Since Brexit, major newspapers and tabloids in various countries have been concerned about the inseparable connection between Oxford University and the British ruling class. Many reports discuss the "Bullingdon Club" (Bullingdon Club), a society for wealthy children at Oxford University, describing how the former Prime Minister and his fellow Brexiteer Johnson met and interacted with each other through this club that only recruits upper-class male students; some also The report follows former Prime Minister Theresa May and her female classmates from the Department of Geography at Oxford University, who one after another married to the elite and nobles of the same school, and are now dominating the political and economic circles of Britain.
These stories all portray the Oxford campus as an important space for the British upper class to replicate their advantages; but in fact, the membership of this space is very complex and does not always serve the upper class - in the centuries-old history of Oxford University, The upper class's accumulation of connections and money in this space is actually often challenged by other classes.
Spatial power relations in university towns are often very subtle. The university was a place where the gentry produced knowledge, and the urban area in which it was located was usually where the town laborers who served the gentry class lived. The former were gentry in academic robes, and the latter were townspeople who lived and worked locally. There were conflicts between the two, which was called the "town and gown dispute."
At Oxford University, the conflict between the townspeople living in the university town and the gentry in the colleges has existed for hundreds of years. One of the most well-known and bloodiest occurred in 1355. A quarrel between townspeople and gentry in a downtown bar escalated into a bloody conflict between hundreds of students and residents of nearby towns. More than 60 students and gentry were killed. More than 30 townspeople died. The bloody conflicts between the townspeople and the gentry of Oxford became more and more fierce. In the Middle Ages, the bloody conflicts even prompted the escape of scholars. Some of the Oxford scholars fled to Cambridge and founded today's Cambridge University .
The spatial power relations in university towns are usually very subtle: the university is a place where the gentry produces knowledge, and the urban area where it is located is usually where the town labor workers who serve the gentry class live. The picture shows Oxford students waiting for the May Day party.
▎Conflict in the Middle Ages
Why did the townspeople and the gentry in the medieval university town conflict?
Economically, the economic structure of Oxford City at that time was very dependent on the consumption of Oxford University, and the university was the largest purchaser of local goods and services. The jobs of the townspeople are mainly to provide the daily necessities of the university, including butchers, blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, etc. Therefore, Oxford University enjoys an unparalleled advantage in price negotiations, which makes the local townspeople feel that their economic life is being deprived of by the already relatively well-off gentry and people.
In terms of politics, townspeople and gentry each have their own courts, but they also want to expand the jurisdiction of their courts. The university also had its own police power at the time, and a curfew was imposed on the streets around the university, which also aroused dissatisfaction among residents, eventually leading to a counterattack by the townspeople against the gentry.
The bloody battle between the townspeople and the gentry resulted in more humiliation for hundreds of years to come. Oxford University's close relationship with the ruling and religious circles has continued to grant the university more privileges. After the bloody battle in 1355, each mayor of Oxford was ordered to pay Oxford University compensation for the bloody battle every year, and to go to the university church every year to repent for this. It was not until the 19th century that Oxford University finally gave up. these rights.
Economically, the economic structure of Oxford City at that time was very dependent on the consumption of Oxford University. The university was the largest purchaser of local goods and services, and the jobs of the townspeople were mainly to provide the university with daily necessities.
▎Industrialization and Class Struggle
In the 19th and 20th centuries, economic and political differences between the gentry in the college and the townspeople who mainly worked as laborers began to appear in new forms.
After the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, many conservative elites in Oxford opposed the development of industry locally; however, for the local working class, industry meant employment and income.
Since Brexit, major newspapers and tabloids in various countries have been concerned about the inseparable connection between Oxford University and the British ruling class. Many reports discuss the "Bullingdon Club" (Bullingdon Club), a society for wealthy children at Oxford University, describing how the former Prime Minister and his fellow Brexiteer Johnson met and interacted with each other through this club that only recruits upper-class male students; some also The report follows former Prime Minister Theresa May and her female classmates from the Department of Geography at Oxford University, who one after another married to the elite and nobles of the same school, and are now dominating the political and economic circles of Britain.
