Difference Between Cultural Consumption And Social Class In America By David Grazain

“Living in the Material World: Cultural Consumption and Social Class in America” by David Grazain emphasizes the difference between highbrow and lowbrow culture. Highbrow culture is mostly consumed by the affluent or rich class while lowbrow culture is consumed by the working-class. However, this was not always how culture was consumed, there was no such thing has high or low culture among the people. At most, everyone consumed mass culture under the same content. In addition, the time periods has changed over the years and it has made many considered what is high and what low culture is. The article also revealed that works of Shakespeare’s plays were not considered high culture. It was just overall mass culture that the working class consumed and it had no connection with the rich. It would also applied to jazz music as it was not considered a “pure” but “vulgar” culture that was unfit in the eyes of the rich people. Nowadays, jazz music is played at places of respect and important events, while classical music is
Everyone enjoyed the plays together however, based on their socioeconomic status. But, as the industrial revolution comes to play in a role in culture it creates a new upper class that have different views about culture. It eventually created the difference between what is highbrow and lowbrow culture. Along with a new upper class, there were creations of special entertainment venues that would perform and present classical music, opera, and more. However, the irony is that the upper class took these entertainment seriously leading to expensive tickets that excluded the working class. Highbrow culture excluded the working and poor class from enjoying these so called highbrow culture. This does not make sense as culture is meant to be experienced by all social classes and not be separated but it is in the United