Iron Chef America

I've never been a huge fan of Iron Chef America, however I believe it is an excellent example of "hegemony". Within this cooking reality television show chefs compete for "top chef" status by using mystery ingredients which they are unaware of until the battle begins. They then fight or cook until the time runs out and in conclusion their concoctions are judged by the critics, whom are usually chefs or restaurant owners. Hegemony comes into play when viewers who are chefs themselves watch the show believing they are just as good as those competing, however they are not participants themselves which in turn makes them realize they aren't are good as they think. This keeps those who are lower in the cooking domain down, keeping those you are already top chefs on top. Another example of hegemony within this show would be the chefs competing who lose the competition. They may go onto the show with a mentality that they are just as good as the others, however when they lose reality hits making them realize they aren't as good as they thought. This also lowering them on the ladder of top chefs, in turn helping the top chefs keep their status and power. This defining exactly what "hegemony" is , those who are on top striving to keep those lower than them down.