Emily Jensen on a cultural shift, as seen on reality television.
The Marc Jacobs Stam bag, Ice Spice’s Juicy ensemble—Y2K style is firmly back in rotation. But imitations of decades past are rarely completely accurate, filtered instead through a contemporary lens. Eighteenth-century Greek Revival architecture was built in plain white marble, but the temples that inspired the style were originally painted in vivid colors that faded over the centuries. What the current Y2K revival has left behind is the absolute unmitigated wealth porn that dominated reality TV of the era.
Take MTVCribs, first aired in 2000. Or VH1’s The Fabulous Life of 2003. The Simple Life (2003-2007) didn't just depict wealth, it made a mockery of the very idea that socialites could be capable of working for a living. MTV's Rich Girls (2003), a short-lived series centered on Ally Hilfiger, daughter of Tommy, and some other girl, didn’t even bother with actual celebrity and cut straight to the point: these girls are rich!
But like any piece of media, good reality TV reflects the times we live in. Those shows’ popularity faded somewhat with the 2008 recession, when flagrantly displaying one's wealth and leisurely lifestyle became distasteful. Rich people didn't go away, of course, but they needed to justify their wealth by showing how hard they worked for it. Even before 2008, reality TV had already begun to shift: The Hills showed the privileged Laguna Beach class engaging in a pantomime style of working when it premiered in 2006. But no reality show glorified hustle culture like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which Ryan Seacrest introduced to the masses in 2007.
WORKPLACE TV SHOWS
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|  | Jul 29, 2022 |
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|  | Feb 20, 2023 |
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|  | Mar 29, 2023 |
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|  | Aug 23, 2022 |
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KEEPING UP
 | Aug 3, 2022 The teachings of Kris Jenner. |
 | Nov 15, 2022 A surprising take on Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. |
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