Welcome to the Jazz Age. The government has prohibited alchohol usage. However, people party on a weekly basis like there's no tomorrow, with more and more people becoming a part of the wealthy elites. Economy itself is sky high, people are having a marvelous time. Are these people happy?
Fast forward one hundred years. Artists have started to spread the message that "Cash rules everything around [them]" (C.R.E.A.M. - Wu-Tang Clan), criticizing how much money is important in our lives. Jessie J goes further to say that "It seems like everybody's got a price" (Price Tag - Jessie J). This change in culture vastly reflects how much people are aware of materialistic views.
The "Great Gatsby", the famed novel by Robert Fitzgerald, set in the Jazz Age, shows the influence of materialistic values on the American society. While people may look happy, they can often be seen unhappy; couples argue at parties, affairs are common, and many die at parties. Then the party resumes the next week, or even that very night. Behind the jazz music and the group of fancy dancers, only sadness awaits.
America already experienced what happens. The 1930s were a mess. However, the 'money money money' state of mind continued on. This is still illustrated today, such as the Black Friday sales. The day before is Thanksgiving, when people supposedly are thankful of what they have. They hurry to finish dinner and run to the mall to get in line to get in their favorite shops and buy a bagful of clothes or electronics. The irony ensues every year.
People are becoming more and more aware of such ugly fact about America. The materialistic views, however, are not changing. Furthermore, America is one of the biggest examples that developing countries follow in order to gain economical success. To serve a good example, and also for their own good, America needs to not only be aware, but improve the way it thinks about the dollar bills.
"Goddamnit I like it
Bright lights [are] enticing
But look what it did to Tyson
All the money in one night
Thirty mil for one fight,
but soon as all that money blows,
all the pigeons take flight"
-Jay Z - Holy Grail
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