introduction:
- published 2013 by KAL in The Economist
- topic: criticism of the American dream
description:
- stairway on a bridge; bridge about as wide as one person
- bridge is full, but there’s still not a lot of people on there since it is so thin
- bridge located high above a mountain
- built on small pillars with archways connecting them
- Bridge turns 90° to the right with a light up sign reading “American dream →” and below that a flag of the USA without any of the stars
- bridge to the right crumbling and already cracking
- no real guard rails, only small ankle-high wall extensions
- people are of mixed race, age, and gender and there’s even a family with a child
- most people march proudly and energetically, less the further up you go
- end of the bridge is not in sight
interpretation:
- crumbling, cracking ⇒ collapse is inevitable
- high above, stairs ⇒ difficult to climb
- lacking width ⇒ only able to achieve for a select few
- different people ⇒ still achievable to technically anyone
- no guardrails ⇒ “the bigger the pride, the higher the fall”
- sign ⇒ “advertised” as glamorous and great
- end of bridge is not in sight & people get more tired further up ⇒ it gets harder the further you get & the goal is not actually achievable