History, Material Culture, and the Search for the Mythic American Dream in Angie Cruz’s Let it Rain Coffee

Authors

Michelle Almonte, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

English

First Advisor's Name

Nandini Dhar

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Heather Russell

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Ana Luszczynska

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Dominican history, material culture, mythic American Dream, Migration, Media, Let it Rain Coffee, Angie Cruz, Esperanza Colon, Dallas, Daniel Miller, Self-Agency

Date of Defense

3-27-2017

Abstract

This thesis examines the connection between Dominican history, the influence of American material culture, and the mythic American Dream as catalysts for migration. The two U.S. occupations and American propaganda through media had a great effect on the deceptive perception of an American life as an effortless method for attaining wealth. Let it Rain Coffee by Angie Cruz, will focus on the character, Esperanza Colon, and her obsession with the lavish lifestyle she views on the television show, Dallas. Material objects, as argued by Daniel Miller in his book, Stuff, work in subtle yet significant ways and determine our function, identification, and experience in society. If the ideal purpose of material culture is to presuppose our roles as individuals, one can conclude that the novel showcases the issues of a subordinate class struggling to attain the material goods that represent economic wealth while maintaining a sense of self-identification and self-agency.

Identifier

FIDC001800

Recommended Citation

Almonte, Michelle, "History, Material Culture, and the Search for the Mythic American Dream in Angie Cruz’s Let it Rain Coffee" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3175.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3175