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The Rise of a New Middle Class
- A new middle class emerged in Britain during the late 20th century, driven by evolving cultural tastes.
- This shift was marked by a transition from traditional, heavy furniture to a more casual, modern style.
Shifting Tastes in Literature
- In John Braine's "Room at the Top" (1962), Joe Lambton's upper-middle-class status is depicted through heavy, Edwardian furniture.
- By contrast, Malcolm Bradbury's "The History Man" (1975) portrays class mobility with beanbags and a scrubbed pine table, signifying a shift in taste.
Taste and Class Formation
- The new middle class, comprised of people in media, education, and the arts, used taste as a tool for class formation.
- They embraced a "controlled casualness," buying rustic items and incorporating them into their urban homes, driving gentrification.