The song “Hollywood’s
not America” by Ferras glorifies the spiritual failure of the California dream
of fame. While the Illinois-born singer criticizes the “dream city” as a threat
to the State’s newcomers, the song "Hollywood’s not America" opposes to the
Hollywood stereotype—a place where “anything [is] possible” (Peter 73). “You
could make a million dollars, but you might lose yourself”, Ferras contests the
Californian phenomenon—dream of fame and spiritual failure. Those who reach the
California dream of fame in Hollywood become their enemy, trapped into Hollywood
worst, shameful result—wealth over background/roots. Dreaming of fame in the
Golden State evolves from an aspiration to an overused and often deadly drug.
Self emptiness, lack of uniqueness and inner self-failure are side effects of
Hollywood drug. If losing your genuine personality is the price for a famous
Hollywood life, is fortune worth loosing your uniqueness?
Works Cited: Peter,
Carolyn. “California Welcomes the World” .Reading California: Art, Image and
Identity 1900-2000. Eds. Stephanie
Barron, Sheri Bernstein and Ilene Susan Fort. Berkeley: University of
California Press, 2001. 69-82
First of all, I love the photo you used for this post. very clever. The theme behind your post can also be related to teenagers on a smaller scale -- high school. The neverending race of becoming popular in high school engulfed many of my aquaintances and destroyed friendships, leaving them with nothing. Depressed and heartbroken after realizing the dream of being popular led to emptiness, the people I knew soon quit the race, and let people love them for who they truly are instead of a fake image. The message behind your blog is powerful, because it is a message that can prevent other insecure people from choosing a path that leads to destruction.
Posted by: Tyler Hay | December 10, 2008 at 09:05 PM