This chapter will shift the focus from substantive analysis of political, economic, and social structures to the level of ideology and cultural symbols. We will analyze how the American popular culture industry, represented by Hollywood, systematically and continuously markets the illusion of an “American Dream” that no longer exists. We will argue that this vast gap between cultural propaganda and reality is not merely a form of social deception but also a cultural fuel that exacerbates the pervasive pessimism of the younger generation (Chapter Seventy-Five) and social fragmentation (Chapter Sixty-Seven).

First Thesis: The Ideal and Real Functions of the Culture Industry

I. The Ideal Role of Cultural Products: Reflecting Reality and Exploring Truth

In an ideal state, popular culture should serve as a mirror and explorer of society: reflecting the complexity of reality, challenging established authority and injustice, and exploring social truths.

II. The Real Function of the Culture Industry: Maintaining the Status Quo and Marketing Illusions

However, the real function of the large-scale culture industry, represented by Hollywood, is more about maintaining ideological stability and marketing a commercially valuable illusion:

Ideological Stabilization: Selling a narrative that “hard work leads to success,” “the system is ultimately fair,” and “America is the world’s savior.”

The Core of the Illusion: The core of this illusion is the “American Dream,” which masks the economic inequality, institutional failure, and structural injustice analyzed in previous chapters.

Second Thesis: Specific Narratives of the Illusion and Their Contrast with Reality

III. Narrative One: The Myth of Meritocracy

Hollywood’s most central narrative is the myth of “rags to riches” and meritocracy:

Propaganda: In films and television shows, success often stems from individual effort, talent, and moral character, rather than social class or political connections.

Contrast with Reality: As analyzed in Chapter Sixty-One, class mobility has frozen, and success increasingly depends on family wealth and privilege (the privileging of knowledge, Chapter Sixty-Five). For the younger generation (Chapter Seventy-Five) who work hard but cannot succeed, this narrative is a form of psychological mockery.

IV. Narrative Two: “Heroic Politics” and the Effectiveness of Institutions

Popular culture tends to simplify political and social issues into individual moral struggles between “heroes and villains”:

Propaganda: Crises are always resolved by a moral, visionary president, judge, or hero (for example, an upright FBI agent).

Contrast with Reality: As analyzed in Parts Two and Four, America’s crises are structural and institutional, unable to be resolved by a single individual. This illusion of heroism misleads the public into thinking “the problem is people, not the system,” thereby obstructing calls for systemic reform.

V. Narrative Three: Harmless Multiculturalism

Hollywood promotes a conflict-free, declassed multiculturalism:

Propaganda: Films and television shows feature diverse characters of various races and genders working together in harmony and equality.

Contrast with Reality: This multicultural narrative often avoids the sharp conflicts between race, gender, and class inequality (Chapter Sixty-Seven). It ignores the systematic exploitation of minority groups by the wealth gap (Chapter Sixty-Four), rendering the struggle for true social justice harmless and superficial.

Third Thesis: The Negative Social Impact of the Illusion

VI. Exacerbating Social Cynicism

When the illusion of cultural propaganda clashes sharply with the public’s daily despair (Chapter Seventy-Five), the consequence is social cynicism:

Erosion of Trust: The public develops deep distrust toward all mainstream narratives and institutions (including media, government, and the cultural establishment).

Redirection of Anger: Anger shifts away from the system and toward culture itself. Many conservative voters view Hollywood as a tool of “elite liberal propaganda,” intensifying the cultural civil war (Chapter Sixty-Seven).

VII. Obscuring the Nature of Problems

This illusion-based cultural production obscures the nature of problems:

Simplification of Issues: Reducing complex structural problems (such as climate change, Chapter Seventy-Eight) to individual actions or technological solutions, rather than structural reconstruction of the political and economic system.

VIII. Chapter Conclusion: The Fragmentation of Ideology

The analysis in Chapter Seventy-Nine summarizes the fragmentation of the “broken American Dream” at the level of cultural symbols and ideology.

Presentation of the Core Argument: The popular culture industry, represented by Hollywood, continuously markets a false, optimistic illusion of the “American Dream.” This vast gap between illusion and reality exacerbates social cynicism, despair, and cultural fragmentation, preventing the public from recognizing the true nature of institutional failure.

NEXT: Chapter 80: Behind the “Great Resignation”: Rebellion Against Work — A Fundamental Shift in Labor Values