#tasteandculture

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RuPaul's Drag Race is a great example of gender performance as camp. Gay men have used camp as a form of protection but at the same time a method of being accepted into society. However, I wish someone would just step outside their comfort zone and make a show about straight men with similar lifestyles or careers. 

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Although Harry Potter is also considered in my opinion high art film that appeals to the academic tradition, it is evident that it possesses a high level of magic realism. We watch Harry Potter because our generation grew up with the books and constant marketing on this series, we are always eager for the next movie or book to come out. However, Kael states "If we always wanted works of complexity and depth we wouldn't be going to movies about glamorous thieves and seductive women", we are solely meant to be entertained by this film knowing that once it is done, we are done following the story.

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Clint Eastwood is definitely an Auteur. His famous style is in putting himself in movies such like Gran Torino which is an absolute classic movie in my opinion. This film could be argued to be both low and high art, although it appeals to the mass audience, the directing and producing style he encompasses also works towards academic and non-academic traditions. 

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Did I mention I love the bachelor?  This season was quite disappointing however it was definitely my biggest guilty pleasure all season, which some consider to be a bad object.

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As we learned today, Ketaine is a Quebec term meaning something corny or cheesy however more than that, it is designating a person badly dressed, with bad taste. It applies to any situation or person that could be considered laughable, outdated or with lack of taste or class in general. I understand that Honey BooBoo's family lives a different lifestyles than most of us and so they are accustomed to different things, however they often make fun of themselves and show themselves as overly ridiculous.

Could this be a way of bringing in profits? Could they also be considered Kitsch? Could we potentially say that this family does not have the social capital to know what 'good' taste is like? 

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Global metal is a documentary that I watched in Popular Music and Youth class in third year, just like many comm students have. I wanted to use this video to show how important a certain type of music is for some people. 

Today in class I argued for the statement that "tastes are formed by distastes". I explained that this is true in terms of those who are still trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in with society, whether it is mainstream society or within subcultures such as the heavy metal subculture. In this example, the opposite is shown, with people who have already constructed their identity and have found the one thing that they have in common with people all over the world; heavy metal. In those terms, their taste would not be constructed due to distastes as they are true die-hard fans.

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In the last few weeks we have been talking about taste in terms of how one can define it as well as identity itself. When I think of Lady Gaga, I can picture her trying to define her image and style in terms of what she is not. She is obviously not your average celebrity walking the red carpet, she is known for having ridiculous and yet astounding outfits that keep people talking for weeks. Is her taste formed from others' distastes? or is this truly who she is as an artist and her identity?

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I feel like there's a huge problem with local shopping. No one wants to buy things from the Pen Center because guess what? As you walk through the hallways everyone else is wearing the SAME THING!

So what do we do? go on international online shopping sites such as Sammy Dress based out of Hong Kong. Amazing prices and clothes that no one else will have!

Can you say taste? I think so!

In a way, you can relate this so conspicuous shopping in the sense that having new things that no one else has creates some sort of higher culture. 

What do you think? ;)

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Bourdieu's theory of taste, arguing taste is a representation of education and social origin. In the end, good taste is simply a reflection of the taste of the ruling class

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Does this say TASTE or what? Taste in the luxurious life style? Champagne, Shoes, Make up, Perfume, Status, CHOCOLATE!! ;)

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While watching Sex and the City last night, I thought a lot about men and women's taste of who they date or want to spend their lives with as well as ideas about dating and opinions of marriage.