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Well, an interesting thing is that I had occasion to be reminded of the term "bourgeois" for the first time in forever, when I read Harper's re-print of Curtis White's essay, "The Middle Mind". One may find an online version here.
Anyway, what occurred to me, as I read, was that the essay is a classic, 1960's class-based screed, with the word "bourgeois" search-and-replaced in Word with "the Middle Mind".
The funny thing, of course, is that almost all such writing -- whether White's essay, or Brooks', or Ye Olde Boomer Classics -- tends to be rooted in either envy or self-loathing. And that's even before we get to discussing how bourgeoisophobia is the root of just about all Modernism, whether in visual arts, architecture, "literary" writing, what-have-you.
Interesting stuff, to be sure.
(Brooks' essay may be found here.)
Anyway, what occurred to me, as I read, was that the essay is a classic, 1960's class-based screed, with the word "bourgeois" search-and-replaced in Word with "the Middle Mind".
The funny thing, of course, is that almost all such writing -- whether White's essay, or Brooks', or Ye Olde Boomer Classics -- tends to be rooted in either envy or self-loathing. And that's even before we get to discussing how bourgeoisophobia is the root of just about all Modernism, whether in visual arts, architecture, "literary" writing, what-have-you.
Interesting stuff, to be sure.
(Brooks' essay may be found here.)
