Ruminate: H.O.H.B. Truck And The American Dream?
With regard to the H.O.H.B. Truck documentary, react to the commentary that it makes about the American Dream, mentality, and lifestyle. Furthermore, how does it connnect or relate to our studied literature so far this semester. In your response, please wonder, relate, question, think, etc... (Due Fri. 1-30-09)
posted by Greg T at Monday, January 26, 2009
29 Comments:
I think most of the people in the documentary see the truck as a way to achieve thier dream. All of them drempt of winning the truck but not just to win but instead so they could do something with it. Many of them wanted to pay off thier debt with it. Many of them needed it to get to work. One of them even needed it to go back to school. I think this relates to our other readings because in all the other pieces, the people achieve thier dream but then realize its not what they wanted. In all the other pieces the people have to keep working towards a bigger dream then the one they just achieved.
lfWhen watching their competition for the truck, it reminded me of the American dream and what people had to do to achieve them. In the competition documentary, one person commented about how it was a challenge that everyone thought they were ready for. When new-comers visit America, it is a bit deceiving in the way that your dream is not waiting for you when you come here. We are very lucky to have different opportunities in our grasp. But, we have to work hard and let life take its course. There is no real preparation for the unknown. If it wasn’t meant to be, you need to move on with your life. For example, the woman in A Pair of Silk Stockings, never had time to achieve her dream. However, she was given an unplanned opportunity to get a taste of what it would have been like. From there, as expected, she carried on with her life. It is great to have a dream but, do what you need to, to survive (with or without your dreams). When you think of this idea, are dreams really worth fighting for?
In the documentary it talks a lot about will power and how to control ur mental objective to get the truckto get what u want. but to the people who were in the contest that lost did they really give there all to get the truck? did they really even want it ? there are many people in america who only see the american dream as a nice car or a good job or a family and others jsut see it as something u work for ur whole life and some just come by it. i would have to say that the epople who want it more that anyone are the people who work for it for along time nad never give up on it. A good example ... the truck the people that stayed the longest are the ones who in life still believe that they can get to that american dream. but still what is the american dream? is it lots of money or is it society who makes us think that b/c they make it seem like it will make us happy but for some its the small things that make us most happy... like hwen we were little and the one thing that make us happy was whne our paretns got us the toy we were eyeing or the candy we wanted and that made us happy for a long time.the people wanted to win the truck not jsut b/c it was free or the fact that all they had to do was just stand there with their hand on the truck but b/c it was there dream to win it! like a kid at the store wanting a teddy bear!
In the H.O.H.B. Truck it seemed like the American dream, in my perspective, was blown totally out of proportion. What has our world come to that we would compete for a truck. The contestants commented on how they were a little bit sad to see someone lose the contest after standing there for 2 days but they never gave a person a hug or showed any type of effection towards those people. There was only one person that actually came back to cheer on the remaining contestants after they had lost the contest. The thing that really made me question the american dream was when the guy who won the contest the first year was back in the contest when there were people who were there to win the truck and sell it for their school tuition. After watching this documentary it makes me see how much people take America for granted. There are people in 3rd world countries that aren't worried about what they are going to do the next day but if they will still be alive in the morning. These people who are giving this car away could give the money that someone would spend for the car to a homeless shelter or an orphanage, people who truly don't have anything. Even though the contestants tell about how much this contest is a mental thing I think of it more as a stubborn thing. Who will last the longest? Who won't give up? Someone also comented on how they wished that the other people would fall asleep and they would win the truck. Seriously, what has our country come to that we would wish for other people to fail so that we could triumph. These people are as bad as children having temper tantrums and not getting their ways.
The H.O.H.B.Truck documentary exemplifies the American dream because it shows the extremes people will go to, to achieve what they want. Also, the documentary truly allowed us to grasp the idea that while everyone wanted the truck, they all needed it for different reasons. Thus, showing us that everyone's American dream is different.One person needed it to pay off her mortgage, another wanted it just to drive, and another needed it for his crops and farming. I think this documentary relates with our readings because in both pieces the characters are presented with an opportunity. In H.O.H.B. Truck we see the contestants presented with an opportunity to win a truck. While "In a Pair of Silk Stockings" we saw the main character given an unplanned opportunity to treat herself to luxuries. To me, a dream is an opportunity, something that you can never take for granted.
