Class: A Guide Through the American Status System by Paul Fussell

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=537 ^ | William Briggs

[mattstat]

Recommendation: read

When Fussell wrote in 1982 (and published in 1983), he said that acknowledging the class divisions that exist in America exist was poor form and that doing so would likely lead to argument. Florence King wrote, “The subject skims across our minds like a hair blown across the face: a constant ticklish irritation, invisible but very much felt.” Class distinctions are as alive as ever and the subject is as taboo now as then—our fierce egalitarian heritage guarantees this—but a certain amount of fun can be had in their study.

We’ll look at changes in the specific indicators that Fussell chose to characterize his class taxonomy, in the fine distinctions between tiers, of which he found three. These are:

[List follows]

Those at the apex never earn their money nor do inhabitants of the nadir. Both groups are rare and avoid public notice, and are thus difficult to study. Class is only weakly correlated with money. New money separates upper and upper middle from top out-of-sight. The truism “money can’t buy class” explains why high “proles” like actors and pop singers are barred from the upper classes despite their wealth.

Where you lived, in 1982, was a reliable indicator of class...

[gridlock]

I remember being annoyed by this book back in 1983. Now is my chance to be annoyed by it again!

[kaylar]

Here's a different article on Fussell and his book, which appeared recently...You might find it of interest.

[evilC]

Fussell’s book was interesting. I read it more than ten years ago. It is probably still true today. It contains some sharp and accurate commentary.

Hmmm! So what class is someone that uses the word “vesicated” in his writing? I had to look it up, I hope that does not make me low-prole.

[ottbmare]

So what class is someone that uses the word “vesicated” in his writing?

It makes you middle class, because it's usually the middle class that tries to impress and fails.

[ottbmare]

I remember being annoyed by this book back in 1983. Now is my chance to be annoyed by it again!

Why were you annoyed? Fussell was astute and generally very accurate, though snarky in his tone. Much of what he wrote still applies, modulo a few changes in fashion. The whole business is rather sad, and Fussell made readers confront the little secret of America: that even though we insist we don't have social classes here, we certainly do, and they are almost as entrenched as British social classes.