From a student’s essay on a XIXth-century work of literature:
The protagonist’s best friend, however, does not belong to the middle class. He is part of the aristocracy. This becomes obvious when we discover that he goes to the theater. This is not something that middle class people do.
Clarissa's Blog 
They did go to Hollywoodian entertainment center, paying 10$ for popcorn! 😉
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Oops, of maybe he’s right if you restrict this to the XIXe century…
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Everybody went to the theater in the XIXth century. Sadly, that all has changed.
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Theater was like TV for them, then.
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Oh no! I must be doing something wrong then. I go to the Theatre, AND I even go to the Opera! And I am barely even Middle Class!
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I know, this essay made me feel like some Baronness or whatever. 🙂
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Going to the theater and the opera is largely a cultural issue. Well-educated people usually do so and less well-educated people usually do not. It is not necessarily an income-related issue, though the theater and the opera do cost more than the movies. It is also in part age-related. Few young people go to the theater or the opera. This may be the result of a coarsened culture through television and computers.
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I know! We were the youngest people at the theater the last time we went. And we are not even very young.
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I’m dirt poor, and I go to the theatre! In fact, I’ve helped put together several productions, either in costuming, or helping in other small ways.
I’m also a university student though, in a town with a very active theatre culture, so that probably makes a difference. Theatre here is more accessible to students because of the discounted tickets for students and drama programs.
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“I’ve helped put together several productions, either in costuming, or helping in other small ways.”
– Wow, this sounds really great!
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Off topic: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2013/03/130308_ultnot_siria_ucrania_periodista_secuestro_escape_jrg.shtml
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