PrepTest 78, Passage 2, Question 14
Summary
The primary reason middle-class individuals historically became patrons of the arts, according to Matthew Arnold, revolves around their desire for respectability and status rather than a genuine appreciation for the art itself.
- Matthew Arnold characterized the aristocracy as 'barbarians' and the middle class as 'Philistines' obsessed with respectability.
- The middle class's patronage of the arts was driven by a desire to establish a reputation as patrons rather than by an intrinsic value or aesthetic appreciation of the arts.
- Arnold suggests that the middle class's engagement with the arts was superficial, aimed at enhancing their status among peers rather than reflecting personal taste or values.
- Artists had to work with little personal taste or insight from their patrons, indicating a lack of genuine engagement with the art commissioned.
Chapters
00:00
Understanding Inference Questions
00:25
Analyzing Matthew Arnold's Perspective
01:13
Deciphering the Middle Class's Motivations
