Cate Blanchett’s claim to be ‘middle class’ isn’t unique among the wealthy, or even the 1% she’s part of. Downplaying privilege among elites contributes to the problem of wealth inequality.
As an aside to this article: I have seen some people defending Blanchett’s comments, arguing that she is indeed middle class in an Australian context because of our link to the UK. They argued that in the UK, Blanchett would be considered middle class as she is neither nobility/landed gentry, nor working class, and that this same definition applies in Australia. I am curious what other Australians make of this argument.
Modern society doesn’t really have a class system. If Care Blanchett turned up to the local cafe she would join the queue. However, her wealth means her driver probably would instead.
I don’t consider her .middle class any more but she herself does, probably as that’s how she sees herself from growing up and her values/upbringing. Shes just fortunate enough to now be incredibly wealthy too.
It’s the same way the bourgeois were “middle class” before the French revolution.
They were the 1%, just not the 0.1%
Everyone else was so much poorer, that they got lumped together whether they lived on the streets or had steady work and a home and could support a family comfortably.
So in a way, yeah, she’s right.
She’s the 1%, but because wealth inequality is so out of hand again, that’s kind of middle class again.
When people hear “middle class” it’s easy to think “average” but that’s not how it’s being used.
It’s more about wealth distribution when used like she’s using it.
When you start bringing “royalty” into it, no amount of money gets you into that demographic. You could have more money than a duke, but you’re still not a duke. At least unless the king/queen starts selling titles again.
At that point it becomes less about wealth, and more about legal power.
She bougie as fuck by any definition, but there’s a way to view what she said as rational, you just got to think of it like you’re a world famous millionaire who still isn’t at the top of the food chain. Miles ahead of any random person, but she doesn’t hang out with random people, in the crowds she runs in, she’s middle of the pack.
As an aside to this article: I have seen some people defending Blanchett’s comments, arguing that she is indeed middle class in an Australian context because of our link to the UK. They argued that in the UK, Blanchett would be considered middle class as she is neither nobility/landed gentry, nor working class, and that this same definition applies in Australia. I am curious what other Australians make of this argument.
Yeah nah.
I’ll add my 2 metric cents
Ppffffffff bs
I’m not from the commonwealth but I find that argument archaic, the modern definition of middle class has nothing to do with nobility.
Modern society doesn’t really have a class system. If Care Blanchett turned up to the local cafe she would join the queue. However, her wealth means her driver probably would instead.
I don’t consider her .middle class any more but she herself does, probably as that’s how she sees herself from growing up and her values/upbringing. Shes just fortunate enough to now be incredibly wealthy too.
Fairly certain I seen her introduced as queen in several documentaries
/s
I couldn’t resist.
Fortunately she did resist, and so she will diminish and fade into the West.
Could have had queen beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth!
Well Sauran is literally doing wonders for his community. Number 1 in industry!
It’s the same way the bourgeois were “middle class” before the French revolution.
They were the 1%, just not the 0.1%
Everyone else was so much poorer, that they got lumped together whether they lived on the streets or had steady work and a home and could support a family comfortably.
So in a way, yeah, she’s right.
She’s the 1%, but because wealth inequality is so out of hand again, that’s kind of middle class again.
When people hear “middle class” it’s easy to think “average” but that’s not how it’s being used.
It’s more about wealth distribution when used like she’s using it.
When you start bringing “royalty” into it, no amount of money gets you into that demographic. You could have more money than a duke, but you’re still not a duke. At least unless the king/queen starts selling titles again.
At that point it becomes less about wealth, and more about legal power.
She bougie as fuck by any definition, but there’s a way to view what she said as rational, you just got to think of it like you’re a world famous millionaire who still isn’t at the top of the food chain. Miles ahead of any random person, but she doesn’t hang out with random people, in the crowds she runs in, she’s middle of the pack.