High Brow/Low Brow

Most of what I think of when I hear high brow and low brow in relation to culture has already been stated by most of my classmates. Once again I get the slightly depressing realization that we are never original in our thoughts and never can be. We are always striving to remember and relearn all that we have forgotten and did not know we already knew. Everything returns to us in one form or another, cyclical time and the myth of the eternal return are always present throughout our everyday lives.

High brow and low brow as terms themselves emerged in the early 20th century in America. Another way to distinguish the culture of the upper classes from the lower. Here we are again as Americans, trying to even put art and culture into categories, when really it all is in the eye of the beholder. I believe art is subjective and is important and understood most completely when held within a context. But with these terms we are able to relate works to each other and have a standard of either high brow or low brow when both are relating to the same theme.

High brow to me though is something that is complex, intellectual and asks more of its reader or observer. Asking us to pay closer attention and fall into that work and its context and time. Low brow on the other hand refers to simpler forms of culture, mass culture in a sense. Culture for all to enjoy. Not culture so much to be learned from, but to be enjoyed and understood by many.

I am looking forward to this class, and reading both high and low brow versions of similar themes. As usual Dr. Sexson's classes are always intellectually stimulating and entertaining, just like our presentations at the end.