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Thesis: To be American it means to have freedom of expression, the willingness to defy authority when necessary, and to embrace hope.

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Thesis: To be American it means to have freedom of expression, the willingness to defy authority when necessary, and to embrace hope.

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Artifact Evidence: La La Land

In La La Land, the scene where Sebastian performs at the jazz club showcases this theme strongly. Despite societal expectations and commercial pressures, Sebastian remains true to his passion for jazz, expressing himself openly through his music. The scene captures the essence of American freedom of expression, as Sebastian's soulful performance reflects his artistic integrity and defiance against conformity. It serves as a powerful example of how music can serve as a mode for personal expression and creativity, highlighting the importance of freedom in American culture.

Explanation:

In "La La Land," Sebastian's jazz club performance epitomizes the American identity. Despite external pressures and societal expectations that threaten to compromise his passion for jazz, Sebastian remains loyal in his commitment to his music. These pressures include the commercialization of music, as seen when Sebastian is offered a job playing generic Christmas tunes at a restaurant instead of pursuing his passion for jazz. This offer represents a compromise of artistic integrity for the sake of financial stability, reflecting the pressure musicians often face to conform to mainstream preferences in order to make a living. Despite these challenges, Sebastian uses his music as a means of self-expression, showcasing his commitment to his artistic integrity and his refusal to conform to societal norms. This is a good example of how significant freedom of expression is to shaping America and its people's identity.

Historical Evidence:

During the Progressive Era, Louis Armstrong, known as one of the most influential figures in Jazz history. Despite racial segregation and discrimination at the time, Louis Armstrong's music and distinct singing style served as an important form of cultural expression and pride for African Americans in America. His popular performances helped challenge stereotypes and racial barriers. And his music became a symbol of hope and freedom, thus embodying the thesis that being American means embracing freedom of expression, defying authority when necessary, and embracing hope.

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Artifact Evidence: We’re Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister)

The Twisted Sisters say “ Oh, you're so condescending”, which means showing an attitude of patronizing authority. And throughout the song the Twisted Sisters reject their authority. Part of the American Identity, not for all Americans, but for some, is standing up against authority. Despite some people being in authority, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand up against them.

Explanation:

The song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister provides a vivid example of defying authority within the American identity. This defiance is exemplified in the iconic music video as well as several lyrics throughout the songs, where the band members rebel against an authoritarian figure representing parental or societal authority. This example illustrates how some Americans embrace the value of standing up against authority, even in the face of people or groups that are more powerful than themselves.

Historical Evidence:

During the Reconstruction and Jim Crow Era, Rosa Parks started the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She stood up against authority which was not only the people on the bus but also the police authorities to challenge racial injustice. She did this by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus as the rule at this time was to let white passengers sit at the front of the bus, or get off the bus to make room for white passengers. This sparked a citywide boycott that lasted over a year. This led to the Supreme Court ruling against segregated seating on buses. This exemplifies the American identity characteristic of willingness to defy against authority.

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Artifact Evidence: State of Liberty Pedestal

The pedestal of the State of Liberty has a plaque that reads “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.". This symbolizes hope for immigrants who are seeking a better life in America. And shows how the Statue of liberty is a symbol of hope for Americans and immigrants.

Explanation:

The plaque on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, which reads "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," embodies the American identity of embracing hope. This inscription symbolizes the hope that immigrants have when seeking a better life in America, as it represents the promise of opportunity and freedom in the United States. The Statue of Liberty itself serves as a powerful symbol of hope for both Americans and immigrants, reflecting the belief in the possibility of a brighter future and the American ideal of inclusivity and acceptance. This artifact connects to the American identity by illustrating the importance of hope as a fundamental value that shapes the collective aspirations of the nation.

Historical Evidence:

During the Jacksonian Era, the construction of the Erie Canal in 1825 is an example of the American identity of embracing hope and opportunity like the Statue of Liberty. This project connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, significantly reducing the time and cost of transportation for goods and people between the Midwest and the East Coast. This canal symbolizes hope and optimism, especially for immigrants who flocked to the canal and used it to travel for better opportunities.

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1. Both the Statue of Liberty pedestal plaque and the construction of the Erie Canal symbolize hope and opportunity. The plaque's inscription offers hope to immigrants seeking a better life in America, while the Erie Canal provided economic opportunities for immigrants and Americans alike during the Jacksonian Era. Both artifacts serve as symbols of progress and the American identity, embodying the belief in a brighter future.

2. While the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister and Rosa Parks' actions during the Montgomery Bus Boycott both demonstrate defiance against authority, they do so in different ways. Twisted Sister's song rebels against societal norms and parental authority, expressing a broader resistance against conformity. In contrast, Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus challenged racism and discriminatory laws. Twisted Sister's defiance is more symbolic and cultural, while Rosa Parks' act of civil disobedience had concrete legal and political consequences.