Elite Culture

The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology defines elite culture as sort of a "high culture." They define it as a characteristic or lifestyle that is shared by the established aristocracy. This is the taste of people who are elite, and who believe that they are at a higher standpoint because of their high education and wealth.

For my own definition, I would say that I really do agree with this definition. I think that this is a group of high standardized people. They are the people who own fancy things, who have to have the newest collection of handbags customized by the designer, or even those who have a higher education taught to them.

I chose these pictures of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, not because of the book itself, but because of the contents that this book goes over. Yes, this book does have a love story in it, but it also has the battle between the wealthy, and those who are trying to become wealthy. Throughout this book, Gatsby is constantly trying to win the heart of his long lost love Daisy. But in order to do that, he must act as if he were part of this "old money" phenomenon. What I mean by "old money" is that these people believed that they were so awesome and so great because they were the "first ones to land in the New world;" the first ones to own the most money. They all have a certain way to live by, and a certain standard -- they don't take well to those of "new money."

This is just another example from The Great Gatsby that portrays this elite culture. Just from this picture, you can see how their parties had to be thrown, and how they all had to dress -- proper, hot, and fancy.