Cultural lifestyle between generations : Exploring consumption pattern in ballet performances and how they relate to other cultural consumption

This study investigates the interplay between cultural lifestyles across generations, focusing on consumption patterns within the realm of ballet performances and their relation to other cultural activities. With the increasing emphasis on cultural participation as a sign of social identity and symbolic boundary setting, it is crucial to understand how different age cohorts interact with and perceive cultural offerings. This master thesis takes a qualitative approach and provides an in-depth study of the preferences, motivations and attitudes of different age cohorts towards taste in ballet performance and other cultural activities. Building on the foundation of distinction and habitus theory (Bourdieu, 1984) and cultural omnivorousness theory (Peterson, 1992) and using more specific theories of taste analysis that have emerged in the 21st century (e.g., Lahire, 2008; Jarness, 2015), a well-rounded interview guide forms a way of examining individuals' taste in ballet performance and its relation to preferences in other cultural activities. Starting from the roots and cultural background of individuals, it provides a comprehensive understanding of how their taste is shaped. This thesis is based on 14 semi-structured interviews with individuals between the ages of 21 and 57 who have attended at least one ballet performance in the Netherlands in 2023. My first research question is "how do individuals make sense of their taste in ballet performance?" and leads to my second and third research questions, "how do individuals' tastes in ballet performance relate to their broader taste patterns?" and "how do individuals' tastes in cultural activities relate to the generation to which they belong?" to look at the difference between generations and the diversity of cultural consumption patterns. Furthermore, this study explores the interconnectedness between individuals' taste in ballet and taste in other cultural activities, including theatre, opera, the visual arts, et cetera. Through qualitative interpretation, it seeks to uncover patterns of cultural consumption across generations, offering insights into the dynamics of contemporary cultural engagement. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how cultural preferences and behaviors are transmitted and transformed across different age cohorts, informing strategies for cultural institutions and policymakers aiming to enhance audience diversity and engagement.