Media Representation of Very Wealthy

• The very wealthy are generally represented positively in the media, for example Alan Sugar and the Dragons on Dragons' Den
• The constant media focus on the lifestyles of wealthy celebrities tends to glamorise such lifestyles, suggesting this is something we should all aspire form rather than focusing on the injustice of how much these people are paid compared to ordinary people (this is Meritocracy and 'false class-consciousness')
• Reiner completed their studies on the media representations of the upper class & very wealthy in 2010
• Reiner (2010) stated contemporary representations of people wealth show them as examples of success within a meritocratic society (such as Alan Sugar and Dragons on Dragons' Den)
• Reiner (2010) stated that when people are shown as having enormous wealth, their achievements are celebrated and the audience aspire to be like these people (Meritocracy), and forget about the injustices of wealth distribution ('false class-consciousness')