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85% of the very sophisticated Brits don't know the Edvard Munch painted "The Scream." (Link via Instapundit.) I don't know how many Americans possess this cultural knowledge, but for the sake of argument, let's say it is 15%.
What about this 15%? To what extent is the Culture War a battle between the sophisticated and the not-so-sophisticated?
In the old days, people with specialized knowledge were called snobs. Now, no one would admit to being a snob.
But when you are a snob and you can't admit it, then what are you?
Now that snobbAre they snobs?
Is it political?
Don't know wheat from rice?
Pinker lecture
http://oxblog.blogspot.com/2003_10_05_oxblog_archive.html#106552296372078557