What is the relationship between taste and class Essay

What is the relationship between taste and class - Essay Example And if class does determine taste, to what extent does it determine taste? One of the major texts that tries to explore the relationship of class and taste is the article by Jane Steinhauer entitled â€Å"When the Joneses wear Jeans.† According to Steinhauer, unlike in earlier times, social class â€Å"has become harder to see in the things that Americans buy† (2005). This is because of the fact that prices have become more flat, and credit spending has become so popular, that even ordinary Americans can now actually buy high end products, that were before only exclusive to upper class Americans (Steinhauer 2005). In this case, it may be seen that the tastes of a certain individual does not necessarily reflect his or her social class, due to the fact that even ordinary citizens of America can now have the option to buy products that are commonly associated with the upper classes. In this case, then, does it negate the fact that class determines taste? However, Steinhauer does not easily agree. This is because of the fact that she still conced es that â€Å"status symbols have not disappeared† and that â€Å"the marketplace have simply gone one better, rolling out ever pricier goods and pitching them to ever loftier rich† (Steinhauer 2005). In this case, the presence of multimillion dollar luxury cars and thousand dollar-jewelries are still luxuries of the upper classes, and are still exclusive to them. In this case, Steinhauer further argues that even though the market has been able to expertly design and package high end goods to the middle classes in the purpose of expanding one’s market, the vertical desire of middle class people to indulge in upper class indulgences have become more â€Å"unrealistic,† due to the fact that America is know facing a â€Å"widening income gap between themselves and the rich† (Steinhauer 2005). In this case, she concludes that the true measure of upper class is the â€Å"personal services