Envisioning the American Dream

June 9, 2014 7:07 AM

Envisioning the American Dream is "a visual remix of the American Dream as pictured in Mid-Century media" that discusses topics such as Man and Machines, Vintage Advice for Cheaters, and Suburbia for Sale, amongst many others.
posted by gemutlichkeit (5 comments total)

To think, there was a time people envisioned an American Dream.

Now they endure it.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:13 AM on June 9, 2014 [2 favorites]

Mind, that was a time when it seemed everyone was participating in building a dream together. These days, it feels more like a nightmare imposed by oligarchs.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:16 AM on June 9, 2014

The collages are really wonderful, but the commentary is a bit simple-minded. I think there's a lot more nuances that could be explored. Lileks also treads this path, and is a lot funnier.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:28 AM on June 9, 2014

Oh, man. The casual misogyny and sexism is really hard to take. I am reminded that this was also an era when men who raped were commonly called "rape artists".
posted by Thorzdad at 9:23 AM on June 9, 2014

Ah, this is the collage artist Sally Edelstein. As a devotee of the vintage, I've run across her before. I agree that the commentary is not strong - the girdle entry makes me wonder if she paid attention to anyone who ever wore a girdle. The text seems like advertising messages, especially compared with, say, Ivy Leaf.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:12 AM on June 9, 2014