[bh42222]

Just imagine you know nothing about the US except what you see in movies. Do you see a lot of poor people?

There obviously are movies and TV which show a much more "real" version of the world. But the most popular TV and movies tend to show an idealized version of reality.

[emp_]

I'm a big fan of The Wire, Treme and Shameless (US) for those kinds of shows, suggestions are welcome!

[gnaritas]

Ditto on the Wire; that show rocked, that's real America on the bad side of town. Couldn't get into Treme, haven't tried Shameless yet.

[gnaritas]

I can't imagine that because I was raised here, that's why I'm asking. I saw plenty of poor people in real life and in popular movies; when I see American movies, it looks like home to me, it's where I grew up.