![]() ![]() The gene of optimism was passed down from generation to generation with the proof in the pudding and the evidence of that preceding generation managing to do a little better than the one which came before it. Hence, title of her tome, Cruel Optimism becomes a term that appropriately warns of the dangers of holding onto that optimistic sense formed in the wake of systemized approach to tendering the possibility of the living a good life or attaining the American Dream that simply does not exist anymore. More to the point, this individual philosophy has infected the social fabric of America as a result of post-WW society and governmental approaches the improving that society for the benefit of the greater majority in a way that continues to proceed as a virus destroying the body politic as those approaches have consistently fallen away in the post-1980’s restructuring of the American political ideology as it has moved farther to the Right and away from the liberal welfare safety net that provided a foundation for optimism.Īs the foundation has crumbled, however, the optimistic view of most people has remained intact even in the face of consistently growing obstructions put in place to hinder that outlook. Among the more popular alternatives would be self-descriptions such as “pragmatic” or “realistic.” Anything to avoid what in the Age of Irony has become the ultimate insult to one’s intelligence: being marked as a Pollyanna, named after the young literary heroine whose sugary expectations that things will always turn out for the best has transformed her into a hopelessly gullible rube ripe for the picking in this dog-eat-dog world.Īccording to Berlant’s comprehensive study, however, it turns out that America is positively crawling with Pollyannas. ![]() The fact is most people have a natural tendency to reject the label of being firmly optimistic when an alternative other than pessimistic is proffered. Lauren Berlant’s 2012 book Cruel Optimism suggests that a much broader, deeply ingrained and potentially dangerous sense of optimism is far more pervasive and that the poll’s 50% figure is wildly pessimistic. The rest defined themselves as inhabiting a netherworld in which ambiguity is always in play and their hope are raised or lowered according to the specifics of the situation. ![]() Still, the number positively dwarfed those who consider their outlook to be outright pessimistic: a mere 3% took always see the glass as half-empty. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.Ī 2013 poll revealed that when it comes to seeing the glass as half-full, only half of Americans are prepared to admit they are optimists. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |