I'm going to do my best to share some of the interesting parts of Thorstein Veblen's book, The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study of Institutions.
Though I'm interested in economics, I can't pretend to know much about the subject. I tended to read Veblen's book more as pertaining to social history and it was fascinating. I hope to convey some of his observations with a slightly simpler style of writing than his. That said, some of his ideas are best stated in his own unique words.
Veblen begins by saying that the best-developed tradition of having a leisure class is at what he calls the higher stages of the barbarian culture. He refers to a previously existing 'savage' stage of culture which was more peaceful and less materialistic, characterised less by private ownership and more communal use of property; also in which there was not such a fine distinction in who did what work. Other characteristics of the savage culture are that they are more dutiful toward the survival of the group, a feature Veblen labels 'workmanship' and they they have an 'amiable inefficiency when faced with force or fraud.' The savage culture is used as a contrast to the barbarian; the key feature of 'barbarian culture' is that it is hierarchical and war-like.
Veblen says that in the savage community, 'workmanship' is aimed at the well-being of the society, a sort of social conscience or need to be useful. When the society becomes predatory, this all changes.
In my next post on this topic, I will talk about some of Veblen's favourite terms, words that he used with different meanings than I usually understand them to have.
Part II - Veblen's Definitions
Part III - Barbarian Culture
Part IV - Leisure Class and Ownership
Part V - Invidious Distinction and Self Esteem
Part VI - How much is Enough?
Part VII - Leisure vs Labor
Part VIII - Leisurely Occupations
Part IX - The Importance of Good Manners
Part X - On Bearing
Part XI - On Wives and Servants
Part XII - Vicarious Leisure
Part XIII - Domestic Servants and 'Modern' Life
Part XIV - Unproductive Consumption
Part XV - The Purpose of Parties
Part XVI - The Purpose of Uniforms
Part XVII - The Middle Class Wife
Part XVIII - Conspicuous Consumption
Part XIX - The Good That Comes of Gossip
Part XX - Conspicuous Waste vs Workmanship
Part XXI - Aping the Upper Class
Part XXII - Instinct, Industry and Privacy
Part XXIII - Birth, Waste and Academia
Part XXIV - Honour of Thieves
Part XXV - Devotional Fitness
Part XXVI - Perception of Beauty
Part XXVII - Beautiful Animals and Women
Part XXVIII - On Candlelight, Classicism and Curiosity
Part XXIX - Conspicuosity of Dress
Part XXX - More Conspicuosity of Clothing
Part XXXI - Conspicuous Novelty
Part XXXII - Leisure Class and Conservatism
Part XXXIII - The Vulgarity of Innovation
Part XXXIV - The Lower Class and Conservatism
Part XXXV - Business and the Leisure Class
Part XXXVI - About Blondes
Part XXXVII - The Diligence Dichotomy
Part XXXVIII - Modern Economic Institutions
Part XXXIX - War and the Leisure Class
Part XL - Duels and the Leisure Class
Part XLI - Sport and Slang
Part XLII - Walking Sticks
Part XLIII - The Belief in Luck
Part XLIV - Relating to Religion
Part XLV - Gambling, Sports and Religion
Part XLVI - A Different Twist on Holidays
Part XLVII - Religion and the Military
Part XLVIII - The End of Religion
Part XLIX - A Kinder Society
Part L - 'Assisting' the Lower Classes
Part LI - Emancipation from Privilege and Futility
Part LII - Decline of the Leisure Class
Part LIII - Higher Education and the Occult
Part LIV - Rituals, War and Women
Part LV - Classicism and Conservatism in Higher Education
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7 comments:
I always find it interesting when an author takes words with a heavy negative weight and used them as somewhat positive. His "savage" sounds quite civilized. Rather like when the word "bad" was suddenly co-opted to describe things that you liked a lot.
I've long wanted to read this book and look forward to these encapsulizations of it. Wasn't he the guy who came up with the notion of "conspicuous consumption"?
Very interesting! I wonder what sort of culture we can be characterised as having nowadays. I don't think we are barbarian, or savage, or leisured anymore either!
Beryl - Yes, those reverse uses are quite popular, aren't they? Like 'wicked'.
Terri - He did indeed, but there are also other little gems in that book that I hope to share!
Carolyn - I do hope you can stick this out, as you and Terri are the ones who convinced me to launch this (to do what I wanted to anyhow). I wonder the same. I think we are a bit of both (savage and barbarian), but I'm certain there is still very much a leisure class. I think they wisely don't make themselves quite so conspicuous, however.
Very interesting blog idea Shelley, I'm looking forward to your future posts about this.
On a unrelated note, Hubs and I were chatting last night about social media such as Facebook and how it is like a Potemkin Village....people usually only post the best things and maintain a facade about how great their lives are.
LR - I've not met that term 'Potemkin Village' and was fascinated by the Wikipedia entry for it. (So much I don't know!) I think there are at least two facets of the way people only show their best on Facebook. One is about pride and wanting to look good. Another is about holding back really private things. I don't post about every aspect of my life for both of these reasons. I find reading blogs about personal drama a bit draining and I don't think it's fair on Bill for me to expose personal things. It isn't entirely open, true, but this is the world wide web and I think it would be foolish to be too open. There are probably other reasons why people publish what they do, but I'm thinking these are my main reasons for being selective. Thanks again for 'Potemkin Village'!!
What fun! I never get tired of these kinds subjects and have been meaning to get around to reading Veblen. I look forward to future posts in this series.
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