Stardom and Social Mobility
“You’re going to Hollywood!”
This line, as anyone who has caught a glimpse of American Idol knows, triggers screaming, jumping, hugging and loud celebration. It seems to mean one thing to everyone: you have a shot to make it big.
Hollywood has become a shortcut in the American lexicon—and probably internationally as well—for upward mobility, or moving up economically and improving one’s social status. Watch this clip of an American Idol audition from the latest season and pay attention to all of the language of upward mobility both the contestant and the judges use:
Beyond her singing ability, this contestant references her desire to improve her status for herself and for her special-needs child. Social mobility often involves intergenerational mobility, or improving your economic standing from one generation to the next. This is a core principle of the American Dream, a belief that those who are talented and work hard can achieve upward mobility, and that each generation can do better than the one before. Part of American Idol’s immense success over the years has been its frequent references to the dreams, talent, and hard work of individuals, some of whom will be rewarded with fame and fortune. Because the public votes for their favorites, the show appears to reflect the American ideals of meritocracy and democracy.
American Idol is not alone in promoting the idea that fame creates new opportunities for people to move up from the proverbial rags to riches. In fact, celebrity status itself in part functions to suggest that upward mobility is widely available to all.
I recently completed a study of celebrity fan magazines, dating back from their first publication in 1911 to the present. While I had initially started the research in order to assess when celebrities’ private lives became a topic of public fascination, I found something far more interesting: that regardless of who was famous, why they were famous, and whatever they were up to in their personal lives, the magazines’ stories and advertisements promoted the idea that the fantasy of upward mobility was real. Celebrities embody the American Dream in action—they made it big, reinforcing the idea that no matter what the economic realities of the time were, those who work hard and have special qualities can rise to the top.
Rags to riches stories intensified during the Great Depression, when becoming wealthy was likely to be extremely difficult, particularly when so many people were just trying to get by (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1933 the unemployment rate reached nearly 25 percent). As I write about in my book, Celebrity Culture and the American Dream: Stardom and Social Mobility, fan magazines of that era seemed to go into overdrive to detail how wealthy movie stars were.
They played golf, tennis, polo, sat by their private pools attended by servants and bodyguards, according to the magazines’ features. While the median household income hovered around $1,000 a year for most Americans, fan magazine stories told of the six-figure salaries the stars drew and about their lavish spending.
This might have been a recipe for revolt at a time when many people struggled to find their next meal. But coverage of Hollywood celebrities reminded readers not to lose hope, that you could still control your destiny with the right hygiene and beauty products. Women—the primary readers of fan magazines—could hope to snag a wealthy husband, according to ads like the one at left that promised that the right soap could make or break a potential life of glamour.
The stories and ads in fan magazines might have helped readers overlook the realities of structural mobility, which causes upward or downward mobility based on changes to the economy or the growth or death of an entire industry. As Todd Schoepflin wrote about recently, when a factory closes many people will lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Likewise, during a depression or recession, layoffs and cutbacks will cause millions to lose their jobs or part of their income.
The start of the Depression coincided with a major structural change in the film industry: the conversion to "talkies" during the late 1920s and early 1930s. For many silent stars with foreign-sounding or heavy regional accents, this was the end of their career. But within many fan magazines, their failure was recast as personal rather than structural: perhaps they didn’t manage their money well, or maybe they gained weight or just weren’t talented enough.
Upward mobility is real, although the dramatic rags-to-riches stories are less common than we may think. Fame and celebrity help reinforce this quintessentially American ideal (although according to this recent report people from other industrialized nations may have an easier time moving up than we do in the U.S.). What other examples can you think of that reinforce the notion of upward mobility?
The article above displays a common theme in media and on telivision. The usage of a catchy phrase that makes poeple feel they can achieve thier dreams. The vocus is put onto the excitement and not the work that will have to be put in in order for the succes to occur.
Posted by: Lily | February 08, 2011 at 08:36 AM
I think this article is true but at the same time it does not let you see the work and hardship of becoming famous. The article made it seem like if you go to hollywood you can get famous right away. It also does not show how many people have failed getting into stardom. So you an go from rags to riches but it will be a difficult adventure
Posted by: manny | February 10, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Hard work does pay off. Although the rags to riches is sometimes uncommon, it does happen. It is also more common to improve a social or economic status even if it isn't as extreme as the rags to riches is. There are also people who shoot for the stars and end up coming short as manny said. Stuff like this doesn't happen overnight. One must work for it and show persistence if a change is going to happen.
