Spelled Into Suburbia compare and contrast essay help English essay help

What is it about America that makes it different from many other countries? Why do so many people come here with hope for a better future? Why Is it that people who are already here, are taking everything they have, and moving to a completely new town somewhere in another part of the country? This can all be answered by the American dream.

The dream may not be the same for everyone, for the possibilities are endless with hard work, However, when looking at geographical changes that are happening to this country, you can see patterns that show there is one thing in moon that we Americans are pursuing- a home to call our own. Not just any home, but a newly built one, in a newly built suburban town. The critics of suburbia have shaped a stereotype, and when looking from the outside in, there is a robotic, mindless sense to the idea of a suburban town.

However, It is the exact opposite Idea that suburban living even exists. A close examination of David Brook’s article, “Our Sprawling, Supervise Utopia. ” and a photograph of an advertisement for suburban homes in The Seattle Times, reveals the “paradise spell” also known as the American ream and reflects how the fantasy to start fresh plays a huge role In America’s identity. Where many countries are held down perhaps by religion, by myth, or by government to stay in one place, we Americans have a completely different look on life and our future.

This makes the Unites States a very attractive place to live. In David Brooks’ article, “Our sprawling, Supervise utopia”, the use of the word utopia in the title explains his perspective of America’s current situation in the booming development of suburbia. When people are purchasing these houses, they are managing a utopia where life will be much better than it is in their current location. David uses the repetition of the word perfect. “The suburbs themselves are conservative utopias, where people go because they imagine orderly and perfect lives can be led there”(Brooks peg. 5).

Since everyone knows life can never be perfect, there is the idea that our urge to change will never end because nothing will ever be perfect. We go into things Imagining this paradise. When we get there it ends up being harder than we imagined. We then seek a new fantasy or paradise. This explains how we Americans tend to be excessive In many ways. Another idea that strands through the article is the idea of “mindlessness” that suburban residents are stereotyped to have. Every aspect of suburban living seems to be somewhat robotic, with absolutely no individualism. However, David believes the opposite. Far from being dull, artificial, and spiritually vacuous, today’s suburbs are the products of the same religious longings and the same deep tensions that produced the American Identity from the start”(Brooks peg. 2). The very existence of the many suburban towns explains just how much we actually Imagine. The “mind” Is so hopeful of the possibilities in the new fresh, clean life, that it will convince itself the best thing to do Is to up and leave everything they have and take a risk Into the unknown. Paradise and fantasy is a theme throughout the article that explains the motivation behind the 1 OFF vantage point of the future.

It starts with imagination”the ability to fantasize about what some imminent happiness will look like. Then the future-minded person leaps Ashley toward the gauzy image”(Brooks peg. 6). This paradise is the ideal life we work towards and explains how the American dream is showing in this extreme, sprawling increase of suburban living. This paradise spell, this belief that there is a better future possible in a new place is also represented in the advertisement for suburban homes in The Seattle Times. One photograph used in the advertisement is a wide-open field with mountains in the background.

This image clearly has nothing to do with what the development will kook like, yet it gives the impression that there is a new open space here where there is no civilization yet. This complements this idea that the American dream involves starting fresh. The words used in the advertisement portray a fantasy. Words such as “expansive parks and trails”, “surrounded by nature”. The most expensive homes are called, “Sunset Walk at Squash Highlands”. The name of this community implies that if you live here you will have peaceful walks into the sunset.

All aspects of the advertisement are showing a fantasy. Since the main goal of marketing is to catch the eye of American’s, you can conclude that the American dream does indeed involve a fantasy and a paradise spell, and we are acting on it by purchasing a house in the suburbs. The ever-changing destiny of the United States is what makes it a great place to live. No, we are not perfect, and depending on what perspective you look at, American’s seem to look a bit ridiculous, yet to live in a place where anything is possible is extremely powerful.

The perspective of David Brooks and of the arresters, who created the advertisement, depicts the paradise spell that is the American dream. Although this country will never be perfect, the fact that we can dream makes us one of the best nations in the world. We will continue to create things we don’t need, build perfect home that won’t lead to perfect lives, and develop into a future of the unknown, it is a nation that will continue to rule the world with endless possibilities. Work Cited Brooks. David. “Our Sprawling, Supervise Utopia. ” The New York Times April. 2004 Smart Growth Townhouses (The Seattle Times, 2011)