Representation of the American Dream in Damien Chazelle's Film La La Land (2016)

Abstract

Abstract. The film La La Land by Damien Chazelle (2016) represents the struggle in pursuing one's dreams. This studyaims to analyze how the concept of the American Dream is portrayed in the filsdfmvcm through its characters andstoryline. The main issue addressed in this research is how the American Dream is represented by Mia and SebastianinLa La Land.Thisstudy uses a descriptive qualitative method witha literary sociology approach, as well asthe AmericanDream theoryproposedby JamesTruslow Adams. Theprimary datasource is the film La La Land, while secondary datais obtained from literature relevant to the topic. The results show that the characters Sebastian and Mia are depicted astwo individuals who persistently pursue their respective dreams Sebastian aspires to own a jazz club, and Mia to becomea famous actress. The film not only presents the ideal side of the American Dream, which suggests that success can beachieved through hard work and determination, but also highlights its realistic side, where achieving dreams often comeswith emotional sacrifices, as Mia and Sebastian are portrayed as individualistic characters. Thus, La La Land portraysthe American Dream as a complex aspiration filled with consequences in its pursuit.