American Oscar laureate commends U.S., berates Europe: "We'll face harsh lessons"
In a new project, Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of "Downton Abbey," delves into the world of New York high society in the 19th century with his series, "The Gilded Age." Fellowes, a British lord, finds parallels between his characters' world and the American mindset, where everything must be fought for, not inherited.
Fellowes expresses a preference for the directness of Americans, who openly say "You're out!" when someone loses their fortune. This candid and competitive approach to wealth contrasts sharply with Europe’s more traditional and restrained attitude.
During the Gilded Age, Americans sought to rapidly and ostentatiously display their wealth, building grand "palaces" and yachts, unlike the European attachment to traditional landed estates. Unlike Europe, where the old aristocracy maintained polite pretenses around status and wealth, Americans lived by a more straightforward and ruthless ethos: "when you lose your money — you're out."
This difference shapes the narrative and characters of "The Gilded Age," showcasing a society where newly rich Americans relentlessly pursue power and status, often clashing with established elites who find the newcomers’ audacity unsettling. The series dramatizes this sharp divide, embodying the American belief in self-made wealth alongside the cutthroat financial and social maneuvering that Fellowes highlights.
Fellowes admires the American mindset when it comes to money, stating that one must "constantly prove oneself." He predicts that people will learn the importance of justifying one's position in the next ten years, due to the American approach.
In an intriguing twist, the fourth season of "The Gilded Age" has already been confirmed, even before the final episode of the third season has been broadcast. The finale of the third season will air on Monday, August 11, on Sky Atlantic and WOW in Germany.
Thus, Fellowes’s portrayal of the American mindset on money as candid and competitive—versus Europe's more tradition-bound and restrained approach—is central to the tension and culture he depicts in "The Gilded Age." The series is a captivating exploration of a world where failure can lead to losing everything, reflecting Fellowes' view of the American mindset.
In the narrative of "The Gilded Age," the characters' financial struggles and pursuit of power mirror the candid and competitive approach to wealth prevalent in American society. This showcases a society where the importance of justifying one's position, as Fellowes suggests, is intrinsically linked to the American belief in self-made wealth and the cutthroat financial and social maneuvering that he emphasizes.
Furthermore, the fourth season of "The Gilded Age" has been confirmed, demonstrating the series' exploration of technology, business, and finance, all facets that vividly portray the American mindset and its contrast with Europe's more tradition-bound approaches.
