and freedom for all citizens to achieve their goals and become rich and famous if only they work hard enough.
http:www.ego4u.comenread-oncountriesusaamerican-dream In American Studies Today: An Introduction to Methods and Perspectives,
Amritjit Singh, Max J. Skidmore, and Isaac Sequeira states that Americans have long been dedicated to the creation of the good society, and they have come close
to fulfillment in the postwar era. They have achieved a remarkable state of material quantity that is more than enough – good food, comfortable clothes,
convenient homes, fast cars, excellent medical care; to a considerable they have been relieved from the constant fatigue, the pain, hunger, sickness and misery
which have been mankind’s lot through history. It is a striking fact that with so much leisure and abundance there has been a little idleness or even relaxation. In
general, Americans show a great fear of wasting time, and furiously pursue new experiences and higher levels of performance as if they are determined to make
the most of each day and each hour. 1995: 224-225 In
his American Studies: A Conceptual Approach
, Irving L. Gordon states that American and foreign observers have attempted, throughout the history, to
identify “typical American traits”. Americans have been described as possessing the following traits: 1 hard working, materialistic, and practical, 2
adventuresome and optimistic, 3 impatient and inclined toward violence, 4 patriotic and nationalistic, 5 supporters of humanitarian and idealistic goals, and
6 believers in fair play, equality of opportunity, and individual responsibility 1984: 385
First, being materialistic relates to the tendency to be more concerned with material than with spiritual or intellectual goals or values. In short, the only or
highest goals or values are comfort, pleasure, and wealth. Whereas, being practical concerns with the application of knowledge in actual practice, rather than
with theory. Second, being optimistic has the tendency to take the most hopeful and cheerful view of matters. In other words, it is the practical of looking on the
bright side of things or of thinking positively. Third, being impatient deals with the feeling or showing a lack of patience, annoyance, or of not willing to bear or
tolerate. The worst result of it is having involved in violence. Next, having idealistic goals has something to do with following one’s own ideals to the point
of impracticality. For addition, according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary
, an idealist is similar to a dreamer 1996: 669. The fifth or last trait supporting the analysis is having equality of opportunity. It is the same as having,
or perhaps demanding, the same chance or possibility as what other people do. These traits are chosen because they reflect the characteristics of most of
Americans who lived in the twenties. The traits are appropriate for the analysis to show that most of the Americans have those kinds of characteristics to get what
they want in their lives. In other word, these traits support them to achieve a better life in personal fulfillment or even in material success.
The American Dream has become the culture in American society. It consists of body contact and personal expression, social class, class factors and
politics, health and income, political attitudes, economic outlook, popular culture, technology and gadgets, automobiles, etc.
C. Review on the Life of American Society in 1920s and 1930s
The character of Batman was created by Bob Kane and first appeared in Detective Comics
27 in May 1939 issued by National and All-American which later known as DC Comics. Bob Kane was in collaboration with Bill Finger in
creating that character. Batman Begins script itself was made in 2004 by David S. Goyer and Christian Nolan, but this review discusses about the American Society
in 1930s when character of Batman was made. American society life in 1930s was closely related with the life in 1920s
when 1920s and 1930s were called as the period of Post – World War I. In history of American Society, Post – World War I brought a quite significant influence in
the development of American civilization. Some of the influences can be seen in the form of new values and life goals of most American society. 1920s was the
period of prosperity or commonly called as The Golden Prosperity of Industry in American civilization that was set up with the development of mechanization in
industrialization. Industrialization was the focus of the government under W. Harding presidency at the time as the answer for the economics needs caused by
the World War I expenditures. Current, 1976: 274 1920 was the time when the automobile came into its own with increased
production and absorbed employment more than 3 million persons. It was the time of the coming numerous household gadgets: radio, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner
and many others. It was an age when the federal government sought to impose a species intoxicating beverages and an age of what seemed too many like
unprecedented license in speech and behavior, the age of “flaming youth” and unrestrained dances like the “bunny hug and Charleston”
Current, 1976: 274 In the development of a mass national culture, Americans live with a
emphasis on leisure, consumption, and amusement that had characterized the modern era. Its benefits were more accessible to the middle class than to
minorities and other disadvantages groups. Henretta, 1993: 734 1920s was a critical decade in the development of the Americans Economy
and it came to its highest peak. The prosperity and economic innovation of the 1920s gave Americans the highest standard of living in the world, although not
every American was lucky enough to benefit from this new way of life. Most farmers, urban blacks, and recent immigrants could not afford the new mass-
produced consumer goods and sampled them only selectively, adapting them to their traditional lifestyle. Henretta, 1993: 727
The country had reached a “permanent plateau” of prosperity and need never worry again about the possibility of a serious slump. Nevertheless,
prosperity, like “normalcy” proved to be only temporary. Eventually the country fell into much worst economic depression it had ever known. Current, 1976: 274
The period of 1930s was the period that absolutely contrasts with the conditions n the 1920s.the collapse in the stock market in October 1929, The
Great Depression , which resulted from the tensions in capitalism economy,
followed by the widespread of unemployment, deflation, and prolonged crisis. The Hoover administration, 1928 – 1932, had to subsidize business and to pull in
sail. However, it was unable or unwilling to meet the problem confronted the nation. Thorp, 1941: 77
In 1932, millions of Americans were out of work and many of them lived in squalid shack on the edge of the cities and got their food from charity. Even
those who still employed frequently earned less from farm, job, or investments than in the previous decade. Psychologically, they were in fear because no one
could anticipate more problem laid ahead. Youngs, 1981: 160 The impact of The Great Depression on individual Americans was not
sudden, but gradual. Although most people remained employed day after day, thousands men and women received severance slips at the beginning. Norton,
1982: 706 Million of Americans were not only hungry and ill, they were cold unable
to afford fuel, some huddled in unheated tenements and shacks, families doubled up in crowded apartments, but some who were unable to pay that rent were
evicted, furniture packing boxes and other debris usually carted away as junk. Several hundred women took to sleeping in Chicago’s Lincoln and Grant Parks; in
Oakland, California, hundreds of people live in leftover concrete waste ducts f sewer – pipe city. Norton, 1982: 709
The Great Depression left an “invisible scar” on many Americans who lived through the 1930s, especially on white middle class. Henretta, 1993: 783
The Great Depression had caused severe problems to most of the individual Americans and the impact stayed in an extended condition along with
the struggle recovery. Even after the economy shifted toward war mobilization in PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
the late 1930s, the “invisible scar” of The Great Depression in some individual Americans still resists.
D. Theoretical Framework
In analyzing the Batman Begins movie script, the writer uses some theories. They are divided into two parts. One, they are the theories to reveal the
elements inside the story. They are theory of Character and Characterization and theory of Symbolism. The other is the theory to reveal the extrinsic elements of
the story. It is theory of American Dream. The first theory is Theory on Character and Characterization. This theory
is used to reveal the character of Bruce Wayne, as Batman’s alter ego, as the major character on Batman Begins. It is also needed to know about Batman’s
character. The second one is Theory of Symbolism. This theory is used to reveal the
symbolism of the bat as symbol of a crime fighter who fights the crimes in Gotham City. It is also used to know why Bruce Wayne uses the symbol as a
crime fighter. Both theory of Character and Characterization and theory of Symbolism
are used by the writer to answer the first question which is stated in problem formulation.
The third theory which is used is Theory of American Dream. This theory is needed to reveal the significance and symbolism of Batman in American
