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Eunji Kim, "The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy" (Princeton UP, 2025)

May 6, 2025

Eunji Kim, an assistant professor of political science at Columbia University, explores the interplay between reality TV and societal beliefs about meritocracy in her latest work. She explains how shows like American Idol and Shark Tank foster a false sense of upward mobility while overshadowing real issues like income inequality. Kim discusses the contrast between entertainment and news media, revealing how reality TV shapes public opinions on the American Dream. She also delves into the rapid storytelling of TikTok, emphasizing its influence on modern narratives of struggle and success.

39:03

Episode guests

Eunji Kim

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Reality TV, by showcasing individual success stories, contributes to a misleading belief in meritocracy and upward mobility among viewers.

The decline of news consumption and rise of entertainment media shapes public attitudes, making audiences resistant to wealth redistribution policies.

Deep dives

Rising Income Inequality and the American Dream

The podcast discusses the increasing concern of rising income inequality in the U.S. and its connection to the belief in the American Dream. It explores why many Americans seem accepting of this growing gap between the rich and poor, attributing their comfort to the enduring belief in upward mobility. The speaker emphasizes that while traditional explanations link belief in the American Dream to cultural ideas, there are individual variations in optimism that require further investigation. This leads to the examination of how media, particularly reality TV, shapes perceptions of success and mobility in society.

Intro

2min

Reality TV and the Myth of the American Dream

3min

Reality TV and the American Dream

24min

Exploring Micro Narratives in Modern Media

2min

Exploring New Research on Policing and Social Media Influence

3min

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.

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