The Theater of Meritocracy and Class Barriers according to A. Frenette

The article analyzes the mechanisms of the internship economy, in which meritocracy serves as a screen for class privileges. Drawing on the theory of Alexandre Frenette, the author demonstrates that success in creative sectors often results not from pure talent, but from access to financial and social capital. Unpaid internships and networking are primarily available to wealthy individuals, creating an illusion of higher competence among the privileged. This system legitimizes inequalities by presenting inherited resources as character traits or determination. The text criticizes meritocracy as a form of 'moral accounting' that ignores structural entry barriers, promoting only individual success stories to hide systemic discrimination against those without financial backing.