I posted to myself because I was extending my remarks, and wanted them in front of me....
1. I am saying that attending St. John's showed me the limits of shallow reading, which was endemic at the place. Anyway, I am an elitist, and so it is not very intimidating to me to be accused of being what I freely admit....
2. Well, I guess I was right, you want to keep them in their costumes, instead of allowing them to prefer functionality in clothing.<VBG>...I am not against the preservation of artifacts and some customs, but folkways cannot survive the process of modernization. That is a given. The way of life that supported the full array of customary behavior in these societies is doomed....
3. Instead of yams, we use other things as status markers. So what?It is a universal foible....
4. Of course it is judgemental, it is an explanation of one the frames of judgment that I use. And the point is not exclusivity (culture is also for entertainment and edification), but dominant orientation (which is, I think, properly admiration). Thus, there is no earthly reason that a highbrow could not watch a screwball comedy to unwind, if it is not too annoying. On the other hand, he will tend to apply discrimination to all "cultural levels". From that standpoint, it doesn't matter if something is popular or not, but if it is very good. Just as an appreciation of pre- Columbian art can be highbrow, so is an appreciation of Bob Dylan. Tastes vary, but since I know much more about popular culture, what was the phrase," Whereof thou dost not know, thereof ought thou to be silent"....Tell you what, you retract, I'll retract<VBG>....
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