Comments on: Biweekly about culture http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/2010/05/biweekly-about-culture/ Polish blog in English, helping Brits understand Poles Sun, 13 May 2012 21:23:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michał http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/2010/05/biweekly-about-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-13338 Michał Mon, 31 May 2010 21:09:16 +0000 http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/?p=1156#comment-13338 Although I have to add that from my experience, the expression 'cultured' probably refers to both the way of speaking and manners as well as the overall level of exposure to the cultural world. Older generations in particular were exposed to the best of literature, theatre, arts etc. at school, and it wasn't always only a matter of snobbery. Although I have to add that from my experience, the expression ‘cultured’ probably refers to both the way of speaking and manners as well as the overall level of exposure to the cultural world. Older generations in particular were exposed to the best of literature, theatre, arts etc. at school, and it wasn’t always only a matter of snobbery.

]]> By: Michał http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/2010/05/biweekly-about-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-13337 Michał Mon, 31 May 2010 21:03:27 +0000 http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/?p=1156#comment-13337 This is a perfect explanation of my perhaps over-simplified definitions. This is a perfect explanation of my perhaps over-simplified definitions.

]]> By: Steve http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/2010/05/biweekly-about-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-13334 Steve Sun, 30 May 2010 11:04:51 +0000 http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/?p=1156#comment-13334 Whilst I would agree that the Polish are 'cultured', this would refer to the general way people talk and act. It would not be about 'high culture', which seems to me to be more heavily used as a form of social snobbery in Poland, perhaps because, as you say, more people go to the Theatre, etc and there are therefore more people who believe it separates them from the rest. The English quite rightly think that not being interested in high-culture is just a matter of personal taste; unfortunately the anti-snobbery element (and often cost) prevents them from even trying it. 'Intellectual' has a completely different meaning in English, usually meaning someone who has a more esoteric way of thinking, rather than the well educated and well brought-up meaning it has in Poland. By definition, the standard English intellectual is odd, while the Polish intellectual is conventional. Whilst I would agree that the Polish are ‘cultured’, this would refer to the general way people talk and act. It would not be about ‘high culture’, which seems to me to be more heavily used as a form of social snobbery in Poland, perhaps because, as you say, more people go to the Theatre, etc and there are therefore more people who believe it separates them from the rest. The English quite rightly think that not being interested in high-culture is just a matter of personal taste; unfortunately the anti-snobbery element (and often cost) prevents them from even trying it.

‘Intellectual’ has a completely different meaning in English, usually meaning someone who has a more esoteric way of thinking, rather than the well educated and well brought-up meaning it has in Poland. By definition, the standard English intellectual is odd, while the Polish intellectual is conventional.

]]> By: It's like the BBC, but from Poland | the POLSKI blog http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/2010/05/biweekly-about-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-13318 It's like the BBC, but from Poland | the POLSKI blog Thu, 27 May 2010 07:48:02 +0000 http://thepolskiblog.co.uk/?p=1156#comment-13318 [...] recently introduced you to a new Polish cultural site aimed at the English-speaking world, and here we have another [...] [...] recently introduced you to a new Polish cultural site aimed at the English-speaking world, and here we have another [...]

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