High culture

High culture as a sociological term includes the of opinion- elites used, accepted as particularly valuable cultural achievements - in contrast to popular culture, mass culture, popular culture, popular culture or subculture.

Historically, high culture has always been the culture of the leading stratum of society, ie the nobility. Since the loss of power of the aristocracy after the French Revolution was an attempt to define high culture content and to connect with the greater power of cultural workers and other interested parties (instead of their better descent). As a result, much of the nobility of popular culture joined as the close connection between circus, courtly horsemanship and courtly ballroom dancing in 1900 shows (see about Carl Godlewski ). So high culture has become a achievement of the educated middle class.

The term refers now conducted on music (typically the E- field of division E, U and F- music), visual arts, literature ( " ridge literature " ) and performing arts (dance, theater). These cultural forms have to be certain aesthetic standards of justice and comply with applicable educational ideals. The universities since the 19th century, played a decisive role, especially the emerging humanities. - High culture does not have to include all culturally highly developed areas thoroughly. So the sport, circus arts or design are in Europe, for example, the calligraphy (in contrast to Asia ) (" Craft " ) traditionally not count.

In cultural-political conflicts, especially in the German-speaking countries was "high culture" in the 20th century, sometimes referred to as mass- hostile 'or' elitist ' fights. Conversely, they served to assert the leadership of educated elites (eg, as " culture" ). To this end was often argued that the masses would choose high culture, if they were not dumbed down by products of a " culture industry " ( as in the cultural sociology of Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno: Culture Industry - Enlightenment as Mass Deception ).

The dichotomy high culture - mass culture was placed more and more with the gain in power of definition by the mass media spread popular culture in question. The confrontation of the '68 movement attracted a social recognition of large parts of pop culture by itself.

In the United States distinguish high brow (about: " raised eyebrows " ) - low brow usual. Thus, a substantive assessment is avoided and instead the attitude one takes with high or popular culture characterized.

The French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu provides cultural differences (see cultural capital ) with many gradations as factors of individual and social power and maintaining power in the center of his research.