Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Ultimate Self-Made Man and American Dream Incarnation
Arnold Schwarzenegger is well-known for his years as a bodybuilding champion, which led him to leave his native Austria and ultimately find success in Hollywood. Today, he joins the streaming world on Netflix with a double program, the Fubar series and the documentary Arnold.
What makes Arnold even more intriguing is his ability to remain incorporated with constant humor in the flow of time, the time of pop culture, which has long included politics with absolute comfort. Step by step, Arnold is the ultimate self-made man and the most contemporary incarnation of the American Dream.
Arnold’s Childhood and Background
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in Austria in 1947. His father’s Nazi past, which was investigated by the Simon Wiesenthal Center at the request of Arnold himself, causes Arnold to be very frontal with it. Arnold’s father did nothing heinous, but he cared very little for his son, whom he physically punished. Catholics of weekly communion, the Schwarzeneggers were strict when it came to educating their two children.
Arnold’s Journey to Becoming The Strongest Man in The World
Arnold began practicing bodybuilding at the age of 15 with the motto of becoming “the strongest man in the world.” Inspired by strongmen from movies, including Steve Reeves, Arnold was perfectly equipped for the hardships of training as a bodybuilder. The competition took him to the United States, where he achieved his dream of becoming Mr. Olympia, something like the World Cup of being a strongman.
Arnold’s Acting Career
Arnold stepped into the acting world first as one of the figures in the documentary Pumping Iron. After that, he appeared in several movies, starting with his debut as an actor in Stay Hungry. Although he spoke English like a horse with pneumonia, Arnold’s character in Stay Hungry struck up a perfect relationship on screen with Jeff Bridges. Arnold’s first appearances in the cinema were just the beginning of a long and successful career.
Arnold’s Success in Conan The Barbarian and Terminator
Arnold made his debut in Conan the Barbarian, adapted from the novels written by pulp idol Robert E. Howard. The film was dry, monumental, loads of muscle and philosophy in a world of barbarians and sorcerers. Arnold’s performance was tremendous and translated into a global success.
Two years later, Terminator arrived, and Arnold’s performance was again remarkable. To a large extent, Terminator was a masterpiece, and James Cameron understood that Schwarzenegger was precisely a machine. The guy who never stopped is the character who never stops, and his performance gave the constant fear that the film generates.
Arnold’s Unique Presence in Predator
Predator is a film directed by John McTiernan just before he directed Die Hard. Arnold played the character of a mercenary who meets an ET on a playful leisure trip dedicated to his favorite hobby. The premise of the film satirizes the Yankee action cinema of those bombastic eighties. Arnold’s human presence, too human, was needed for the rest of the film’s features to become ridiculous.
Arnold’s Success in True Lies and Other Movies
Arnold’s movies continued to be successful, including True Lies, a parody of “Jamesbondism” by James Cameron, and the beautiful but unsuccessful The Last Great Hero by McTiernan, where Arnold portrays both himself and an emotional and tortured character.
Bottom Line
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life and career path are nothing short of fascinating. From a child in Austria, Arnold became a bodybuilding champion, Hollywood actor, and even reached the top of politics. Arnold’s life and career are a true testament to the American Dream and the definitive matrix of modernity.
