Ruminate: "H.O.A.H.B. Truck" And The American Dream?
With regard to the H.O.A.H.B. Truck documentary, react to the
commentary that it makes about the "American Dream", mentality, and
lifestyle. Furthermore, how does it connect or relate to our studied
literature so far this semester? Please respond thoughtfully. In your
response, include at least one quotation from a studied text. Please
wonder, relate, question, think, etc... (Response Due Fri. 1-25-13 at
2:30p.m.).
posted by Greg T at Tuesday, January 15, 2013
31 Comments:
390The "HOAHB Truck" documentary displays the American Drem very well. These people in Texas live by a tradition that consists of driving trucks and being a cowboy so to them their truck is their identity and pride. So what this simingly simple contest tests is the will power these people have to keep one hand on the truck and the last one on wins. This could drive someone to the point of insanity but its about their dream. People will put themselves through hell to acheive their dream even if its just as simple as a truck. For example Daniel Suelo survives off strictly the waste of society in order for him to acheive his American dream of living with no money. Immigrants go throught very tough lives in order for them to live in the land of opportunity and acheive their dream. This is basically what the truck contest is about. Who wants it more.
"Hands on a Hard Body" portrays the American Dream in a wonderful fashion. It shows that American dream is for a better life. While they are only at first glance winning a truck, each person has a life-story and mission that this truck can help achieve. This truck isn't just a truck, it's a better life. The American dream and lifestyle is to try to better one's self.
A good example of this is in our Wagner Matinee, where Aunt Georgiana's American dream was to be involved with music. Her better life is inside that theater, the outside lies a life she doesn't want. Just like the movie, away from that contest is a life that people don't want.
"I understood. For her, just outside the door of the concert hall, lay the black pond with the cattle-tracked bluffs; the tall, unpainted house, with weather-curled boards; naked as a tower, the crook-backed ash seedlings where the dishcloths hung to dry; the gaunt, molting turkeys picking up refuse about the kitchen door."
The “H.O.A.H.B. Truck” shows people that all want a truck and in order to win it, they have to keep their hand on the truck until they are the last one touching it. The people feel like having a truck is part of their identity since they know others will look at the truck wishing for it when it is driven around their area. The dreams of these people are similar to the literature by the dream being crushed since not all of them will be able to win. Mrs. Summers dream was to get away from her worries in life and to find fun for herself with her $15. “The play was over, the music ceased, the crowd filed out. It was like a dream ended. People scattered in all directions.” In “A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Summers dream is lost since she finished using her $15 with the play she went to and she still wants her dream to keep on going when it ends. People who don’t spend their money carefully can lose their dream if they choose to spend all of it at once.
“HOAHB Truck” is a very interesting documentary. The fact that these local people would stand for days on end without any rest in unfathomable to me. I know that I would never do that unless it was something I really cared about or it was really important. This competition affects these people mentally and can drive them to insanity like the one young kid who was delirious and couldn’t stop laughing. Also this affects people’s lifestyle. Some of them are so focused on this competition and winning that they are consumed by it and it takes over. But these people embodied the American Dream. These Texans are willing to sacrifice so much to do what they want and stand with their hands on this truck because they can. This relates to many different pieces of American literature like “A Pair of Silk Stockings” because the main character got to live the American Dream for one day by doing what she wanted.
"Hands on a hard body" is a pristine example of the American dream and lifestyle. It gives an elaborate explanatio and subconciouse definition of hope of a better life, and opportunity. Given the opportunity to win a new truck, each contestant is determined, strong, and serious about winning the prize. Yet, behind each contestant, is a life story, a reason and a motivation to win. The truck resembles to them a new begining and opportunity. To some it is a physical challenge, to everybody its a mental challenge, standing with one hand on this truck for upwards on 80 hours. It is a test of willpower and spirit. So not only will the winner recieve a truck, but bragging rights and boosted self esteem.
In our Wagner Matinee, we read about a woman whos dream is music, to be invlolved in music, industry, and entertainment. And she seeks an escape, a new beging to leave the life she has. She relates to the contestants in "Hands on a hrad body" in the sense that she will go to great lengths to acheive her goal.
