American Freedoms

The United States has long been portrayed as a place that, at the best of times, rewards people who are hard-working, who seek out opportunity, and who defend their right to enjoy basic freedoms. How do people who live in the U.S. see themselves fitting into this popular story about freedom and the "American" experience?

I am filming responses to this question by asking hundreds of people nationwide to talk about both the idea and their experience of "freedoms" in the United States. What privileges and opportunities has living in the U.S. enabled them to enjoy, and what has been denied? When have they seen the country help people secure particular political, cultural, economic, and personal freedoms, or prevent others from doing the same? Are there privileges and rights that everyone in the U.S. should expect, and do Americans sometimes take freedoms for granted? Why have Americans historically disagreed so much about the boundaries of certain freedoms, about the rights that deserve protection, and about what it takes to secure them? And why, despite these disagreements, do people often describe their demands and aspirations as chapters in an "American" story, part of a tradition with a shared and unified vision? 

The narrative of American Freedoms will be told by the individuals who choose to participate. They will do the talking, without "experts" offering commentary or passing judgement on freedom's many meanings and histories. And because so many people are involved, no one will get extensive screen time, be "profiled," or have their views or life stories highlighted. Instead the film will present a patchwork of conversations about people's experiences, understandings, and convictions, many that will be familiar to viewers and others that will no doubt surprise or confuse. The project invites participants and viewers to put competing ideas about freedoms in the United States—freedoms imagined, aspired to, and realized—in conversation with their own.

To learn more or inquire about participating, click the links above.