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'Prole drift', a shortened form of 'proletarian drift', refers to the trend of originally upscale or upper class things to appeal to and be utilized by lower-income classes. The term was coined by Paul Fussell in 1983 to describe the phenomenon of most aspects of high culture eventually joining the lowest common denominator.^[1]
This includes both a formerly upscale product being distributed to lower classes, e.g. sales of smoking tobacco, or Starbucks opening its premium coffee shops outside American cities to more rural areas around the globe. It also includes upscale products moving down in quality, e.g. first class airline seating becoming more cramped or American beer manufacturers lowering the hops content to get a less flavorful product.

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See also

References

See also

★ Dumbing down

★ Social structure of the United States

References

1. Class, A Guide Through the American Status System, , Paul, Fussell, Ballantine, 1983, ISBN 0-345-31816-1