"From the trembling of her face I could well believe that before the last numbers she had been carried out where the myriad graves are, into the grey, nameless burying grounds of the sea; or into some world of death vaster yet, where, from the beginning of the world, hope has lain down with hope and dream with dream, and, renouncing, slept."
Every person has a dream. Many have the dream of coming to the U.S. to escape their problems that are happening in their home country. H.O.A.H.B. describes the dreams of a certain group of people who want to win a new truck. They all have many different reasons why they want it but in the end they all want the same thing. To win a truck. Here in America we have many opportunities to pursue and live our own dreams. In "Wagner Matinee" Aunt Georgiana's had a dream about music but had to give it up. Many people have to give up other activities and friendships to pursue their own dream. This might seem extreme to some people to in order to fully live life we need to do things that make up happy. Dreams can make life worth living. So do you really want to achieve your dreams? Then go do it and let NO ONE stop you.
HOAHB is a prefect portrayal of the American dream because it is showing Americans fighting for what they want in order to create a better life for themselves. In my opinion that's what an American dream is, it's an attainable dream that people have for them selves and their families. In this video, each person has a different dream that involves this truck and they are willing to stand for days to get it. It was really interesting to see how each person was planning on using the truck. After hearing people's stories its sad to see them lose, because they could have used it for so many purposes. This reminds me of the Wagner Matinée because Aunt Georgina could have had such a great life if she decided to stay in Boston, but she lost it when she moved to live on the Nebraska farm lands. "The overture closed; my aunt released my coat sleeve, but she said nothing. She sat staring at the orchestra through a dullness of thirty years, through the films made little by little by each of the three hundred and sixty-five days in every one of them. " this quote displays the sadness that aunt Georgina is experiencing, because she passed up her dream. And she can no longer do what she wanted.
The "H.O.A.H.B. Truck" documentary was a very different take on the "American Dream." When most people in the world think about the "American Dream," we think about being free; having a good job, and having a family, but to the people in this documentary the truck was their dream. The truck meant fitting in, paying bills, helping on the farm or even just another chance to prove the perseverance these contestants had, but it got me to thinking. Are all "American Dreams" worth achieving? Staying up for three days straight on your feet to win a car? It is obviously achievable because of what we have seen but is it worth it? We saw the contestants suffer mentally having hallucinations, and physically going numb to the point that they need help walking. Is it worth possibly having injuries that could last for the rest of their lives? A car can be replaced, a person cannot. I feel like Walt Whitman was trying to convey that every "American Dream" is worth achieving, even though we may not all understand each other's dreams, we all have our own song. "I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear."
This documentary is a clear example of the perseverance and sacrifice for one's American dream. These people, though seemingly crazy for willing to endure such a harsh competition, became hardworking defenders of their hopes and dreams. Each of the competitors came from different backgrounds and wanted the truck for various reasons. They would all use different strategies and came up with multiple ideas. However, the ultimate goal remained the same for everyone. To an outside viewer, this competition, or any similar American dream, may seem foolish. However, the ability to earn what is best for your family and yourself, is always something to fight for. We can all relate to their dream of achievement and success. This also relates to the Walt Whitman poem “I Hear America Singing”. In this poem, the workers of America are sacrificing their physical and mental strength for their American dream. Though it is hard work, they find a way to sing through it. They find joy in knowing that they are working and sacrificing for their unique American dream. “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else.”
After watching H.O.A.H.B I began to think about how different peoples American dreams are. For some it may be winning a truck, for others it may be raising a family, but no matter what the dream, it is just as rewarding to hold onto that dream. Watching this film made me realize how far people will go and hard they will work in order to accomplish there dream. No matter your social class and other differences, reaching your American dream can be one of the biggest rewards you can have. Watching all off those different people from different backgrounds fighting for what they want was inspiring. Although I may never hold on to a truck for over seventy house, Watching them made me realize nothing in life is rewarding without the hard work before you accomplish your dreams. Every one has their idea of luxury, and no matter what it is, it is great. "She sat staring at the orchestra through a dullness of thirty years". Whether a truck or an orchestra is what you dream of, you must fight to accomplish your dream.
