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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").

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