Podcast Summary: New Books Network
Episode: The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy
Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Dr. Christina Gessler
Guest: Dr. Eunji Kim
Overview
This episode delves into Dr. Eunji Kim’s book, The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy, exploring the powerful yet subtle ways reality television shapes Americans’ core beliefs about success, social mobility, and the very fabric of the American Dream. Through personal narrative, empirical research, and keen social observation, Dr. Kim discusses how the stories Americans voraciously consume on reality TV both reflect and reinforce a meritocratic ethos, often at odds with data about growing inequality.
Guest Introduction and Personal Journey
Background and Research Focus
- Dr. Eunji Kim is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, focusing on how non-political aspects of life influence political beliefs and behaviors.
- Her research targets ordinary American habits—such as reality TV consumption—to understand their broader societal and political impact.
“Most people are not that interested in politics... Because our personal experiences are so limited… we often turn to mediated information or mass media to understand how the world works.” (A, 04:43)
Personal Story: From South Korea to Harvard
- Grew up on a remote island near the Korean DMZ.
- First perceptions of America were formed by Korean television dramas, not any firsthand experience—a realization she uses to illustrate the power of media in shaping beliefs.
- “…I grew up thinking that campus [UCLA] was Harvard. …That is an example of the media effects in general.” (A, 03:20)
Academic Path
- Dr. Kim did not originally intend to study political science, considering economics or hospitality before finding inspiration in political science courses at Harvard.
- Her journey mirrors a classic “American Dream” narrative, but she positions herself as a “harsh critic” of meritocracy, recognizing the mythic nature of such narratives in the face of structural inequities.
- “I think of that as an example of the media effects in general...that was the kind of beginning of my fascination with media effects or entertainment media.” (A, 04:47)
Research Motivation and Early Skepticism
Unconventional Approach in Political Science
- Kim faced skepticism as an immigrant studying American politics through the lens of reality TV—an “unusual topic.”
- “I actually heard one person telling me that I would never get a job in political science. That somehow stuck with me forever.” (A, 08:39)
- Early in her work, much of political science focused almost exclusively on news media, even as most Americans showed little engagement with it.
Following the Data
- Her confidence to pursue this research stemmed from compelling data showing low news consumption and far wider engagement with entertainment and reality TV.
- “Most Americans are not watching that much news...I just couldn't shake off the feeling: if not really that many people are watching news, why are we so obsessed with studying news in political science?” (A, 10:38)
Key Research Findings and Discussion Points
News Avoidance and Communication Ecology
(Timestamp: 11:59 – 17:57)
- Americans overwhelmingly avoid news media; less than 4% of web traffic is devoted to news.
- “…less than 4% of official web traffic goes to news. …the number is pretty much the same regardless of the time period...” (A, 16:54)
- Most prior research relied on flawed self-reported data; new web-tracking methods reveal the stark reality of news avoidance.
- The abundance of available entertainment options (streaming, games, social media) makes news consumption even less appealing.
Reality TV and the Myth of Meritocracy
(Timestamp: 17:57 – 24:01)
- Reality TV consistently tells “rags to riches” stories, reinforcing belief in meritocracy and upward mobility.
- This omnipresent narrative is not tied to a particular show but is a genre-wide phenomenon.
- “It didn't matter which reality TV show... episode after episode had the same narrative of rags to riches stories…” (A, 20:13)
- Such stories lead viewers to believe individual effort alone determines success, lessening support for social safety nets or structural policy changes.
- “…if you think that anyone can move up... those people are less likely to support policies that support, that can fix the structural change...” (A, 22:00)
Escapism vs. Social Reality
(Timestamp: 24:01 – 26:08)
- Reality TV serves as a comforting escape from stressful news and personal struggles.
- Yet, the effect is double-edged; the escapist boost in optimism may undermine the political will necessary to address real systemic inequality.
- Dr. Kim is careful with normative judgments—uncertain if more “realism” or “pessimism” would be healthier overall.
- “It is very easy to read my book and think, oh, she's saying that this is bad for democracy...But I'm very careful...What is the optimal level of optimism...” (A, 24:05)
Voting Behavior and the Power of Entertainment Media
(Timestamp: 26:08 – 28:25)
- Kim highlights how voting can be influenced by seemingly trivial contextual factors (polling station location, weather).
- Given that these random factors influence choices, the far more constant exposure to entertainment media likely has even more profound impacts.
- “…the power of that entertainment media that you choose to consume should be way more immense than these random factors…” (A, 27:27)
Problems of Sampling and Representation in Research
(Timestamp: 28:25 – 33:33)
- Dr. Kim stresses the limits of online-only data and surveys: the most vulnerable or extreme voices are often missing.