The reason why HOAHB's documentary was so intriguing is because it shows how different each contestant is, but they all have one common interest/ goal. To win the truck. They will put off work, put off their families just to stand up straight with one of their hands on a inanimate object. For 3 straight days, all their focus is on this truck. Which just shows that once you have a goal- no matter what that goal may be- you will put all of your might onto it. This reminds me of A Pair of Silk Stockings. "The play was over, the music ceased, the crowd filed out. It was like a dream ended. People scattered in all directions.” -The dream ended- when the contestants took their hand off the truck- their dream ended. It just shows that you can't achieve your goals unless you put all of your strength and beliefs into it.
H.O.A.H.B. is a good example of how we all have different things or motivations that help us accomplish our American dream. For some contestants their motivation was just the truck itself, but for others it was for their family or to pay off taxes. Even though they all had different reasons for trying to win the truck, they were all trying to have their hand on the truck last. Some contestants realized that it was harder than they thought it would be to win the truck. This shows that sometimes our dreams are harder to achieve than we expected, and they aren’t just going to be handed to us. We can also see this in the story A Pair of Silk Stockings. Mrs. Sommers thinks that her dreams will come true because of the fifteen dollars, but when it runs out she realizes that it was actually just a break from her normal life. She even says at the end “It was like a dream ended.” Even if it seems like your dream is an easy one to accomplish, it may take more work than you think whether it is to win a truck, or to live a more luxurious life you have to really work hard to accomplish your dream.
The "H.O.A.H.B Truck" documentary shows the American dream very well. These people have a desire to win the truck with a variety of motives as to why they want the truck. Each contestant has to persevere and push themselves to try and win. In this way, this is similar to the american dream because we have desires like finding our dream job and having a family. And we have to persevere through low points and through the hard parts in life in order to try and achieve our american dreams. Like in "A Pair of Silk Stockings", Mrs. Summers finds $15 dollars and is given the chance to experience the American dream.
IN "HANDS ON A HARD BODY" PEOPLE IN THIS DISPLAY THE AMERICAN DREAM VERY WELL. THEY DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN THE TRUCK. THEY CHEAT AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE MASSAGE THEM AND BRING THEM FOOD AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF. THIS TRUCK IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING THEM A BETTER LIFE.“THE PLAY WAS OVER, THE MUSIC CEASED THE CROWD FILLED OUT. IT WAS LIKE A DREAM ENDED. PEOPLE SCATTERED IN ALL DIRECTIONS." EVEN THOUGH HER DREAM ENDED AFTER THIS SHE STILL CARRIED ON AND WANTED HER DREAM TO KEEP GOING. EVEN DOING SOMETHING ONCE WILL AFFECT THE WAY OF YOUR AMERICAN DREAM.
HOAHB is a very unique documentary. I think it’s a perfect way to express what the American dream means to different people in different ways. In a smaller way this is the American dream for all these people competing. They all want the Nissan truck for different reasons, for some it’s to fit in with other people around them. For others it seems like more of a necessity, they need it for their jobs, their families, etc. I think this is similar to ho we as Americans could all want the same thing, but the way we go about obtaining that thing, or the reason that it is our dreams can be completely different. Yet, the fact that we all want something that we have to work for brings us together. That’s what America was built off of; reaching for dreams, overcoming whatever obstacles may stand in our way to get it. We are raised being taught by our parents, our friends and our teachers to reach for our goals. I think that HOAHB expresses this perfectly, these people all are going out of their ways and are over coming so many difficulties to reach their goal and their dream.
The H.O.A.H.B. Truck documentary demonstrated how different people view and achieve their American dream in different ways. All of the contestants went into the competition with a different mentality on what it takes to win. Some believe that God would give them the strength, others thought staying up for a few days before hand would get the ready, and some thought that they needed to eat lots of healthy food. They all came from different backgrounds with different lifestyles and upbringings, but one thing they had in common was owning a truck to live out their “American Dream.” As each competitor became more tired and vulnerable they started to feel the same way that aunt Georgiana felt. “The play was over, the music ceased, the crowd filed out. It was like a dream ended. People scattered in all directions.” It was every ones dream to own a truck and many of the contestants didn’t have enough money to buy one for themselves. They felt like this competition was the only chance they had to get their “American Dream” and they lost it.
