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| '''Prole drift''', short for '''] drift''', is the trend in which | '''Prole drift''', short for '''] drift''', is the trend in which | ||
| class and social signifiers of membership in the lower classes are adopted by the middle and upper classes.<ref name="class">{{cite book|last=Fussell|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Fussell|title=Class, A Guide Through the American Status System|publisher=Ballantine|month=October|year=1983|location=New York|isbn=0-345-31816-1}}</ref> The phenomenon was discussed in a chapter of Paul Fussell's 1982 book "Class, A Guide Through the American Status System." Fussel saw prole drift as a general tendency of the culture towards proletarianization. | class and social signifiers of membership in the lower classes are adopted by the middle and upper classes.<ref name="class">{{cite book|last=Fussell|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Fussell|title=Class, A Guide Through the American Status System|publisher=Ballantine|month=October|year=1983|location=New York|isbn=0-345-31816-1}}</ref> The phenomenon was discussed in a chapter of ]'s 1982 book "Class, A Guide Through the American Status System." Fussel saw prole drift as a general tendency of the culture towards proletarianization. | ||
| More recently, some observers have noted a similar phenomenon in which social and class signifiers of the upper classes have been adopted by the lower classes. Examples include sales of premium ], ] clothing or ] handbags to lower class people. In the UK, ] cars (particularly the 3 series) have seen this phenomenon, in some instances the 3 series outselling more mainstream cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. Another example in the UK is that of ] mobile phones; these have become increasingly popular with young people after having previously been popular among business people. | More recently, some observers have noted a similar phenomenon in which social and class signifiers of the upper classes have been adopted by the lower classes. Examples include sales of premium ], ] clothing or ] handbags to lower class people. In the UK, ] cars (particularly the 3 series) have seen this phenomenon, in some instances the 3 series outselling more mainstream cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. Another example in the UK is that of ] mobile phones; these have become increasingly popular with young people after having previously been popular among business people. | ||
Revision as of 17:59, 23 March 2012
Prole drift, short for proletarian drift, is the trend in which class and social signifiers of membership in the lower classes are adopted by the middle and upper classes. The phenomenon was discussed in a chapter of Paul Fussell's 1982 book "Class, A Guide Through the American Status System." Fussel saw prole drift as a general tendency of the culture towards proletarianization.
More recently, some observers have noted a similar phenomenon in which social and class signifiers of the upper classes have been adopted by the lower classes. Examples include sales of premium coffee, Burberry clothing or Coach Inc. handbags to lower class people. In the UK, BMW cars (particularly the 3 series) have seen this phenomenon, in some instances the 3 series outselling more mainstream cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. Another example in the UK is that of BlackBerry mobile phones; these have become increasingly popular with young people after having previously been popular among business people.
See also
References
- Fussell, Paul (1983). Class, A Guide Through the American Status System. New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31816-1.
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