Sophistication- Style, era and composition.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/13/10 at 11:18am

Suppose Cole Porter were alive today in this time. Do you think he'd still be writing in the style and subject matters that he did in his era? "Well, Did You Evah" is considered a perfect comedy song in ANY era by most critics, even though its style, subject matter and composition are predominantly upper-class sophistique. Upper-class rich sophistication has long gone out of being the top "style" of broadway- hence why you only see "top hats, tuxedos and tapping" in ironic contexts most of the time.

In the old days, before the late fifties and sixties, the mark of sophisticated Broadway seemed to be an atmosphere of elegance and riches. You could rhyme "soiree" with "frappe" and hear beards being stroked and laughter behind opera glasses. Now, the "American aristocracy" has mostly fallen. Do you think this had an impact on Broadway, or has Broadway, long the plaything of the rich, actually impacted upper-class culture?