G and I have been watching the second season of Downton Abbey on Amazon streaming, covering the First World War and Spanish flu.
There is a lot to say about war and class and change. One thing particularly struck me, though. In some ways social prestige has almost inverted. The Earl and his family are at the pinnacle of society and very wealthy. The kitchen staff labor anonymously downstairs.
Now a successful head of the kitchen, a Chef, is more likely to be famous and a rich media celebrity than the Earl. Aristocracy has lost most of its unconscious social prestige, the money has mostly gone and they have little or no power.
(As you can see, I have discovered the ability to search and drag google images into a post using Blogsy. So I am crazed with power.)
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