[Vwoolf] Woolf and the middlebrow, from today’s New York Times

[Caroline Webb]

I think I see the article author’s main point, but am dubious about some of the claims—notably the equation of “middlebrow” with “democracy.”  But I am grateful for the link to Woolf’s (unsent) letter, which I don’t remember having read before.  I love it!  So full of wit and rage.
Caroline

From: vwoolf-bounces+caroline.webb=newcastle.edu.au at lists.service.ohio-state.edu [mailto:vwoolf-bounces+caroline.webb=newcastle.edu.au at lists.service.ohio-state.edu] On Behalf Of Stuart N. Clarke
Sent: Sunday, 3 August 2014 5:58 PM
To: 'VWOOLF listserv'
Subject: Re: [Vwoolf] Woolf and the middlebrow, from today’s New York Times

I didn’t read this article carefully, but I couldn’t make any sense of it at all.  I don’t know where the author got this from:

“The nature of capitalism, we have been taught to believe, tends toward greater equality, wider opportunity and the leveling of archaic, invidious distinctions based on pedigree. Mr. Piketty throws cold water on this conventional wisdom, which has been part of the intellectual birthright of nearly everyone born in the West since the end of World War II.”

Is this some sort of “trickle down” effect, argued by -- is it Milton Friedman?

I suppose it’s appropriate that the article should have quoted Woolf’s “letter”, which, although not really difficult to understand (esp. ever since Melba Cuddy-Keane deconstructed it), is difficult to absorb because the reader tends to come at it with his/her own prejudices.  I came at the NYT article with my own prejudices, yet somehow I doubt that Melba will be able clarify it for me.

Stuart

From: Linda Camarasana<mailto:camarasana at mindspring.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2014 2:30 AM
To: 'VWOOLF listserv'<mailto:vwoolf at lists.service.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: [Vwoolf] Woolf and the middlebrow, from today’s New York Times

Cheers!

Linda Camarasana
SUNY Old Westbury


From: emailthis at ms3.lga2.nytimes.com<mailto:emailthis at ms3.lga2.nytimes.com> [mailto:emailthis at ms3.lga2.nytimes.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2014 9:17 PM
To: camarasana at mindspring.com<mailto:camarasana at mindspring.com>
Subject: NYTimes.com: A Resurgence in Inequality and Its Effects on Culture




Sent by camarasanal at oldwestbury.edu<mailto:camarasanal at oldwestbury.edu>:

[http://i1.nyt.com/images/misc/nytlogo194x27.gif]

[http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/08/03/arts/03CROSS/03CROSS-thumbStandard.jpg]

Cross Cuts
A Resurgence in Inequality and Its Effects on Culture <http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=InCMR7g4BCKC2wiZPkcVUv6RZAlqLkMr&user_id=0bed33f297542281c6d8eb12d381dd14&email_type=eta&task_id=140702861739942&regi_id=0>
By A. O. SCOTT

The implications of entrenched inequality described by the economist Thomas Piketty extend beyond the realm of political economy.


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