I believe that this documentary does a really good job of demonstarting the American Dream, because it shows what great lengths people are willing to go to in order to get what they want. Several people are staying awake for days just to win a truck that would most likely change their lives forever. I want to know what keeps most of these people motivated because after staying up for a day and a half I would wonder what you need in order to stay up, just for a truck. This video also makes me realize that everyone reallly does have a price at which they will do anything. For some people its money but in this case it is the desire to have an opportunity to win a brand new truck.
The truck is a symbol of the american dream. in order to achieve a dream you have to know mentally that you can do it and play the mental game. In order to recieve the truck you have to do the same. You also have to prepare for your dream as well as prepare for the truck competition. This relates to our other literature because it all has to do with perservering and being mentally ready for your dreams. In my life all these things have proven to be true as well. dreams are hard, but not impossible, to achieve
This documentary does a good job of capturing the American dream for the way that many people see it. I believe that many people see the American dream in a materialistic way, just as the contestants in this documentary were willing to do whatever it took, even at other people's expense if they had to, to win this physical possession. For many of these contestants, the American dream was very selfish and materialistic, just as it is seen by many Americans today. This relates very closely to some of the other readings that we have done this semester, particularly, "A Pair of Silk Stockings" in which the main character comes to possess a decent amount of money, for which she has plans to help people that need it. However instead of using the money to benefit others, she chooses to squander it on herself. The American dream isn't quite so self-centered and materialistic for all people, and I don't think that anybody means for it to be that way, however for many people that is how it ends up.
I think the truck documentary simulates the american dream more than anything. People come to america trying to achieve happiness and make money. Doing this however takes alot of hard long work. It takes a long time to establish yourself in america and get what you want. In the documentary, people had to stay up for days with theyre hand on a car because they wanted it so bad. The competition started with many competitors all hoping to achieve their goal, just like migrants to america. Slowly the weak and old begin to fall off and only the strongest are left. This is what happens in america, the hardest workers who want success the most, obtain it. The weak do eventually fall off and go back to theyre home nation
I think that winning this truck is the American dream for those people because many of them don't have valuable possessions that they are proud of. Winning this truck will become that possession for them.
This documentary depicts the American dream as a game, as well as a test of endurance. Yes the truck is the symbol of a dream that everybody has, but not everybody is going to win a new car. This is the American dream in a nutshell; a group of people all reaching for one specific thing, and only one of them walks away with it. It is all a matter of being stronger than your opponent. It is not a test of skill; it is a test of mental and physical strength and endurance. The more luck and the more tolerance you have for pain and dealing with other people, the further you will get. In A Pair of Silk Stockings, the author finds a considerable amount of money on the ground, and she just blows it all on material goods. In the documentary, people had sold their car right when they had heard the news that they were competing. Now this raises one question in my mind. Does the American dream blind people of logic, as in what do they expect to happen, and what is actually going to happen?
The American Dream in this movie is winning that truck. It really is just a perfect example of how the steriotypical American dream really is seen; if you work hard enough for something than you deserve to have it. But i dont think that this movie is showing the average American life style. Part of that is becasue souther Taxas has its own culture. Down there a truck is one of the most prized possesions one can have, and to be able to get one for free just by putting your hand on it is a huge opportunity for them. I think that if this competition were say here in Colorado that people would do it more just for the fun rather than revolving their life around the truck. The documentary also kinda demonstraites the american dream by displaying freedom of religion. There is a woman who has taken very much pride and time in concentrating on the Lord, praying, listening to church music, and reading her Bible all out in the open and even though she is being jusdged by her fellow competetors she continues to freely practice religion.
In the documentary H.O.H.B. thre were many different versions of the american dream exlemplified. Some wanted the truck to get them out of financial trouble, while others just wanted the truck because that to them was aa necessity where they live. Each individual attacked the compitition with a different strategy. to me each strategy represented the person and how bad they wanted the truck. Smokeing during a 5 minute break with no sleep isnt the best option to me. Also this competition was more than physical. It dug into the mental part as well. and i felt that the people who wanted the truck the most were the ones who lasted the longest. when they put their mand to something they give 110% to achieve their dream. I feel as if that is a big part of the american dream. not only wanting it but achieving it and not quiting. even after the competitiion i feel as if even the people who lost gained a part of their american dream because they gave it their all and didnt just say i cant. when the were out it was usually because mental mistake. after watching this documentary i realizie everyone has a different dream but in the end everyone is striving to achieve happynes.
