Thinking of the California dream people often get this vivid image of something that in a way is almost magical. It is thought to represent hope, happiness and opportunity for a more prosperous life. When one thinks of California it is thought to be perfect in everyway. All one hears about is endless sun, celebrities, and Hollywood. The immediate thought of California is this breathe-taking enviornment. It is known to be a place of endless dreams and opportunities. In the song, “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers depicts an image of the California Dream and western society as an unrealistic dream of artificial practices in which people take part of. They take into account the artificial and unrealistic environment and image that California gives off.
The California dream gives off an unrealistic and artificial perception of California. The song “Californication” demonstrates the California Dream and it’s unrealistic perception. The media shows an “average” celebrity and how they succeed and live a glamorous lifestyle. All of their houses and cars give people who are not of this stature some type of hope and dream that is not necessarily accessible to them. In James J. Rawls essay “California: A Place, A People, A Dream,” also vividly visualizes why the California Dream is so unrealitistic. The promises the California Dream states are expectations that are a paradox. These heightened expectation result in unreachable goals.
In addition, the song “Californication” is about the deterioration of society. It reflects how the world is becoming a very superficial and plastic society. Technically what the Red Hot Chili Peppers are doing is making fun of the whole concept of California and it’s image. This concept presents a situation in which the natural beauty of California and it’s surrounding regions depicts an image where people try very hard to fit in. This type of impression gives California its “fake-ness.” To further elaborate on the concept of California’s “fake-ness” is a verse from “Californication” which says “Pay your surgeon very well/ to break the spell of aging/ Celebrity skin is this your chin/ or is that war your waging” (line 13-16). This illustrates that individuals in California must give a perception towards the outside world of their supposed “perfection” and establish their lifestyle to be desired by others. The verse “Dream of Californication” (line 18) gives people a hope that they might be able to actually obtain this dream.
On top of the California Dream being both artificial and unrealistic, the topic of “fornication” is also brought up. Fornication is the voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other (dictionary.com). In the song the Red Hot Chili Peppers state “A teenage bride with a baby inside/ Getting high on information/ and buy me a star on the boulevard/ It’s Californication” (Lines 23-26). This gives the impression that one of the California ideals is to just go out and have fun. It dampens the ideals that California once held. It shows that nothing is necessarily planned and that people now at a young age do not care about their consequences and it illustrates that the ultimate goal of success is reduced due to restrictions that these decisions cause. The song is portrays California in a way, which many people would not necessarily approve of. It pollutes the California Dream and causes society to look down upon individuals who may make these decisions as well as decisions similar to that.
In conclusion the image that Hollywood sells is manufactured. The dream of becoming famous is reduced due to these unreachable goals and expectations. The obsession of staying young and achieving great things is not always at reach, but for some reason individuals still believe in the “California Dream” and its ambitions. Ultimately the song “Californication” depicts the deterioration of the western civilization, superficial ness, and it’s insecurities.
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