The American Dream, v2.0
I didn’t grow up in suburbia – I’m a
product of a rural upbringing. Perhaps this contributes to my view of the
suburbs, which I still don’t quite understand. I see the allure of having one’s
own land, complete with dog and picket fences; perfectly in line with an
innately American mindset that follows a predetermined tract of life. It’s all
figured out for you, just sign here and the dream can be yours. But it doesn’t make
sense. Why would anyone corner themselves into a daily hour+ commute, flock to
a more dense area for the duration of a workday, and return with hopes of
having some space only to find the neighbors breathing down their neck? Not
sure right now, but I guess I’ll find out this summer in Dallas…
Opposing the suburban landscape of Keat’s
time, today’s suburban homes seem to be quite large, simply for the sake of
being large. They’ve retained their lackluster identity, but have become
increasingly lifeless and encompassing despite their more spacious illusion. This
highly marketed, “idealized” American lifestyle is certainly not for me. I
would much rather have a small, well detailed space that is within walking
distance of work in an area that retains some breathing room for public use; I’d
imagine that I’m not alone in this thought. Does our generation mark a shift in
the predisposed American Dream, version 2.0?
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