I think that the H.O.H.B competition is a great example of the American dream. There is a diverse group of people that all have an equall chance of winning. Everyone wants to succeed and will try their hardest to do so. The American people have a mindstate of all or nothing and in the competition the contestants have the same goal because they have no other choice. It is survival of the fittest just like it is in the business field today. Also I think that the competition is similar to the eal world because even though everyone has an equall chance of winning, some have advantages. Advantages such as physical fitness or mental experience which could be compared to advantages such as a wealthy family or having more opportunities than most. The competition was actually a very accurate demonstration of the American dream and that is probably why they document it.
H.O.H.B. shows that the American Dream is different from one person's dream to another person's. The documentary reveals that the American Dream changes from state to state and city to city. In Texas the American Dream is to own a truck and recieve it for no money at all. To achieve that dream people will stay up for over three days to win a nice truck. They will put their body through some of the hardest excercise it will ever experience all for a free truck. The American Dream could be different for a man who doesn't want a truck so badly. The literature supports my response because one person's dream is to have money and spend it all in one day. Another dream is to be a great poet and be a true american. Througout the whole semester the American Dream has changed each time we read a new piece of literature and to me the American Dream is what you make it to be and how you will achieve whether it is through hark work, luck, or sticking your hand ona truck for three days.
The H.O.H.B.Truck documentary was a perfect example of the American Dream. The contest allowed anyone to obtain their dream (the truck) if they set their mind to it and were determined to beat the other competetors. The American Dream is the ability to do anything you want to do or be anyone you want to be if you work hard enough. The truck was there for someone to win if they simply worked their way to obtain it. Just like the American Dream, there were no restrictions based upon your social class or your lifestyle. People from all walks of life converged upon the car dealership, all having the same ambitions of winning the truck. They all shared the same focus and determination needed to win the truck that is also needed to obtain your American Dream.
H.O.H.B. was more then a competition to the contestants. it was hope for a new start or extra money. something that would help them out in some way in their life. In the documentary one of the contestants said: "It's more then winning a truck." To them it was a dream of bettering their life. Like "In a Pair of Silk Stockings" the women had an opportunity to take her dream of fancy things and have fun with it, while in H.O.H.B. they all had opportunities and they took it.
The documentary addresses the American Dream by telling us about each person and their reason for participating in the contest. Some people wanted to win the truck so they could get to school or work, one thought it was her destiny to win, and others wanted to just see if they could make it through the contest. We see that each had their own dream and by winning the truck, they could come closer to achieving that dream. One contestant even said that the contest wasn’t only a test of physical strength, but also a test of how long they could maintain their sanity. People get a mindset when they want to accomplish a goal and this is how the American Dream has a lot to do with mentality. This documentary also shows how people want to have a certain lifestyle, and they can each achieve a desired lifestyle by going for the same goal. One piece of writing that we studied this year, “A Bird Came Down the Walk”, demonstrated the idea of the American Dream though in a different way. I believe that Dickinson’s poem is meant to show that one can find joy out of observing something as common and simple as a bird. Dickinson found joy out of writing poetry, and it seemed that her American Dream was to find something that brought her happiness, even if it wasn’t a possession or accomplishment. In both the documentary and Dickinson’s poetry, we can see different “forms” of the American Dream and that each person can accomplish their dream by very different means.
H.O.H.B Truck relates to the American dream in that how mentaly you have to believe you can achieve it and physically you have to preform it. It put to the test whats it worth to come out with the result you wanted. In some cases life is one the line for people or maybe immigrants trying to achieve their goals not matter the physical/mental pain or circumstances. In H.O.H.B. truck everyone wants the truck but for different reasons. In america everyone could want something however; everyone wants it for different reasons. That competitive drive thats flows through the contestants of the contest flows through America allowing the American Dream to continue to inspire people to do better in all apects of their life.
In the H.O.H.B Truck documentary you see all different kinds of people from different economic classes all competing to win a truck for many different reasons. Some need it to pay bills whereas it would just be a treat to others. I feel this has related to most all of our readings in the sense that the American dream can be so different to so many different people. And also you need to be careful and not take advantage of it, like in "A Pair of Silk Stockings". All in all I think the documentary showed that each and everyone of us has our own unique dream.