Posted by: Jakob Hummel | February 10, 2011 at 11:44 AM
i think these article is really interested because now these days you have a talent. hollywood give u that opportunity to become something in your life and u can make it happen but u g\need to putt all your effort to it. the crime i don't think there a way to stop that it will just continued happening simply because of our world. people hate each other and theres no way to stop it.
Posted by: Gerson De La O | February 10, 2011 at 11:52 AM
In today's society, economy, and work force we find ourselves going through the motions. Hard work is sometimes to find in our era. Hard work does pay off in the long run and must be dedicated to. Those who don't work hard find excuses when they are caught in un-employment or find a dead end. Our economy may be bad, but it has so many opportunities that if you work hard you can pursue.
Posted by: Curtis Ege | February 10, 2011 at 11:56 AM
The stuff shown on tv makes people think that becoming famous is easy and it is not. You have to work for it and become recognized by others. If you want to become famous you better start working for it when your young. If your lucky somebody will see your talents and you might become famous and rich. The only other way to get rich is a lottery ticket and you probably have a better chance of being famous by your talents than the lottery ticket. Even if you do become famous their is a chance that you could go from rich to being poor again. Depends on your spending habits, if you do drugs, or you could pull a weasley snipes and not file your taxes. Overall the article is true but like i said it needs to explain how hard you have to work to get there and to stay rich.
Posted by: Matt Peterson | February 10, 2011 at 03:55 PM
We as Americans tend to focus too much on the "American dream". It is hard not to though because as American citizens, we are brought up to believe in it. I think the real American dream is to work hard and live a happy life. I believe if people will do this, they will have achieved the American dream.
Posted by: Brock Dagel | February 10, 2011 at 11:06 PM
I like this article because everyone has their own talent or their own dream that they want one day. If you can believe in yourself and know that you can do it then just follow your dreams and it will happen. The crime is not going to ever stop and there's no way that we can stop it because they're going to keep on doing it
Posted by: Alicia Wilson | February 11, 2011 at 10:08 AM
you can have many different status's in life, it just depends what you make of them. You can have the status of a good mother, a loser, worthless, or anything like that. You have to make it something good for your own good. Even if it starts out bad, fix your reputation and make it positive. But always remember make your status what you want it, not what other excpect or want it to be.
Posted by: LeAnna Willis | February 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM
This article is interesting and it correlates well with info told to me from a friend who received a record label and was on the path to "becoming famous". They had a record, video on TRL, etc. and long story short, were dropped later not bc of lack of hard work or talent, but basically music politics. The record label made their share of profit and all while promising fame and fortune; They went from red carpet to later, their old economic status & bagging groceries (literally). It's nice to be optimistic and shoot for the stars as people say, but I think it's fair to remain objective and realistic in the fact that this isn't the only factor that dictates the possibility of it happening or failing to happen.
Posted by: Liv | February 13, 2011 at 02:41 AM
Well there are so many things to address with this topic. I will say that Dr. Sternheimer has made some very excellent points in her article. Points that I have made myself on many occasions regarding the illusion of rags to riches being common.
But let me say this, that people need to really identify the difference between fame and finance. There are many famous celebrities that are successful in entertainment but are not as rich as we may perceive them to be. I work in the music industry and I can't think of a world so full of illusion and misconceptions. Your average music artist today signed to a major label is not very financially stable. These record companies lock them into shady deals. Many of these artists are young and come from low income communities and have a very strong work ethic. Yet they sign these deals that basically make them a slave to the company. At one point artists could make their money by going on tour around the country or around the world. Well many of these deals are now saying that the majority of that money belongs to the company. If an artists starts their own venture in clothing, perfumes, shoes etc... the record company is entitled to those profits. It leave the artist with a lot of glamour but not a lot of financial stability. Yet they work very very hard.
But when we as consumers see the gossip sites, the magazines, the news shows, mtv cribs etc... we believe that these artists are living some type of glamorous lifestyle. Which it may be... considering most of what you see is rented or given for free (Celebs get free items to promote for designers).
And I'm seeing a lot of responses about "working hard" etc... Yes hard work goes a long way. But everyone who is poor and struggling isn't exactly lazy either. Some of the hardest working people I know are the poorest. So the working hard thing is obviously not the only factor.
Posted by: Vida Starr | February 13, 2011 at 07:17 PM
There are so many people that truely believe that they can achieve the "American Dream." I think intergenerational mobility is something that a lot of Americans want for their children, my parents included. Multiple causation would have to happen for that person to actually become famous and rich. American Idol helps a lot of people achieve the "American Dream" when they basically would have had no chance to if not for the show.
