Robert Bellah and Bel-Air's Fresh Prince have the same view of the meaning of success in America

Freedom, Justice, Success; these are three elements that we strive to achieve throughout our lifetime. Celebrities seem to encompass elements of success- they have fame, money, and are usually especially talented and good looking. Thus when a regular person wants to find the key to success, they aspire to be like a celebrity. In a popular YouTube Interview, Will Smith shares his idea of success with the rest of America by revealing the path to success. He says in his interview “We are who we choose to be” and that by making choices we decide who we are, what we are going to be, and that we are the controllers of our destiny.

This is connected to the ideas presented in the first two chapters of Habits of the Heart by Robert Bellah. Bellah agrees “Americans tend to think of the ultimate goals of a good life as matters of personal choice” (Bellah, 22). Bellah also differentiates between “utilitarian individualism” and “expressive individualism.” Utilitarian individualism is the idea that self- existence is based off economics and individuals only partake in society to advance their own self-interest. Expressive individualism defines success as a life rich with experience and has nothing to do with material gain or fitting into the context of society. So you might be wondering at this point, what does all of this have to do with Will Smith, the Fresh Prince?

Will Smith is an example of someone that is exhibiting both utilitarian individualism and expressive individualism. On one hand he is a celebrity that advances his own self-interest by participating in society by having fans that want to pay to see him in movies and television shows. On the other hand, he says that the way he achieved his idea of success was by paving his own way, having a clear idea of his character, and seems not to worry about his place in society. These two ideas are paradoxical yet they communicate the very meaning of success in America. Smith says he wants to represent an “idea” of that anyone can be “successful.” Celebrities seem to have achieved this ultimate success and according to Smith’s interview and lifestyle, success in America is about having the freedom to choose a path of self- discovery self-awareness, and self-fulfillment.