COMMENT: Do you find the Astor’s creation and maintenance of “high society” as an admirable and glamorous social development - or do you think it was a form of snobbery?
Great manners shouldn’t be an exclusive gift to the upper class. Good manners are the way others perceive you and how you interact with all others around you. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.
It's fascinating to see how they played such a pivotal role in shaping high society in both America and Britain. The way they wielded social savvy, political clout, and strategic marriages to cement their status is truly a testament to their influence. It's also interesting to see how their fortunes and influence evolved over time, especially with the changing economic and societal landscapes.
A mixed bag...the enlightened philanthropy admirable, the ostentation and luxury deplorable in an ocean of squalor. Complex, I can see how they used the latter to further the former, but think the examples of such as Chuck Feeney set a better example.
How do you think a lot of the European, including British, aristocracy got their starts as the aristocracy? Not every family was descended from the ruling royal house. Many have humble beginnings who made their fortunes and then got their titles through their wealth and influence. The same happened in the US, just without the hereditary titles. Everything else was just as hereditary - the wealth, the power, the privilege etc. The same is still true today in the US. In the UK these days it is the rich who are the powerful and influential, not the aristocracy (unless they are one of the few that has managed to hold on to some wealth).
As for the question at the tail end of the Vlog. I think it's a combination of both snobbery, and a form of glamorous sense of philanthropy. It does take money to push, scientific and artistic ambitions along. They didn't wanted someone who would promise to donate, then back off due to financial flux. That's just my personal thoughts, and opinions. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Humanity is a social creature so its only nature that wealthy people will do the same and formed those groups. I think its similar to acient time and different cultures like the Ancient Egyptian's pharaoh system, Greeks and Romans. I think in historical point of view the pharaohs power was protected safe guard from the priestly class similar to what the Catholic Church did for the middle-aged monarchies in Europe. Just food for thought.
Agree to disagree on that. I'm sure there's a rich bitch Karen-type out there that would make Caroline's jaw drop in disgust. A lot of the trashy 'new money' celebs of today come to mind. 😅
Personally, I find the desire of families to claim the position of aristocracy to be one of the consistent things about humanity--how can one criticize it? The fact that some families rely on mere material wealth rather than moral excellence is unfortunate, but while the Astors may have titles at the moment, the head of the K'ung Family will always be the heir of Confucius.
Hi if they has done some good for people of colour that would have been nice, but this family is like a lot of super rich family only thinking of them self. So they are here to day and gone tomorrow. If they wish to help me, just can drop me a line, and we can talk!!!
😲 SNOBS!…. As well explained in this videography, the first and second generation Astors were the arbiters or social influencers of Early 20th century American high society. The once high and mighty Astor family dynasty’s zenith occurred during a whole different era during when societal discrimination in America was far more pervasive and overt among class, hereditary lineage, besides ethnic and racial backgrounds. However, don’t be fooled by ‘ prim and proper ‘ high society facades. Unlike today’s overwhelming high visibility era, the influential and wealthy Upper Class before the 1970s Watergate era could and often did ‘ persuade ’ newspaper publications to bury most high society indiscretions and scandals aka ‘ keep it out of the papers ‘ or ‘ make this go away ’ . How? There wasn’t 24/7 sensationalist media coverage like today. During more genteel times, many of then newspaper and social register publishers themselves (Ex: Hearst , Post, Etc.) were often elite members of the upper echelons making such mutually beneficial alliances possible. Say what you will about today’s online and social media influencer craze. The vast majority aren’t socially refined or discriminatory, by comparison.
COMMENT: Do you find the Astor’s creation and maintenance of “high society” as an admirable and glamorous social development - or do you think it was a form of snobbery?
Great manners shouldn’t be an exclusive gift to the upper class. Good manners are the way others perceive you and how you interact with all others around you. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.
👍🏿
Absolutely!
What I learned about good manners, it isn't suppose to be a tool of arrogance. It is suppose to make others feel comfortable.
It's fascinating to see how they played such a pivotal role in shaping high society in both America and Britain.