"Hands on a hard body" further shows how the American Dream is doing whatever it takes to acheive a goal or even win a truck. As each contestant was interviewed they all explained why and what they wanted the truck for, and for everyone had a different reason. This shows how everyone has a different purpose for the same wanted dream. Also seen in "Wagner Manitee" Aunt Georgiana wanted so badly to be with meusic in the theater as the people wanted to win the truck and without a truck was a life people didnt want. This contest also brings out the "American" as who wants it more? Who is willing to scrifice all they got to succeed?
The documentary, "HOHB" conveys that people have different strategies, and approaches for success. In the end, we all have the same dream; the American dream. "The end is nothing. The road is all." ~ Willa C. To achieve a goal, you must have a plan or thought out way of approaching it. Success isn't going to show up at your door way. With hard work and sacrifice, dreams stop being dreams and become an attainable reality. There will be times, when giving up seems like the only option. "You gotta wait. Stand there and be patient." ~Previous HOHB winner. It all depends on how much you are willing to give up. The greater risks taken, the more chance for failure, but the reward shall be greater.
The HOAHB documentary shows the American Dream beautifully. It shows that even though it gets tough, it may seem impossible, and it's dangerous, it's worth it. These people are dying to win this truck. Literally. That is what the American Dream is about. Going through hardship for something you want. Zora had to go through hardships her entire life and she pulled through. She explained that in "How It Feels To Be Colored Me" and that is the American Dream.
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The "Hands on a Hard Body" mini documentary reveals some aspects of the American dream that we all share. The truck used in the contest is a symbol of our desires. In the film, the contestants explain many different uses they could have for a truck, and why they wanted to win it so badly. Whether they needed a truck for work or to sell,they all had their own reasons for wanting it which shows our American dream. The desire for a better life, or the desire to have better things. Americans are always seeking improvement in life. We always feel like there's a void that can be filled by gaining material things, whether it be money or a shiny new truck. "Her stockings and boots and well fitting gloves had worked marvels in her bearing- had given her a feeling of assurance, a sense of belonging to the well dressed multitude"- Kate Chopin, "A Pair of Silk Stockings"
The H.O.A.H.B. video revealed to us how different our interpretations of the American dream are. For this small town in Texas holding your hand on that truck was the American dream and for you to come out victorious would mean living a life of eternal glory. The deeper meaning could relate to suffering for the ultimate goal, or suffering for the dream. You have to put in the work and drive your body to the point of exhaustion and then have the will to go farther. The metaphor of this contest is incredibly directly related to the idea of an am American dream. No one said it would be easy but you do it with the trophy in mind. Those people who were disqualified will spend their whole lives wishing they had what it took, just like how Aunt Georgiana's wished she could go back to play her music. Not accomplishing your dream is a hard and bitter taste however working as hard as you can to achieve what you have strived for is the sweetest taste of all.
I really think the "hands on a hard body" competition really embodied what the american dream is. You have to persevere through hard times in order to reach your goals. Another way that the competition portrayed the American dream was when one o the contestants got out, it was super imposed on the screen that she came back to win the following year. This shows that failure is sometimes necessary in achieving ones goals. This can also be Seen in the "colored me" story because the narrator received pore treatment but finally became happy with who she was as a person. I truly believe that the American dream is fueled by perseverance and this was very well displayed in the "hands on a hard body" film.
Living in America, we are told our whole lives that we can do anything and be anyone -- we have no limitations and can pursue anything that makes us happy. The contestants in "Hands on a Hard Body Truck" each wholeheartedly believe they can can win at the beginning of the contest. The ruck to them represents freedom and flexibility; the hope of a new world ahead of them. In truth, a $15,000 truck will not buy them their dream home and probably will not lead them to a six figure salary, but it is their dream that keeps them going. In reality, only one of these contestants can win, and the rest will go back to their same lives believing they have missed out on an incredible new life. Like Ms Somers in “a Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin, though in America you can dream and dream of living this lavish lifestyle that is the American dream, the true realities of life await you when you return home, "unless he were wizard enough to detect a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever ".
