Legitimate culture.
I’ve been recently introduced to the concept of « legitimate culture » and I have to admit it truly was a mind-blowing revelation.
The superstar of sociology, Pierre Bourdieu, spelled out the definition of “the legitimate culture” in his reference book Distinction:
« It’s the type of knowledge that appears valid to every individual within the same society.”
Here’s a YouTube video that explains the concept and what it involves:
What really caught my attention is that the worth we put in the Dominant Culture is a huge source of bias that often lead to social inequalities since lower social class tends to have less of that cultural capital. Of course having an education and a degree is essential but why do we need to high-hat every other form of culture in order to glorify the so-called high culture?
Let’s take a look at what happen in a counterculture that I’m pretty familiar with: The French Rap movement.
Due to the shape of the writing, to the fact that they both use literary devices like assonance and alliteration, rap and poetry can be compared. I dare you to listen to “Demain c’est loin” by I am or “Mourir 1000 fois” by Oxmo Puccino and not see the similitudes. The border is really thin right?
And I get that you may not be susceptible to Rap music’s charms but it’s time to stop patronizing subcultures, no matter what they are.
Some rap music’s lyrics are even studied in high school and why not for the baccalaureat* one day ?(NDLR: The French equivalent to an exit examination)
I know someone who’s going to be PISSED…
Forsooth, the harsh scorned criticism exists even within the rap movement.
If the masterpiece “L’ecole du micro d’argent”, released in 1997, has made (almost) everyone reach a consensus, it’s not the case with most post 90’s artists.
“T’ecoute du JuL! Nan mais c’est pas du rap ça!”
“T’façon le rap c’etait mieux avant”
I personally like to call them (the haters) the purists. It’s about credibility, they say, street credibility…
My point is: Don’t assume that I’m a “basic ghetto girl” because I love rap music. I also care about politics, feminism, racism, I love Classic Literature, going to exhibitions and the list goes on… Those things are not mutually exclusive and I’m tired of trying to validate my person by aligning myself with “proper” interests.
With that being said, bring me my “grec-frites”!
