Class and Culture Essays -- Sociology

Introduction In various societies across the globe, culture is normally seen as an enabling or limiting factor for social, political and economic progression. Through this understanding it has been established that there is a strong relationship between class and culture. This relationship has been previously investigated by researchers such as Pierre Bourdieu who identified that class affects culture and consequently, culture affects ones life chances, income and other economic parameters (Lane 2000, p. 1). Many other researchers have often voiced their concerns over the increased gap between the rich and the poor (worldwide) and expressed their concern over the fact that the world has failed to acknowledge the role of culture in widening this gap (Fieschi 2011, p. 1). The relationship between class and culture is of a vertical nature and it has been evidenced all over the world that the culture of the highest class is the most distinguished culture (Christie 2001, p. 201). This observation is true because the culture of the highest classes is often deemed to be superior to the culture of the lowest classes. More importantly, it is essential to understand that the culture of the highest classes also stands out because the ruling class normally comes from the highest classes and so they exert their influence over other classes. From this reinforced relationship between class and culture, many philosophers have come up with a new insight purporting that culture in its true essence maintains class domination and therefore there is no strongly distinguishable difference in the way culture and economics relate, and how economic capital works (Fieschi 2011, p. 1). However, this debate is not only one-sided because in recent decad... ...ged that university education is one of the widest platform through which high culture spreads. This is true because frankly, all elements of high culture are taught in university through various arts, linguistic, business and affiliated courses. This is a new development because in previous centuries, elements of high culture (probably with the exception of classics) were not included in the education system. This fact therefore exposes the increasingly dominant nature of the high culture in the society. To further affirm this view, it is essential to identify the increased uptake of liberal arts courses in university which essentially promotes concepts of the high culture, while generally shunning elements of the low culture. This is however not evidently seen because most universities have dropped the use of the term â€Å"high culture† but still teach its elements.