Grant,
Read my answers/question in parenthesis, next to the text
Bourdie is using stereotypes/cliches based on 19th century notions of the European class structure. (But, in the book, The State Nobility he talks about America class structure.......ok, I sppose you havent read the book.......still the argument can be compeling)
âhe did not take in occasional exceptionsâ. Being selective hardly constitutes, or even aspires to, scientific legitimacy. (Precisely)
His theory of class attributes is, like the river of Heraclitus, in a constant state of flux, and it also lacks a logical basis. (Not really, he is a Marxist, his points are really clear)
Someone is born in poverty, and they enjoy drink, football, etc.
Then they start to make money in business and enjoy the finer things that money can buy â wines, luxury holidays, possibly the lower end of the art market which is possibly exceptional. In due course, he acquires a fortune and becomes âupper classâ. Does he now reject or avoid his working class enjoyments in favour of the more refined? (NO...NO...NO...that is precisely his point......that money cannot change the person, he can fake to be something else...but he is not...although in MY OPINION, the person will eventually change if he fakes it for a long time.)
Does the new suppress the old? (Well thats called the revolution. The revolution can be not only political. It can be inside the person....to be more clear 'revolution' of the personality.
Is their a dormant area of the brain suddenly activated by wealth whereby a profound love and understanding of the quattrocento emerges? Leave it out. (maybe. Bourdieu did not study this. I did not participate or acknowledge such transition.)
Some MOMA donors may well be genuine and philanthropic. Do you think there may also be an element of the vogue, the âme tooâ syndrome and a desire (need) to be identified, and recognised, as upper class? (OF course. You always want to be better than some one. Lets take for example T.O., look at him he considers himself to be on top of the hierarchy in football. the point is you always want to satisfy your ego. Being upper class, the top of the hierarchy......satisfies the EGO to the furthest degree.)
Does this philanthropy go beyond the MOMA? (YA)
Do they pay their maids above the going rate? ( I do not know, and I do not think you would know either unless you do the taxes for them or you are yourself in an upper class.)
Do you know what a philistine is? (you mean the want to be country in Israel, with terrorists?)
Perhaps we should look at definitions here. In the US, high class/upper class = wealth. In the UK, upper class (we donât use high class) = aristocracy, where wealth may be significant but so is relative poverty. If you are an impoverished earl without a pot to piss in, you are still upper class, ie at the top of the class structure. The wealthy (without titles) are upper-middle class.(RIGHT)
Thatâs the difference between the UK and US: the US thinks wealth equals style. (Not really, look at Warren Buffet)
In the UK, style is independent of wealth. Further, we no longer live in a deferential society, although it seems the Americans (generally) equate wealth with wisdom, and hence a respect derived from shaky foundations. (IF you say so.)
This may seem like an anti-US rant. It isnât. The truth is, depressingly, this is how the UK is developing. (RIGHT)
Only Americans have cocktail parties (and wear tuxedos to weddings). (Ok, what is the point of that?)
âhigh class does not watch that oftenâ Iâm sorry, to what does this refer (TV)
If your prof would eat me alive, she must be anorexic. (not really, she is actually is pretty fit for her age)