The Illusion of the American Dream in a Financialized Era

This curation examines the hollow pursuit of success as depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' against the backdrop of financialization. It reveals how the American Dream, once rooted in opportunity, has become distorted through economic practices and societal changes.

1. Read
   American Dream · Wikipedia

   Defines the American Dream as a national ethos emphasizing freedom and opportunity for success.

2. Read
   

   Can High-Frequency Trading Drive the Stock Market Off a Cliff? · MIT Sloan Management Review

   Analyzes the 2010 flash crash, revealing how high-frequency trading can destabilize the stock market and erode trust in financial systems.

3. Watch
   

   The Roaring Twenties: How Boom Turned to Bust in 1929 · YouTube

   Explores the tumultuous 1920s, illustrating how economic prosperity quickly transitioned to despair, foreshadowing the Great Depression.

4. Book
   

   The Great Gatsby · Bookshop.org

   Portrays the life of Jay Gatsby, whose wealth and ambition illustrate the emptiness of the American Dream in a materialistic society.

The selected pieces collectively illustrate the evolution and disillusionment of the American Dream, highlighting both historical and contemporary financial phenomena. They connect the cultural aspirations of the 1920s to modern financial crises, emphasizing the persistent illusion of success.