Sophistication

Sophistication ( cultivated as a nominalization of the adjective ) colloquially referred to in the social context of a refined, cultivated way of life that is based on the values ​​of a particular social group or stratum. The term implies indirectly a nearly completed development of certain desired behaviors that go beyond the usual measure. These generally relate to (as opposed to the term "civilized" ) the external living conditions, so for example the nature of the consumption of goods or a group of activities, such as eating habits, manners, art and music taste as well as a specific form to dress, which corresponds to the usual narrow conception of culture.

The European idea of ​​" sophistication "

A as a " cultured " or " cultivated " designated life in the sense of upper European society marked by eg

• Neat appearance (body care )
• A high degree of general education
• Fine manners ( politeness )
• Less drastic or direct, rather selected utterances ( linguistic intuition, conversation)
• To communicate sensitive response and a more finely differentiated and coherent way ( tact, empathy)
• Appropriate and aesthetically pleasing clothing ( dresses fashion, dress, dress code )
• An aesthetically well-designed living environment

These are just some points that comprise the complete recordable conduct of men in their entirety. Cultivated The way certain movements in everyday life ( grace ) or in a ritualized form (dance) perform, aesthetics and craftsmanship in speech ( rhetoric ) and writing, which affects both the content and the external shape can think of the type itself as " "or" are judged uncultured ". Even more pejorative, the term is considered " uncivilized ".

Exaggerated ritualized, as strongly -felt unnatural behavior is also called " mannered " or " verkünstelt ". As an example, the courtly culture of the Rococo era are considered to be very pronounced sophistication in this sense. As a positive perceived civilized behavior that is not attached or unnatural acts and is performed with a captivating effectiveness and apparent simplicity, is referred to elegance. Phenomena that are considered uncultured are also referred to with attributes such as " rough ", " rough ", " vulgar" or colloquially " prollig ".

Examples of sophistication

As completely as possible cultivated people to understand the Japanese geishas. This rigorously trained companions to be educated in all the arts of Japan and relevant to their perfection trained to entertain their guests or hosts perfect. Geishas understand themselves as " living work of art ".

The - slightly outdated - Designation of European cultivated people is the use of the terms lady / gentleman in contrast to the perceived secular woman / man. The Title is "Mrs. ... " retained for ladies, while "Lord ... " for men remains significantly (Informal ). As a foreign word is used sometimes colloquially Gentleman and Lady for the same concepts. Especially for the gentleman still swings the cultural and historical background of chivalry with. These terms have lost their original meaning in the meantime. While the real English ladies of the nobility rather it stayed that one her title less frequently used, less wealthy women were inflated it, " Ladies" to be called. In contrast to this, was formerly colloquially admiring " a real lady " or " a real gentleman! " Said.

In general, " cultivated " adults only is the adjective used, as children and young people are still in the middle of the process of education and maturation, they should adapt to the dominant culture. The corresponding education is complex and often costly, as it an excellent possible school with a range of different languages ​​and natural sciences, appropriate clothing, livelihood, spending on hobbies (eg, horseback riding), private lessons, especially in musical subjects and ballroom dancing as well as visual trips are provided. For this reason, the degree of sophistication that is worn on display, always subliminally a status symbol.

Ambivalence of the concept of sophistication

However, the adjective includes " cultivated " a clear blurring, seen objectively so that it is unclear what life should be regarded as cultivated over another.

To confusion adds, that people are often " cultured " only in certain dimensions of their behavior. For example, while some members of the upper class, the eating and drinking habits, the way they dress, and the general expression can be considered in conversation and in documents as cultivated, are of the same people the human dignity and the right to life of other people and peoples deliberately disregarded or ignored. Conversely, a loyal to his principles and morally steadfast emissary of a native people in the congruence between words and deeds are considered more sophisticated than a European, while clothing, food and other appearances differ significantly. Here's Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the "noble savage " into play, but also represents an idealization.

A factual and objective definition for the term " cultured " does not exist, therefore.

Freedom and sophistication

With the increasing importance of individual freedom and equality in Western societies waned the original importance of sophistication. Clothing and lifestyle as well as the design of your own life path are left today in liberal environment often the adult individual himself. Increasingly with the same movement disappeared a secure sense of style and elegance. However, it is still a minimum of sophistication required to be recognized in social life. For this reason, education is given in behavior, manners and behavior in some states.

The more or less voluntary decision for civilized behavior is often associated with a subjective loss of personal freedom, as these are primarily aligns it to please other people and to belong to a group with the same behavioral patterns. It does not set its own standards for appropriate behavior, communication and quality of life but takes these ideas from other caregivers. Therefore, it requires a degree of humility and self-sacrifice, in schools stricter discipline and obedience. An exaggerated attitude to this is the utter self-denial, which can lead to mental illness in the long term.

The conscious and voluntary decision for civilized behavior, which is based on the values ​​of other caregivers is usually combined with the desire of personal development. This can go in extreme cases until complete transformation when it is very intense operated and supported. Numerous myths, fairy tales and movies live on this development potential of a man, is being overlooked in the scarce, fragmentary narratives often, how much real work, concentration, perseverance, hard work and dedication is behind such a learning process before an extraordinary and outstanding level of sophistication is reached in a given area.

Other parts of speech

The verb " cultivate " also means " make ( something ) to a culture or a cult, develop or raise ", "( some) than celebrate a cult or a culture." Example: " dandies cultivate their fashionable look. " Develop dandies and thus celebrate a culture of Fashionable, they develop a state in which they maintain, celebrate and cherish the Fashionable.

Sophistication in the art

In the technical field, the term sophistication has also gained in importance. For example, the combustion engine of an automobile is considered to be cultivated if it is characterized by smooth and quiet running.

Sophistication as a theme in art

Thematically, movies based on sophistication almost always at the pattern of the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling " by Hans Christian Andersen, where it is of a despised and ugly duckling of all finally a beautiful swan. Also related is the fairy tale of Cinderella motif, although in this case a fairy godmother replace the work of self-education. Much more frequently than in men of this topos is therefore applied to women, and represented the education or training in only a few excerpts, which significantly shortens the temporal distance between the uncultivated and cultivated status for the eye of the beholder. Most of the transformation is presented as entertaining comedy, sometimes brings up the subject of revenge but also a drama out. This happens more often in the male variant of cultural transformation.

Theater:

• Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw, 1914

Amendment:

• Clothes make the man, Gottfried Keller, 1871

Novels:

• The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas, 1844-1846
• Memoirs of a Geisha (novel), Arthur Golden
• Minoes - The Mysterious Minusch, 1970, Annie MG Schmidt
• Little Lord Fauntleroy, 1886, Frances Hodgson Burnett

Musical:

Movies:

• Sabrina, 1954
• Gigi, 1958
• Baroness, 1960
• The Leopard, 1963
• My Fair Lady, 1964
• Rita wants to know at last ( Educating Rita ), 1983
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 1988
• Pretty Woman, 1990
• King Ralph, 1991
• Encino Man, 1992
• And Groundhog Day, 1993
• Blondes Up Baby, 1993
• Mrs. Winterbourne, 1996
• One of a kind, 1999
• The Princess Diaries 2001
• Billy Elliot - I Will Dance, 2001
• The mysterious Minusch, 2001
• Memoirs of a Geisha, 2005
• The Devil Wears Prada, 2006
• Till det som är vackert, directed by Lisa Langseth, 2010
• The little lady, Director: Gernot Roll, with Christiane Hörbiger and Veronica Ferres, 2012 Based on the novel Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett.