.C. Penney the famous America retailer created a commercial this year to advertise their spring collection. Scenes depicting the often stereotyped perfect suburban life are extremely over exaggerated in this commercial. Idyllic front gardens and happy families are often associated with America, and this idea is represented very dramatically and colourfully in order to sell the notion that this life is easily accessible if you purchase merchandise from the corporation. Fashionably dressed adults and children that star in this advert appear very content and sell the notion of pure bliss in the stunning and unflawed world created in the commercial. The ideal American lifestyle that is represented in many movies and TV shows is embellished in this commercial and aims to convince the general public that after a shopping trip to J. C. Penney this could all be available to the consumer.

Starbucks Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qeu7JRwt0

Lyrics: 

Glen!
Glen, Glen, Glen!
Glen, Glen, Glen!
Glen, Glen, Glen…

Glen’s the man, going to work
Got his tie, got ambition
Middle management is right in his grasp
Its a dream he will never let die!

Glen’s the man of the hour
He’s the king of his cube
Status com reports have finally met their rival
Burning the candle at both ends on his way to the top
He knows one day he just could become…
Supervisor!

[...]

Roy!
Roy Roy Roy!…

[Survivor playing to the tune of its 1982 hit, “Eye of the Tiger.”]

The famous company Starbucks paired with the famous song ''Eye of the Tiger'' and the change of lyrics  to suit the average American worker. The lyrics say that Glen has 'ambition' and a 'dream' that will get him the job he wants, as long as he drinks the coffee from Starbucks. This commercial is effective because it can relate to almost any individual that has an ''American Dream'' and wants to do well in their career. Also, because Starbucks is a successful company the use of the band Survivor and the comic effects help the commercial appeal to a wider audience, which so many American commercials do through appropriate advertisement techniques. 

American Eagle Outfitters - Ad Campaign

This is an ad campaign for famous clothes line 'American Eagle Outfitters'. 

To begin this image is promoting everything 'American'. The backdrop of the photograph would immediately be linked to the American flag, with the use of stars and stripes, as this is the main focus. This communicates their patriotism.

The positioning of the stars and stripes are also cleverly composed leading you to the centre of the image, with the couple in the centre promoting the clothes line. Similarly to this is the use of colours and choice of clothes, with the man of the advert wearing stripes which compliments the backdrop, this is again communicating 

their patriotism. The main colours of this advert are blue, however the girl is wearing a scarf with a hint of red, this coincides with the running theme of the advert, American patriotism. These are all subtleties in the advert that customers would connect - without realising - to America. 

The boy and girl in the image also play an important role in the ad, they immediately set the age group the company are styling for. In order to gain customers there are usually attractive models styling the clothes, as people will see the models and desire to be like them, therefore purchase from the company. American Eagle Outfitters chose an attractive girl and boy, who would also be seen as an attractive couple, who many would strive to be like. 

The image of the advert promotes cohesion and because of its running theme of American Patriotism the models also suggest the perfect new young couple; attractive, slim and American.

The name of the company also plays on patriotism, in first two words 'American Eagle' which is relative to the national symbol communicating freedom.

Although on the surface this promotional poster is very simple, when looking deeper into the image it is very symbolic as discussed.