Posted by: Taylor | February 15, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Stories like this you often see on shows such as American Idol. But not everyone will make it through the end and even if winning it takes much time and a lot of work to make your career successful. But actually making an effort to fufill your dream is great. Some people never take the steps or chances to make their dream come true. Becoming famous is not easy, but for some it is very worth it.
Posted by: Shalee | February 23, 2011 at 04:59 PM
American idol is a good thing, its a good opprounity to show your skill and talent and maybe you could make it all the way. America needs more opprounties to help out the middle class and the poor. Everyone in america wants to have the american dream and happiness. Even if you dont achive it on american idol its still a good opprounity.
Posted by: jeff | March 04, 2011 at 01:47 PM
while i agree with this article but in another sense i do not agree with it. i don't agree with it because it really does not show how there were starving actor/actresses out there before they made it big, how hard it is or was to make it to the top of their game. it also shows that these actors are selfish people out there because they are being treated like royalty with their private pools and their butlers and having expensive meals everyday while the poor or even under paid people were trying to struggle to figure out where their next meal was coming from. personally i do not believe that it is easy for a poor person to live the way they do and i do not believe it is easy for an actor/actress to live the way they do either. it shows that no matter what you do in your life that you can make it great and make it big and be able to climb your way to the top. there are obstacles out there and it does not happen over night nor does it happen withing a year of you going out to hollywood to try to make it big. american idol is another way for people to try to make it big out there by bringing out the good in people and exposing the talented. i watched this clip with the mother of the special needs child and it actually brought a tear to my eye and made me think of what they must go through on a day to day basis. that song hit home with myself because i was once a mother who had a daughter who was a special needs daughter, and was living paycheck to paycheck. it is hard for anyone out there. all you have to do is make it your own and make your dream happen and go out there and just overcome all the obstacles out there.
Posted by: teresa | March 06, 2011 at 07:01 PM
I searched the topic, Stardom and Social Mobility.
I think that this post was very accurate in that people nowadays really do place a lot of stock in being famous. Famous people are icons, and everyone wants to be them. I think other examples of this can sometimes be politicians. They now seems pretty glamorous, and they also personify the American dream. People think that it could be them that go from having nothing to be rich and famous. That is what people want.
This article for me does not focus enough on how hard some people work to become famous. Actors and actresses often struggle for many years before becoming icons. It is through their perserverance and determination that in the end they get to lead what seem like very charmed lives.
Posted by: Ashley B | March 09, 2011 at 02:51 PM
This article was very interesting. I hadn't thought of structural mobility and the influence it has on social status. I find the pursuit of a better life (like on American Idol) inspiring. People in America have the opportunity to change their status in society if they work hard and are determined to do so. Thanks for your sharing your perspective!
Posted by: Lauren | March 16, 2011 at 08:43 AM
I found this to be a very interesting read. While Sternheimer makes interesting points, I do not believe that she takes a clear position on whether or not this is having positive or negative effect on society. While I sensed a slightly sarcastic tone in some parts of her writing, I honestly do not see the downfall to people believing that they can change their class. To me, this belief that hard work will get you what you want should be believed everywhere! Instead of sitting around blaming the economy (structural mobility), the people blaming themselves are more likely to get out there and actually achieve social mobility.
I chose this article because I have an interest in Hollywood and the media and not only the effects it has on the rest of society, but the effects it has on my life. What do I believe because of this? How has it changed the way I think of my future and what is possible for me? I think I grew up in a time eager to believe in social mobility, and that has affected me. Will I meet my goals, or be let down because not everyone can achieve the “American Dream”?
To me, this boils down to whether or not you are willing to work towards achieving your dreams, Hollywood or not. It will happen or it won’t, but no one was ever worse off or suffering for working towards his or her dreams. While the dream of fame and stardom may be considered a shallow one, the ideas of hard work and perseverance are anything but. If everyone believed in upward mobility we could exist in a very productive and successful society. I think this posting analyzed a very interesting relationship of how stardom affects people’s thoughts on themselves and what they are capable of.
Posted by: Katie Schuster | October 26, 2011 at 03:23 AM
I searched meritocracy, and this explains it pretty well. The definition that it's a society has a social class based on achievement and ability. American Idol is a great example of that. People are so focused on the "American Dream," and achieving the goal they want so badly. I think it's also a popularity contest in a way. Good article!
Posted by: Danielle Boss | May 07, 2012 at 04:27 PM