Omnivorism of Eating and ‘Highbrow–Lowbrow’ Distinction: Cultural Stratification in Poland
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Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Polish Sociological Review 2017;199(3):299-314
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ABSTRACT
The idea of the cultural omnivore is increasingly popular. Research in this vein argues that upper-middle
class individuals prefer an above-average diversity of art, and that this diversity of tastes is the new marker of
high status. Using data from the 2013 national survey, the current study replicates studies carried out in Western
societies with respect to patterns of eating. By analyzing the preferences of tastes I try to establish, first—whether
omnivorism in eating is mostly displayed among representatives of highbrow culture, referred to intelligentsia,
second—to what extent it replaces hierarchical distinction between highbrow and lowbrow categories. It confirms
that omnivorism in eating in Poland exists and dominates among higher managers and specialists—they overrun
owners, middle lower classes, working class and farmers. Furthermore, although the cultural omnivorism is a new
taste pattern, it correlates strongly with the cultural division in highbrow and lowbrow categories.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Zbigniew Karpiński for helpful comments and suggestions.