- She commits to meeting Americans where they are—at festivals, markets, retirement homes—to gather more representative perspectives.
- “…who are we missing by relying on particular data or particular sample? And how do we reach those people?” (A, 30:50)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Media Effects:
- “Our personal experiences are so limited. And when that's the case, we often turn to mediated information or mass media to understand how the world works or how the world is.” (A, 04:47)
-
On News Avoidance:
- “…less than 4% of official web traffic goes to news. …the number is pretty much the same regardless of the time period…” (A, 16:54)
-
On Meritocracy and Optimism:
- “The dilemma is about what do we do... stories of the rags to riches... make people feel empowered and be more innovative... also could be served as a force... where that makes people to not demand more redistribution.” (A, 37:10)
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On Influence of Reality TV:
- “It didn't matter which reality TV show… one episode of American Idol or... Shark Tank, didn't matter…most… had the same narrative of rags to riches… on a repeated basis.” (A, 20:13)
-
On the Political Everywhere:
- “…politics as a perennial undercurrent coursing through the veins of everyday American life… politics can be found everywhere, away from the obvious but often closest to us… in the entertainment media we voraciously consume.” (C, 43:31)
Chapter Breakdown & Key Insights
Chapter 1: Pictures in Our Head (12:00 onwards)
- Explores the limited reach of traditional news/why most Americans avoid it, with empirical evidence.
Chapter 2: Entertaining Nonpartisan Hearts and Minds
- Traces the transformation of news media and the growing dominance of entertainment genres.
Chapter 3: A Tale of Two Media
- Analyzes reality TV’s “rags to riches” structure.
- Three common elements: ordinary protagonist, tangible gain, and faith in meritocracy.
Chapter 4: America’s Got TV (34:48)
- Explores “hometown effects” using American Idol contestants, showing how proximity to success stories can impact belief in social mobility.
Chapter 5: Powerful Signal
- Presents observational data showing the impact of repeated exposure to meritocratic narratives.
Chapter 6: The Meritocratic Dilemma
- Discusses the trade-off: Reality TV boosts optimism and innovation, but may diminish the demand for structural reforms and redistribution.
- “But the dilemma is perhaps the same stories... could be served as a force in our collective politics where that makes people to not demand more redistribution…” (A, 37:10)
Chapter 7: The Entertained States of America
- Synthesizes findings on how entertainment shapes politics, draws connections to soft propaganda, influencers, and the increasing blurring of politics and entertainment.
- “…what you want is who you are. And it doesn't matter whether you are reading news or entertainment. The things that we are consuming in front of our screen affects the way we think about the world…” (A, 42:25)
Soft Propaganda, Influencers, and the New Political Landscape (41:21)
- Politicians and strategists increasingly use trusted social media influencers to reach disengaged audiences.
- The distinction between political and non-political content grows blurrier; regulation (e.g., disclosure) must evolve.
- “…if you want to reach to young voters who are not that interested in politics, you have to grab their eyeballs. And where are they? They're on TikTok… through trusted messengers…” (A, 41:38)
Closing Reflections and Takeaways
- Media Consumption is Powerful: What we watch shapes not just our beliefs about the world, but also what causes we support and what kind of society we want to build.
- Self-Awareness Assignment: Downloading and reviewing your personal media history can foster insight into your own views and habits.
- “I'm hoping that you are much more aware of what you're watching or consuming…think harder about the choices that you make every single time when you're in front of a screen.” (A, 45:08)
- The Political is Everywhere: Escapist entertainment is never fully apolitical; it both mirrors and molds political realities and collective worldviews.
Timestamps for Key Sections
- 01:05 – Host and guest introductions
- 03:11 – Dr. Kim’s personal journey; media’s role in forming her early views
- 08:36 – Early skepticism about her research focus in political science
- 11:59 – The data on news avoidance; rise of behavioral data over reported surveys
- 17:57 – How reality TV constructs the myth of meritocracy
- 24:01 – Reality TV, optimism, and the dilemmas for democracy
- 26:08 – The influence of random life factors on voting vs. constant media exposure
- 28:25 – Inclusivity and representation in political media research
- 34:48 – The “hometown effect” in American Idol and belief in the American Dream
- 36:54 – The “meritocratic dilemma” revisited and its implications
- 39:00 – Misinformation, fact-checking, and actual media consumption patterns
- 41:21 – Soft propaganda, influencers, and regulating the new media landscape
- 43:31 – Everyday politics in entertainment and consumer decisions
- 45:08 – Final assignment: Self-reflection on media consumption
For listeners and readers alike, Dr. Kim’s work asks us to reflect deeply on what narratives we ingest, how they shape us, and what their prevalence says about our society’s collective imagination—and its political future.