-Joe Smith
One could look at this in the sort of light that the American Dream sucks and there's only a small handful of people who are actually capable of attaining it, which, arguably, is true, materialistically speaking. However, one sees these real people persevering for as long as they possibly can, becoming great friends with each other, and thinks. What is the American Dream? A hard boiled egg? Money? A honeymoon on a cruise? ...A truck? One realizes, it's not about the truck or hard boiled egg or the end goal, because once one gets it, it isn't that great. The truck drives and it moves. You eat the hard boiled egg and it comes out the other end. Once one has the thing, its like "well, what do I do now?"
Its not about the truck, its about getting there. Its the pursuit in the pursuit of happiness.
The American Dream isn't the actual goal itself of the dreamer, its the journey to that goal. The journey is the most exhilarating part. Enjoy the Ride.
The HOHB Truck Documentary really exemplifies the American dream, at least in m definition of the american dream, because it shows that people in America work to achieve something better in life. They had an opprotunity to obtain something that they desired. They contest weeded out the indivduals who were not fit/prepared enough to get what they wanted not unlike like the society we libe in today. Generally, in America the citizens who work the hardest and are the most talented achieve the most. The difference between the American dream and other countries is that everybody has the chance to suceed. The documentary had people of different ethnicities, religion, gender, and background. In Emersson's poem "I hear America singing" shows a different version of the American dream, though both are right. Instead of achieving something they want like in the HOHB contest, the were working hard jobs which were necessary to our countries "survival" yet they were able to still enjoy themselves in the liveliness of the American nightlife with other American workers. Although different scenarios, one idea is similar in both and that is that there were opprotunities in America that were not available in many other countries, something that has made America so apealing since its beginning.
This movie relates to the american dream in the way that it shows how bad everyone wants the truck. The crazy thing is that they all want it for a different reason. I think this goes to show us how the american dream can change from person to person, and I think that it can help you gain respect from other people that you think are weird just because you want something different than they do.
I think that this documentary relates to the American Dream in that in during the process of trying to win the truck, people struggle and have to overcome obstacles. They had to prepare extensively for it, and did not easily give up. There were a few people in the competition who cheated to get what they wanted. And there was a woman who used her faith to get where she wanted to go. All of these acts are also necessary to acheive the American Dream. Also, it is similar in that it is different for everyone. Not many of the contestants just wanted the truck, they were going to use it for other things. It is like the American Dream in that it was an opportunity that they could turn into whatever they wanted.
when watching h.o.h.b i see the truck as the American dream. people came from all over to win this truck and do something with it. The people competing are there for all sorts of reasons and have a different way of looking at what the truck would be for them. Their american dream includes this truck with it being a way to get to work to climb the company's ladder and achieve that dream. the american dream is different for each person and so is the reason they are standing for ridiculous hours with their hand on a car. Its their dream.
I think the relation between HOHB and the americans and the dream of americans is people in this country will do anything for the word "free" its everywhere, buy one get one free etc. The only reason any of them wanted the truck was for the money to pay off loans and some of them where way to competitive, which is another way it may relate to the american dream, the american dream is just a contest with others. Its not the picket fence and content family any more now its whats bigger and better than everyone else. The only guy who wasnt in it for the money was the man who treated the contest like it was life or death. He only wanted to win to see if he could again, which is like in society there is always the guy who just knows everything and is destined to win because he has stood around for 80 some hours befor.
The truck in the movie is seen as their american dream. There are a lot of different dreams, but some are pretty common and a lot of people want to fulfill it. I think american dreams can be different, but the desire to fulfill the dream is the same. You really have to be deteremined in order to receive what u really want. I think this is shown in the movie and the person who wins, has the most desire to fulfill their american dream.
I think that this documentary and the car symbolize the American Dream, because in general I believe that the american dream is to achieve something and to get rewarded no matter who you are, and to not to have to work too much for it. Most people wish that they could just work really hard for a little bit and then be set up for the rest of there lives, and that is what happened with the truck. They all wanted it so bad, and went through many hard challenges to be able to win the car, for a couple of days, but it seems like they didn't necissarily want to work too hard to save up for a car. There was also a lot of things holding them back from doing that though, and I think that this symbolizes the American Dream because it was kind of a quick fix for there problems.
H.O.H.B. made an interesting stab at defining the American Dream. Throughout the movie they showed that everyones American dream is different than the next persons. That everyone has different motivations for doing certain things. Whether it was trying to get money for college, being able to drive places, or just fitting in. Everyone's concept of the American dream is different.
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