The documentary film Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream throws light on the problem of economic inequality in the United States. In particular, the film-makers want to show why many people are deprived of the opportunity to raise their social status. This film should be considered because it shows how the existing social and political system can contribute to the growing inequalities within the community.
Nevertheless, the authors do not provide examples of those people who were able to acquire wealth even though they did not come from affluent families. Furthermore, many of them do try to support low-income people. This is one of the drawbacks that should be taken into account by the viewers who want to get a better idea about the causes of the problems described in the movie. These are the main questions that should be discussed more closely.
The authors eloquently demonstrate how closely affluence and poverty can co-exist in America. For instance, one can speak about the residents of the South Bronx and the Upper East Side (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). They represent two social groups that dramatically different in terms of income level. This is one of the details that can be distinguished.
This film is also interesting because the film-makers explain how politicians and legislators can widen the gap between low-income and affluent citizens. For instance, some of them may try to minimize the role of trade unions. Furthermore, they usually actively support the deregulation of the economy (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). Apart from that, they lobby for laws that reduce the amount of taxes paid by affluent individuals.
This discussion is important for understanding the reasons why the social gap may increase in the future. Additionally, one should keep in mind that Americans are not equal in terms of their educational opportunities. Many of them cannot afford high-quality education (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). These are some of the details that should be considered by legislators and public administrators who should design more inclusive policies.
However, it is also important to mention that the authors depict rich people as extremely callous individuals. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that many of them donate to charitable organizations. Furthermore, these people do not necessarily come from very affluent families. One cannot say that their opportunities were limitless at the very beginning. Thus, one cannot perceive rich individuals, only exploiters who just want to make sure that poor people remain at the same level of social hierarchy. This is one of the pitfalls that should be avoided.
Nevertheless, even despite this limitation, this film should not be overlooked because it can show why inequalities may emerge and persist. To some degree, this movie urges political leaders to re-evaluate existing laws and regulations that stifle social mobility upward. Moreover, policy-makers should become more accountable to citizens of the country; otherwise, social inequality cannot be reduced. This is one of the key points that can be made.
Admittedly, this movie may not enable viewers to gain in-depth insight into the underlying causes of poverty and inequality. In order to achieve this goal, a person should ready many academic books and articles. However, this film can be a good starting point. Overall, this movie can raise people’s awareness of the main problems that currently affect the community. These are the main details that can be distinguished.
Works Cited
Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream. Ex. Prod. Alex Gibney. London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 2012. DVD.