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by Robin Sharma
How Names, Fashions, and Culture Change
'A Matter of Taste' by Stanley Lieberson explores the role of cultural taste in shaping social class. It examines how our preferences for art, music, and literature are influenced by our upbringing and how they affect our standing in society.
When we hear the word fashion, the first thing that springs to mind are catwalks and designer labels. But the term describes far more than that. Fashion is a phenomenon that can be found in all aspects of society.
Changes in fashion usually happen for novelty’s sake, not to enhance or alter an object or concept. In other words, a fashion is something new for the sake of its novelty as well as aesthetic reasons: last season’s sweater still fits and keeps you warm, but you’ll buy a new one anyway simply because it’s the latest “thing.”
However, we don’t only buy new things because of fashion: we’ll also buy something because it’s objectively enhanced, e.g., a smartphone with a longer battery life. This doesn’t qualify as a fashion since the change hasn’t occurred purely for novelty’s sake.
It’s also important to distinguish fashions from customs – though customs can develop into fashions.
Different cultures may have distinctive habits of dressing, furnishing, etc. that aren’t “purely utilitarian,” but as long as these habits don’t change regularly, they’re customs and not a fashion. For example, the kimono might be a distinctive clothing style that doesn’t serve a direct purpose, but for a long period of time it was the traditional dress in Japan, hence it is a custom rather than a fashion.
But if at some point the kimono makes a comeback among Japanese designers, it would be considered a fashion. That's because dressing habits first become a matter of fashion when there's a regular change in styles for the sake of novelty.
Finally, fashion also has an influence on non-material things. Fashions change over time and an actress’s hairdo or a piece of music from the early 20th century no longer have the same impact on an audience today. Even Beethoven’s most famous symphony that enthused a whole generation isn't played in every concert house today.
A Matter of Taste examines how and why fashions and tastes in things like baby names change over time.
A Matter of Taste (2000) delves into the dynamics of taste and its impact on our everyday lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
The development of fashion in names, such that they are increasingly given to children because of aesthetic measures, is a relatively recent development.
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trialBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of A Matter of Taste?
The main message of A Matter of Taste is the cultural significance of our food choices and how they reflect our identity and values.
How long does it take to read A Matter of Taste?
The reading time for A Matter of Taste varies, but it will generally take a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is A Matter of Taste a good book? Is it worth reading?
A Matter of Taste is worth reading as it sheds light on the hidden complexities of our food preferences and explores the social factors that shape our taste.
Who is the author of A Matter of Taste?
A Matter of Taste is written by Stanley Lieberson.