It occurred to me that I should expand upon a couple of comments. First, in rejecting the democratization of high culture, I do not mean that only those of high birth or great wealth should have access to it. I love paperbacks and museums. I mean that encouraging people to think that hard labor and an adherence to standards is unnecessary in acquiring an education is pernicious, and the number of people with the talent and inclination to become seriously absorbed in high culture is small, which is why it is irreducibly elite culture....
Second, I do not think that there is anything sacred or authentic about folk culture, which is just what customs people happened to have, and what artifacts (including art) that they happened to circulate before becoming more sophisticated and affluent. It is a matter of some interest, of course, but, for example,
African and paleo-Iberian art are more notable for inspiring Picasso than anything else....
Human being like knick knacks and trinkets, it does not take Madison Avenue to create the desire. If a child is fond of Pokemon, he will enjoy contemplating the character, and trading cards is a way of doing it.....
I would also like to advance my version of the theory of the "brows": the lowbrow approaches culture primarily as amusement; the middlebrow thinks it is for mainly for edification; and the highbrow is most interested in finding products of such mastery or originality that he is filled with admiration. To me, approaching culture as something that does one good is pernicious. One comes to think that because one watches PBS or listens to NPR, one is a better person, and the proliferation of orchestras and book groups is the key to making society better. My experience has made it clear to me that exposure to high culture may make one worse, and certainly does not, of itself, improve character. Additionally, one begins to judge merit less on the artistry of the work, and more on the supposed high mindedness of it, so that it can easily vitiate a genuine appreciation of merit...... |