The American dream is somewhat of an illusion -- the small minority that makes it big and lives the "American dream" often represents the whole majority of people who do not, and often give people a false sense of hope.
This documentary portrays the American Dream because it shows that if people have their heart set on something, they will take extreme measures, go through much pain, and take extreme risks to try to achieve that dream. However, not everyone can achieve their dreams. Sometimes, there are factors that stand in a person's way. As Aunt Georgiana realized in "A Wagner Matinee" you can't always achieve your dream “Don't love it so well, Clark, or it may be taken from you." This documentary shows that if you really want something, you can not give up no matter the circumstances.
"Hands on a Hard Body", the documentary, I found so humbling their reasons for wanting to win that truck. If this were to take place in present America, I feel like the reasoning for wanting to take the truck home would be more of selfish reasoning. What this documentary reminded me of how the original American dream used to be. Hard Working, persistent, patriotic, and sacrificial. None of the contestants yearned for the truck to look "cool" or try and make an image for themselves, it was to make a better lifestyle for themselves. A good example to relate to the movie would the story we read “Wagner Matinee”, where Aunt Georgina had to give up her dream of pursuing music for her husband. At the end of the movie, the man who won the truck ultimately gave up the truck for his wife to have. It just goes to show how sacrificial people can be of their ‘American dream’ if it’s for someone they love.
“She sat staring at the orchestra through a dullness of thirty years, through the films made little by little by each of the three hundred and sixty-five days in every one of them."
The Hands On the Hard Body documentary shows the American dream in a very unusual way. The American dream in this situation is the thought that maybe after hours of touching a truck they will be able to take it home and drive it everywhere they desire. Now this dream is defiantly different from what we find in Colorado suburbs. This is like the story Silk Socks. While they are in the middle of getting their American dream their mind revolves on what they will do with it if their goal is achieved."... during the still hours of the night when she lay awake revolving plans in her mind that she seemed to see her way clearly toward a proper and judicious use of the money". Here we see the excitement and anticipation of the American dream that has become a success. The American dream will always be an exciting thing no matter what it is for.
H.O.A.H.B relates to the American Dream in a different way than I thought it would. We imagine the American dream being very streamline, white picket fence, dog, family, kids, spouse, a job. However in the movie we see a different side to the American dream by seeing peoplewhose dream is just to have a car so they can earn money. We see in our past read work that the American dream is different in everyone. "At certain times I have no race, I am me." (Hurston) Her dream is not to have a car or a nice house but to be seen the same as anyone else. This semester we are studying the American Dream and if its changing, for me my American dream changes all the time.
"Hands on a Hard Body" perfectly exemplifies the "American Dream" mentality. These people who come from all sorts of backgrounds are coming together and trying to better them selves. Which is what the American Dream is all about. The American Dream states that everyone has the chance to better them selves and rise to the top. These people were motivated by the chance that they could become better. Each of these people have different things that motivate them, but they all are going to the same end goal. This connects to the other literature that we have read in that in "a pair of silk stalkings" Mrs. Summers finds some money which she uses to better her life even if it was just for a day.
I feel that in the "Hand on a Hard Body" film they each had their own American dream. Each of the people were doing the competition for their own reasons and they mainly weren't thinking of winning for just having a new car for free. Each of the competitors prepared for the competition in their own way. A lot of the people said they spent days before trying to see how long they could stay awake. During the time their hands are on the truck they got to meet everyone they would be standing with for the next couple of days. Once time has moved on they get to know one another and one of them said "You get a big rush but then you feel sad because they are gone and aren't coming back" (H.O.A.H.B). What they are talking about is once a person gets kick off for not following the rules to stay in the competition they are happy vistas at the same time because they became friends. This film is like "A Pair of Silk Stockings" because in that story Mrs. Summers wants to be like a high class women so she spends her money that she got like she would if she always has that money. So everyone has their American dream but they could all be different from other people's.
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