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Bob T : Taste
Thanks and congratulations to Melvyn and his guests for such an excellent programme. It was a treat to hear local experts who were knowledgeable, enthusiastic AND articulate.It shed so much light on the that hugely valued part of the built environment in England - the Georgian House. I had previously assumed that individuals of impeccable taste had been replaced by the generally rather tasteless Victorians. The History of (English) "Good Taste" is such a big part of national culture indeed world culture it deserves a month devoted to it.
John Kelleher - The Language of America
I haven't had a chance to hear this week's show yet, but have just read Melvyn Bragg's email, and wanted to contribute to the discussion about whether The United States came close to adopting German as its language.In my opnion, Melvyn should collect his money. That German was within a whisker of being adopted is a widely held belief in Germany (where I lived and worked until recently); however, this is dismissed in a German book I read that exploded such myths, like the one that the Wright Brothers made the first powered flight. (For the record, a good few beat them to it; the Wright brothers had more influence and the best publicity machine.)Like so many myths, it does have a source. In this case, the origin of the story stems from a small town in America that held a vote to decide whether its signs should be displayed in German as well as English: it was decided, by one vote, to keep them English only. I suppose it's a case of might oaks growing from acorns again.
Andrew Hatton ,Taste
A fabulous programme and I like the idea of following up with the Englishness of USA.By a happy coincidence I visited Kensington Palace recently and the Taste prog put the ridiculousness of it all in context.The fact that at court in the 17th Century so called gentlemen trying to get into the inner sanctum had fashionable but unwearable hats made to impress others of their status shows how stupid our class system, which was so connected with acceptable Taste or not,is.As a Quaker I better understand now why those early Quakers doggedly wore their hats wherever they went refusing to doff them and so do "hat honour" to demonstrate that they felt equal with all.I hope some of these issues can be visited again because it links up to the whole falsity of titles, when we use even Mr or Mrs and when we are addressed by our surname only compared to the fey familiarity now where every one, just about assumes familiarity by addressing me just by my given name even when it is our first contact and in an email. That way we are mates with everyone but friends with no one.Oh to get under the skin of this stuff which remains very powerful in UK culture.
Peter Household - Taste
Would it be fair to summarise it thus? That the aristocracy resorted to taste when their economic and political power was being undermined after 1688 … the bourgeoisie said fine, we can handle this, the aristocrats said not a hope, you need to be born to it.
Peter Bolt; Taste
I still consider that Sir Roger de Covereley and friends; The Member of the Inner Court; The City merchant Sir Andrew Freeport::Captain Sentrey of the military: Will Honeycomb et al.Between them their sense of "taste" and good sense, has never been bettered.
Taste
This has been one of the very best, most engaging, and lively discussions on which I have eavesdropped in a long time. Good topic, good speakers, well moderated.Thank youRobert HaslachWashington, DCUSA
Justin Potts - 18th century taste
Much was made in the programme about the egalitarianism of 18th century taste – how "anyone" could acquire it. This is very misleading. Few concepts were more socially divisive than taste, and deliberately so. As the century went on those who defined and maintained the concept of taste went to considerable lengths to limit the expansion of tasteful society, eg through exclusive clubs such as the Society of Dilettanti or the Royal Academy. Taste itself became a barrier against the rising tide of mercantile money: it was part of the currency of power. The arbiters of taste were those perched high up on the ladder of power, kicking down at anyone below who dared to try to climb past them. Taste was easy to use in this respect because you needed a classical education before you could be deemed to have it. Another aspect of 18th century taste that interests me is what it says about the 18th century mindset. Previous yardsticks of social superiority such as the ownership of land involved economic relations and interchange with other people from different social groups. Later, in the 19th century, philanthropy tended to displace taste as the most important indicator of social excellence: this, too, necessarily engages one with other people, of all classes. But taste is cold and unsocial, a glass bubble that hardly involves any social intercourse beyond one's own immediate group.
Daniel, Taste
Great subject, great panel. A fitting companion piece to the Alexander Pope programme you had some time back. As far as taste goes, I'm glad you didn't stick to a rigidly class-based interpretation of its importance. After all, poets like Stephen 'Thresher' Duck were being embraced by the establishment long before Wordsworth showed up.
Patricia Stevenson, Taste
What role did the maagzine Tatler (launched 1709) play in the pusuit of Taste in the 18th Century?
Sean Grainger — Taste
Loved it as usual but kept thinking 'This sounds like the deep origins of Ikea.'
Bob Phillips - Boxes
Wonderful programme.Can anyone tell me where I can find the poem/tract referred to as (I think) the Cit's Country Box, and the references to villas in Twickenham?
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