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Original poster

Are the working classes becoming a object of curoisity for the middle classes?

47 replies

twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:35

We went to the Lowry yesterday primarily to see Maggie the muscial but while there we saw the \link{http://www.thelowry.com/WhatsOn/EventDetail.aspx?EventId=2526Our House} exhibition which dp and I found fascinating as we were both kids that spent time inour childhoods living on rather notorious council estates, dp actually in Manchester.

I am not critisising the exhibition as such as I enjoyed it but also felt distinctly uncomfortable and amused at the attitude an fascination of the people visiting the gallery, It was as if they were looking at exhibits in a zoo not at fellow members of the same city. As did dp which made me think that it wasn't my usual political correct self absorbed paranoia.

While viewing the exhibition dp was talking about one of the estates he grew up on and I heard someone whisper to their partner
"Oh listen he is one of them " To which the woman said " Oh no dear I wouldn;t hvae thought so, not in here"

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:36

sorry will redo link, trying to type and sneeze!
Our House

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TheBlairAitchProject · 08/10/2006 12:37

how else would you explain the Jeremy Kyle show?

colditz · 08/10/2006 12:37

Yes and it sickens me to the stomach.

southeastastralplain · 08/10/2006 12:37

haha think it's always been like that really!

BATtymumma · 08/10/2006 12:39

YES!

DumbledoresGirl · 08/10/2006 12:39

Isn't it just human interest in other humans? What about the hordes of people - working and middle class - who enjoy going round stately homes?

colditz · 08/10/2006 12:40

The owners of the stately homes get paid. The residents of council estates don't get to charge at the gate.

A fine example of how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Gobbledispook · 08/10/2006 12:41

Agree with DG

SherlockLGJ · 08/10/2006 12:42

I am with DG.

colditz · 08/10/2006 12:42

I live on a council estate, and next to it a new, quite posh, estate has been built. there is spike topped fencing along the entire border between the estates. The spikes point towards us.

DumbledoresGirl · 08/10/2006 12:44

colditz, as I understand it, the entrance fee for stately homes goes on the upkeep of the building and estate. That was why stately homes were originally opened to the public for a fee - to pay for the upkeep and to cover death duties etc.

No-one is forcing anyone to pay the fees. I don't know what the Lowry is, but they could charge fees if they wanted to.

I don't think the issue of fees is relevant to this argument actually.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:51

You can pay a donation to the Lowry, we didn't as we are broke! There were also books dvds to buy, as I said I am not really questioning the exhibit which was not done in a lets gawp at people of council estates way but moer the general attitude that the working class are some kind of deviant sub culture for others to observe like caged animals.

Not sure if the stately home stands up as we don;t go to look at the people and then berate them for having the adacity to wear burberry and ruining it for us decent people who can no longer wear it!

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colditz · 08/10/2006 12:53

It's probably not. Am in a foul mood and feel very hard done to today.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:53

Maybe it is human interest , but we felt disintcly uncomfortable especially dp who came from one of the estates featured, and I repeat not uncofortable at the exhibition but more the way people reacted to it.

But perhaps Prince Charles feels ths same on a walkabout!

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twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:55

lol colditz, that reminds me of when I lived in one of the riverside devloepments in London and they wanted to put barbed wire up to keep out the kids from the council block across the road and even tried to mount a petition to get the council block knocked down even thought it had been there for decades and we had just arrived.

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twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 12:57

See your point at the Jeremy Kyle show but is it shown to an almost exclusivly middle class audience to gawp at, not sure on that one. I don;t think by the way that the Lowry was set up just for guardian readers so they could spend a few minutes in Salford and ease their conscience, but my visits there - and we go a few times a month tells me that is what has happened.

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DumbledoresGirl · 08/10/2006 12:58

Funny, because a few months ago, my family went to St Fagins which is in Wales and is a collection of houses from different periods in time, furnished to fit the period they belonged to, brought together in one spot. When we went into the 1940's pre-fab it was absolutely full of articles I grew up with - toys, kitchen articles, furniture, etc. I didn't feel like my lifestyle was being gawped at. I just felt excitement to see things that were/are part of my life being displayed as part of our heritage.

Or am I missing the point here?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 13:22

It is hard to put my finger on what is was that made me feel uncomfortable, but both and I and dp did.

If I thought that people were just looking witht interest in pictues of people from council estates then of couse I would not feel uncomfortable. But it was more than that, it was thank god those ghastly slums have been knocked down and those undecucated no hopers are being moved on and we can make room for nice magnolia apartments with flower boxes for decent people who want to get on the property ladder. This did not really come from the exhibtion but the people looking at it, although perhaps am guilty of gawping as I spent as much time listening to and watching the body languauge of the people viewing the exhibition as I did the photographs and film

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NotQuiteCockney · 08/10/2006 13:48

The middle classes have always enjoyed gawping at the working classes, and tut-tutting over their horrible behaviour. This is not new! The temperance movement was largely about saving those horrible poor people from themselves.

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twinsetandpearls · 08/10/2006 14:15

Aware its not new but perhaps becoming more prevalent almost a national past time.

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TenaLady · 08/10/2006 14:21

No I dont think so > i am rebellious upper class, classic wild child.

Only interested in oneself, I wouldnt flatter yourself dahling

Blandmum · 08/10/2006 14:21

It is out chirpy cockney ways, m'old duck. Whoops there is a whippit under me'arm, pass me a lard butty, while I sing some rousing Welsh Hymes as I go down the pit to dig for flat caps and then have a knees up at the local.

TenaLady · 08/10/2006 14:22

I think you will find it's only the new money who call themselves middle class based on cash and not breeding that do most of the judging. I wouldnt worry.

TenaLady · 08/10/2006 14:25

You've given me a cracking business opportunity thought.

I could start a magazine (a bit like OK) Hmmm! must think of a title!!
This would only feature working class families and singles in everyday life.

Do you think the middle and uppers might buy it in copious amounts like OK sells?

NotQuiteCockney · 08/10/2006 14:26

Hmm, according to a book I read recently about the English, anxiety about not being lower-class, and (pointless) attempts to become upper-class are the hallmark of the middle class. An insistence on not saying "what?" (pardon instead), etc etc ...

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