Eunji Kim, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, explores how reality TV perpetuates the myth of meritocracy. She reveals how shows like American Idol and Shark Tank create a misleading narrative of success, obscuring systemic inequalities. Kim discusses how these programs foster complacency regarding income inequality and influence public perceptions of the American Dream. She also touches on the impact of partisan biases and evolving media consumption patterns in shaping beliefs about social mobility.
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insights INSIGHT
Decline of News, Rise of Reality TV
Most Americans are not primarily consuming political news but entertainment media, especially reality TV.
This shift leads to a diminished common news source and impacts public perceptions of social issues.
insights INSIGHT
Reality TV Fuels American Dream Belief
Reality TV shows with rags-to-riches narratives are widely popular and strongly shape belief in the American Dream.
These narratives causally increase optimism about upward mobility and tolerance for income inequality.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Truck Media Lab Field Experiment
Eunji Kim conducted an experiment by converting a truck into a media lab and showing reality TV episodes to rural participants.
This innovative fieldwork helped prove that watching rags-to-riches TV causally influences belief in the American Dream.
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The American Mirage, How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy
The American Mirage, How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy
How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy
Eunji Kim
Eunji Kim's "The American Mirage" explores the discrepancy between news media portrayals of the American Dream and the narratives presented in reality TV. The book argues that popular reality shows, with their rags-to-riches storylines, cultivate an overly optimistic view of upward mobility. This perception, the author contends, influences political attitudes and tolerance towards income inequality. Kim uses a variety of methods, including surveys, experiments, and content analysis, to support her claims. The research reveals a causal link between reality TV consumption and beliefs about meritocracy, impacting policy preferences. Ultimately, the book challenges the assumption that lived experiences always outweigh media influence in shaping political opinions.
In an age of growing wealth disparities, politicians on both sides of the aisle are sounding the alarm about the fading American Dream. Yet despite all evidence to the contrary, many still view the United States as the land of opportunity. The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy (Princeton University Press, 2025) addresses this puzzle by exposing the stark reality of today’s media landscape, revealing how popular entertainment media shapes politics and public opinion in an increasingly news-avoiding nation. Drawing on an eclectic array of original data, Dr. Eunji Kim demonstrates how, amid a dazzling array of media choices, many Americans simply are not consuming the news. Instead, millions flock to entertainment programs that showcase real-life success stories, such as American Idol, Shark Tank, and MasterChef. Dr. Kim examines how shows like these leave viewers confoundingly optimistic about the prospects of upward mobility, promoting a false narrative of rugged individualism and meritocracy that contradicts what is being reported in the news. By taking seriously what people casually watch every day, The American Mirage shows how rags-to-riches programs perpetuate the myth of the American Dream, glorifying the economic winners, fostering tolerance for income inequality, and dampening support for redistributive policies that could improve people’s lives.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
New Books in Critical Theory