The way they wielded social savvy, political clout, and strategic marriages to cement their status is truly a testament to their influence.
It's also interesting to see how their fortunes and influence evolved over time, especially with the changing economic and societal landscapes.
Now that the Gilded Age show is back, this, and the show can work side-by-side in exploring a wonderful time!
Interesting Vlog, thank you for posting.
Our pleasure!
Apart from the purpose of the video, I very much like the narrator's voice
These society games are cruel because they distract the players from the real world.
A mixed bag...the enlightened philanthropy admirable, the ostentation and luxury deplorable in an ocean of squalor.
Complex, I can see how they used the latter to further the former, but think the examples of such as Chuck Feeney set a better example.
very interesting
How do you think a lot of the European, including British, aristocracy got their starts as the aristocracy? Not every family was descended from the ruling royal house. Many have humble beginnings who made their fortunes and then got their titles through their wealth and influence. The same happened in the US, just without the hereditary titles. Everything else was just as hereditary - the wealth, the power, the privilege etc. The same is still true today in the US. In the UK these days it is the rich who are the powerful and influential, not the aristocracy (unless they are one of the few that has managed to hold on to some wealth).
As for the question at the tail end of the Vlog. I think it's a combination of both snobbery, and a form of glamorous sense of philanthropy. It does take money to push, scientific and artistic ambitions along. They didn't wanted someone who would promise to donate, then back off due to financial flux. That's just my personal thoughts, and opinions. Please correct me if I am wrong.
can you make a video about Swedens
Stefan Persson the heir to H&M
Humanity is a social creature so its only nature that wealthy people will do the same and formed those groups. I think its similar to acient time and different cultures like the Ancient Egyptian's pharaoh system, Greeks and Romans. I think in historical point of view the pharaohs power was protected safe guard from the priestly class similar to what the Catholic Church did for the middle-aged monarchies in Europe. Just food for thought.
9:38 I believe you meant US Congress.
There was no greater snob than Caroline Astor, before or since.
Agree to disagree on that. I'm sure there's a rich bitch Karen-type out there that would make Caroline's jaw drop in disgust.
A lot of the trashy 'new money' celebs of today come to mind. 😅
You never met my aunt Sharon!
7:13 WTF 👀👀👀👀
Personally, I find the desire of families to claim the position of aristocracy to be one of the consistent things about humanity--how can one criticize it? The fact that some families rely on mere material wealth rather than moral excellence is unfortunate, but while the Astors may have titles at the moment, the head of the K'ung Family will always be the heir of Confucius.
It's just organization.
Hi if they has done some good for people of colour that would have been nice, but this family is like a lot of super rich family only thinking of them self. So they are here to day and gone tomorrow. If they wish to help me, just can drop me a line, and we can talk!!!
No wonder the Astor clan are old money (not snobbery) they are.
Let not forget BANKING 🤔
J.P. Morgan has more to do with the banking systems than the Astors
the Astor`s ?... Who?
First❤
Snobbery
😲 SNOBS!…. As well explained in this videography, the first and second generation Astors were the arbiters or social influencers of Early 20th century American high society. The once high and mighty Astor family dynasty’s zenith occurred during a whole different era during when societal discrimination in America was far more pervasive and overt among class, hereditary lineage, besides ethnic and racial backgrounds.
However, don’t be fooled by ‘ prim and proper ‘ high society facades. Unlike today’s overwhelming high visibility era, the influential and wealthy Upper Class before the 1970s Watergate era could and often did ‘ persuade ’ newspaper publications to bury most high society indiscretions and scandals aka ‘ keep it out of the papers ‘ or ‘ make this go away ’ . How? There wasn’t 24/7 sensationalist media coverage like today.
During more genteel times, many of then newspaper and social register publishers themselves (Ex: Hearst , Post, Etc.) were often elite members of the upper echelons making such mutually beneficial alliances possible. Say what you will about today’s online and social media influencer craze. The vast majority aren’t socially refined or discriminatory, by comparison.
Snobbery