The purpose of this analysis is to explore the association between the differences between left and right as well as the authoritarian and libertarian spectrum in terms of cultural taste.

Coding the variables

Both politics variables are coded into 3 categories. The middle ground and either extreme.

For example, on the left-right spectrum there:

Same for the libertarian-authoritarian scale.

Analysis

In the analysis below I am going to control for age, sex, whether they have a degree or not, and NSSEC (to give us some sense of whether the differences by class remove the differences in politics).

In the figure below I have included NSSEC in the results so that we can compare the differences between politics and class in terms of shapring culture.

Food

Working class foods

Healthy foods

Unusual foods

Opulent foods

Restaurant

Interesting flavour

High quality ingredients

Healthy

Filling

Music

I am not going to report all the results but there is less variation here, although as you might expect left-libertarians tend to like more highbrow music. I am going to show Celien Dion because the differences are largest.

Again, when it comes to whether there is variation in under or overrating these artists there is very little variation. But There is some for Celine Dion. Positive numbers here mean our respondents think that most people think Celine Dion is high quality but that they do not think Celine Dion should be high quality.

When it comes to misrecognition, there is still not much variation. But there is some for Celine Dion. Negative numbers here mean our respondents do not like Celine Dion but they do think she should be seen as high quality.

Television

With TV, there is some variation in tastes. Libertarians like Succession more than most.

But Libertarians also think this show is over-rated.

When it comes to misrecognition, there is still not much variation. Negative numbers here mean our respondents do not like Succession but they do think it should be seen as high quality.

Decor

For simplicity here, I will focus on those people who select the minimalist high cultural capital decor.

There is some evidence that left libertarians are different from left authoritarians here but note that (as we have seen elsehwere) right libertarians and right authoritarians are far less divide.

But there is far less variation in terms of whether they think other people like this style

Or whether their own houses look like this style.

There is very little variation between whether someone’s house actually looks like the style they like the most. Here, most people do not have a house that looks like the style they like the most.

Interestedness

Trans artist

We find very little affect on knowing that they were a Trans artist on whether they like the piece

And it is not clear that the treatment interacted with our measure of politics in a consistent way. Class also seems uncorrelated with this.

Colonial subject matter

We find very little affect on knowing that the painting had a colonial subject.

And it is not clear that the treatment interacted with our measure of politics in a consistent way. Class also seems uncorrelated with this.

Political content

People do not respond to the content of the art

And it is not clear that the treatment interacted with our measure of politics in a consistent way. Class also seems uncorrelated with this.

Aesthetic disposition

Photographs

I’m not going to show all the images but just illuminate some of them where the differences are interesting.

Naked Old man

Libertarians, but particularly left libertarians, are much more likely to think this image is beautiful.

Luxury car

Authoritarians are much more likely to think this image is beautiful.

Sunset

Authoritarians are more likely to think this image is beautiful but everyone thinks it can be beautiful. Interestingly, so are professionals.

Attitudes towards what art should be

I’m not going to show all the images but just illuminate some of them where the differences are interesting.

Does not need to be beautiful

Libertarians are much more likely to agree with this. Professionals slightly more likely.

Makes you relax

Authoritarians are much more likely to agree with this. No real class differences.

Depict reality

Authoritarians are much more likely to agree with this. No real class differences.

General art questions (replicating CCSE)

Definite standards to decide whether music is good or bad

Authoritarians are more likely to agree with this. No real class differences.

Anything can count as art these days

Authoritarians are more likely to agree with this. No real class differences.

One person’s taste is as good as the next

Left libertarians slightly more likely to agree with this. No real class differences.

Exercise

There is actually not a great deal of difference in terms of exercise. The item with the biggest differences is because it’s good for my health.

This is one of the few places where class seems to be more important than ideology.