New Books in Sociology Ben Highmore, "Lifestyle Revolution: How Taste Changed Class in Late 20th-Century Britain" (Manchester UP, 2023)
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Mar 31, 2024 Ben Highmore, author of 'Lifestyle Revolution: How Taste Changed Class in Late 20th-Century Britain', discusses how consumer culture reshaped class dynamics in postwar Britain. Topics include the impact of mass consumption on class culture, the evolution of symbolic goods, and the intimate environment shaped by new feelings and attitudes. The podcast explores the influence of consumerism on personal identity, the democratization of modern furniture through Habitat shops, and the role of magazines in shaping consumer culture in the 1960s. Additionally, it delves into the changes in class definitions, sociology's role in understanding class dynamics, and the interrelation between race, class, and taste in Britain.
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Taste and Societal Shifts
- Taste in the late 20th century is about how everyday life is altered by new ideas and choices.
- It's not just about good or bad taste, but how changing tastes reflect societal shifts.
Hume's Influence on Taste
- David Hume's concept of sentiment emphasizes the feeling associated with taste, not just competition.
- Expertise in taste is subjective, based on personal experience and exposure to various objects.
Consumerism and Modernity
- Consumerism provides more choices and makes goods cheaper, allowing more people to participate in taste culture.
- This creates a sense of being modern, as having certain goods signifies belonging and modernity.