middlebrow etymology

Etymology

The term "middlebrow" originated in the early 20th century. It first appeared in print in 1925 in the magazine "Life" in an article by Carl Van Doren.

Meaning

Middlebrow culture refers to the social and cultural tastes of a group of people who are educated and have a general interest in the arts, but who are not considered to be highly sophisticated or intellectual. They are often said to prefer art and literature that is accessible and easy to understand.

Origin

The concept of middlebrow culture emerged as a response to the growing democratization of education and the mass production of popular culture in the early 20th century. As more and more people became literate and gained access to higher education, a new group of consumers emerged who had a desire for cultural products that were both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.

The term "middlebrow" was originally used in a derogatory sense to describe this group of people. It was seen as a way of distinguishing them from both the elite, who were thought to be highly cultured and intellectual, and the working class, who were believed to be uneducated and unappreciative of the arts.

Over time, the term "middlebrow" has lost its negative connotations. It is now used to describe a broad range of cultural products and practices that are aimed at a wide audience. These products and practices often reflect the values and aspirations of a society's middle class.

middlebrow relate terms

  • brow

    Etymology The word brow derives from the Old English word bruw which is believed to

  • highbrow

    Etymology The term highbrow originated in the 19th century as a reference to the upper

  • high

    Etymology The word high derives from the Middle English word hie which traces its ro

  • brow

    Etymology The word brow derives from the Old English word bruw which is believed to

  • lowbrow

    Etymology Lowbrow is a term that originated in the 19th century It is a combination o

  • lowbrow

    Etymology Lowbrow is a term that originated in the 19th century It is a combination o

  • middle

    Etymology The word middle comes from the Old English word middel which in turn is d

  • mortal

    Etymology Latin mortalis meaning subject to death Proto Indo European mrtós mea

  • person

    Etymology Latin persona meaning mask or character in a play Meaning An indiv

  • soul

    Etymology The word soul traces its origins to the Proto Indo European root h₂enh₂

  • individual

    Etymology from Latin individuum an individual thing or being from in not

  • somebody

    Etymology Some indefinite pronoun Middle English sum or som from Old English

  • liberty

    Etymology From Middle English libertee from Old French liberté ultimately from Latin

  • sentence

    Etymology The word sentence comes from the Latin word sententia meaning opinion j