Bourgeoisie, in todays terms, means middle-class, and is usually used as a pejorative term for the materialistic, rather affluent, conventional-minded part of society that "feels" on the upper levels. This group is hierarchically narrow-minded and overly-concerned with the idea of social levels, despising everything and everyone that doesn't "measure up" socially and/or financially. When making new acquaintances, they normally put an exceptionally high-priority on well-established backgrounds, traditional manners (feeling therewith aristocratic, according to their clichées), and wealth and social status. Utterly socially pedantic themselves, they'll always be afraid of what may seem unconventional or considered socially odd.
The term refers by no means to the genuine aristocratic stratum, which would be considered the true upper class. Although the aristocracy might display a certain elitism, the true aristocrat, being well-read, travelled around the world, and having had a top-class well-rounded (and not only business-oriented) education, is curious and fascinated by the multifacetedness of life, and the fact that the world cannot be reduced to a hierarchical structure lubricated by money. A true aristocrat will have a mind affine to philosophy, literature and art. Fine Art, as a form of human expression and heritage, and not as a sign of social status and prestige (which is the way the bourgeoisie acts towards renowned art, trying to emulate "aristocratic tendencies").
The term refers by no means to the genuine aristocratic stratum, which would be considered the true upper class. Although the aristocracy might display a certain elitism, the true aristocrat, being well-read, travelled around the world, and having had a top-class well-rounded (and not only business-oriented) education, is curious and fascinated by the multifacetedness of life, and the fact that the world cannot be reduced to a hierarchical structure lubricated by money. A true aristocrat will have a mind affine to philosophy, literature and art. Fine Art, as a form of human expression and heritage, and not as a sign of social status and prestige (which is the way the bourgeoisie acts towards renowned art, trying to emulate "aristocratic tendencies").
Reference to the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley", where a modern usage of the above definition is used.
Background: In the late 1950's, Tom Ripley, a clear member of the middle-class, sees himself being fascinated by the nonchalant European lifestyle of Dickie Greenleaf und Freddie Miles, after meeting them in Italy. Dickie and Freddie, are unambiguously members of New York's aristocracy (true upper class), but, although clearly wealthy, display a very refined, non-pompous, and rather discreet lifestyle. From the start, Dickie genuinely accepts and grows fond of Tom for his quirkiness and passion for Jazz, never really caring about his background or socio-economic situation.
At a later stage in the film, Tom, having access to Dickies wealth, but having a middle-class-minded idea of how wealthy people behave, decorates his apartment in Rome as if it belonged to Dickie, in an unsuccessful attempt to emulate his style. Without giving out any spoilers, heres a conversation between Tom and Freddie inside Tom's new flat:
- Freddie: Did this place come furnished?
- Tom: ...
- Freddie: It doesn't look like Dickie. It's ah... it's horrible... isn't it? It's so eh... Bourgeois
This is a clear display of how Bourgeois is a term used solely with derogatory contempt, and means anything but classy, or sophisticated.
Background: In the late 1950's, Tom Ripley, a clear member of the middle-class, sees himself being fascinated by the nonchalant European lifestyle of Dickie Greenleaf und Freddie Miles, after meeting them in Italy. Dickie and Freddie, are unambiguously members of New York's aristocracy (true upper class), but, although clearly wealthy, display a very refined, non-pompous, and rather discreet lifestyle. From the start, Dickie genuinely accepts and grows fond of Tom for his quirkiness and passion for Jazz, never really caring about his background or socio-economic situation.
At a later stage in the film, Tom, having access to Dickies wealth, but having a middle-class-minded idea of how wealthy people behave, decorates his apartment in Rome as if it belonged to Dickie, in an unsuccessful attempt to emulate his style. Without giving out any spoilers, heres a conversation between Tom and Freddie inside Tom's new flat:
- Freddie: Did this place come furnished?
- Tom: ...
- Freddie: It doesn't look like Dickie. It's ah... it's horrible... isn't it? It's so eh... Bourgeois
This is a clear display of how Bourgeois is a term used solely with derogatory contempt, and means anything but classy, or sophisticated.
by mishimihendrix April 20, 2020
According to Marx and Engels, the Bourgeois class, also called the Bourgeoisie, is a term for those who make money off of other people's labor, rather than doing their own labor. Typically in reference to rich people.
by bi myself February 26, 2021
by last name Bourgeois November 7, 2009
by Ryan BOURGEOIS October 24, 2008
I wonder if the Bourgeois knows about the Tennis Court Oath?
by CBosk February 1, 2007
Adj. When pronounced "BOO-zhee" (soft-j sound like in French) refers to a quality of (sometimes mildly) snobby-without-realizing-it, upper-middle-class sensibilities. Usually associated with upper-middle-income white people, but not necessarily. Can involve driving the right car, getting the right (healthy or gourmet) foods, having a professional/white-collar job, always having "nice" things, $4 lattes at Starbucks or elsewhere because you think you're above Starbucks, having a well-diversified stock portfolio and other retirement savings, having a special set of dishes and everything else just for Christmas, status-symbol kids or pets, carbon offsets, thinking $15 wine is cheap, listening to NPR, and gentrifying neighborhoods. Even though not all of these things may be bad and some of them could be done by anybody (like healthy food or looking down on Starbucks), it's a certain combination and a certain attitude that goes along with it that you know when you see. As with many type-of-people-describing things, there can be some overlap with other things, yuppy stuff and hipster stuff especially (although hipsters tend to be associated with 20-somethings, and yuppies tend to be younger-middle-age; bourgeois has more of an association with younger-middle-age-thru-older-middle-age); can be distinguished from super-rich stuff; some people might do bourgeois things occasionally or do things in a bourgeois way, but some people are just bourgeois and usually don't realize it.
This neighborhood used to be a lively working-class Latino neighborhood, but then all these yuppies moved in cause it was close to downtown and was actually a pretty cool neighborhood, and now there's all these bourgeois shops and cafes everywhere and everyone's property values went up.
He likes to pretend he's all poor and disadvantaged and shops at Wal-Mart and stuff, but we all know he came from this total bourgeois background and his bourgeois parents support him still.
When I became a teacher, I wanted to teach at the high school I graduated from, but I ended up at this preppy magnet school in a bourgeois-ass suburb.
He likes to pretend he's all poor and disadvantaged and shops at Wal-Mart and stuff, but we all know he came from this total bourgeois background and his bourgeois parents support him still.
When I became a teacher, I wanted to teach at the high school I graduated from, but I ended up at this preppy magnet school in a bourgeois-ass suburb.
by PublicSexWithGarlic December 3, 2010
According to Karl Marx, there were only two classes: those controlling the means of power and those not. The bourgeois were those who controlled the political system, creating laws and values that would ensure their control of power over the proletariat working class.
The bourgeois Board of Trustees at the College of St. Benedict are trying to make us live on campus all four years, what a violation of freedom!
by Sam Gavin April 10, 2008