These stories all portray the Oxford campus as an important space for the British upper class to replicate their advantages; but in fact, the membership of this space is very complex and does not always serve the upper class - in the centuries-old history of Oxford University, The upper class's accumulation of connections and money in this space is actually often challenged by other classes.
Spatial power relations in university towns are often very subtle. The university was a place where the gentry produced knowledge, and the urban area in which it was located was usually where the town laborers who served the gentry class lived. The former were gentry in academic robes, and the latter were townspeople who lived and worked locally. There were conflicts between the two, which was called the "town and gown dispute."
At Oxford University, the conflict between the townspeople living in the university town and the gentry in the colleges has existed for hundreds of years. One of the most well-known and bloodiest occurred in 1355. A quarrel between townspeople and gentry in a downtown bar escalated into a bloody conflict between hundreds of students and residents of nearby towns. More than 60 students and gentry were killed. More than 30 townspeople died. The bloody conflicts between the townspeople and the gentry of Oxford became more and more fierce. In the Middle Ages, the bloody conflicts even prompted the escape of scholars. Some of the Oxford scholars fled to Cambridge and founded today's Cambridge University .
The spatial power relations in university towns are usually very subtle: the university is a place where the gentry produces knowledge, and the urban area where it is located is usually where the town labor workers who serve the gentry class live. The picture shows Oxford students waiting for the May Day party.
▎Conflict in the Middle Ages
Why did the townspeople and the gentry in the medieval university town conflict?
Economically, the economic structure of Oxford City at that time was very dependent on the consumption of Oxford University, and the university was the largest purchaser of local goods and services. The jobs of the townspeople are mainly to provide the daily necessities of the university, including butchers, blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, etc. Therefore, Oxford University enjoys an unparalleled advantage in price negotiations, which makes the local townspeople feel that their economic life is being deprived of by the already relatively well-off gentry and people.
In terms of politics, townspeople and gentry each have their own courts, but they also want to expand the jurisdiction of their courts. The university also had its own police power at the time, and a curfew was imposed on the streets around the university, which also aroused dissatisfaction among residents, eventually leading to a counterattack by the townspeople against the gentry.
The bloody battle between the townspeople and the gentry resulted in more humiliation for hundreds of years to come. Oxford University's close relationship with the ruling and religious circles has continued to grant the university more privileges. After the bloody battle in 1355, each mayor of Oxford was ordered to pay Oxford University compensation for the bloody battle every year, and to go to the university church every year to repent for this. It was not until the 19th century that Oxford University finally gave up. these rights.
Economically, the economic structure of Oxford City at that time was very dependent on the consumption of Oxford University. The university was the largest purchaser of local goods and services, and the jobs of the townspeople were mainly to provide the university with daily necessities.
▎Industrialization and Class Struggle
In the 19th and 20th centuries, economic and political differences between the gentry in the college and the townspeople who mainly worked as laborers began to appear in new forms.
After the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, many conservative elites in Oxford opposed the development of industry locally; however, for the local working class, industry meant employment and income.However, in the 20th century, the city of Oxford still developed into an important base for the British automobile industry, and the gentry proposed that the automobile factory be relocated. These conflicts of economic interests also evoked unpleasant memories between the gentry and the townspeople for hundreds of years. .
At the same time, in terms of politics, Oxford University's influence among the elite of British political circles means the continuation of political privileges. Until the mid-20th century, graduates of Oxford University could still elect their own MPs belonging to "Oxford University". Until the 21st century, Oxford University also enjoyed certain rights in taxation and local politics.
Oxford University's influence among the elite of British politics has also spread internationally with the prestige of the empire. The picture shows Aung San Suu Kyi returning to her alma mater, Oxford, to receive an honorary doctorate in 2012.
▎Contemporary Consumption Space and Class
In this century, although Oxford University is still a school that the upper class aspires to attend, and continues to produce alumni with influence in the political, economic and cultural circles, the above-mentioned political privileges-including taxation , police and voting rights - the majority is gone. However, this does not mean that the gap between the townspeople and the gentry has completely disappeared.
The differences between the old elite and civilian life are still preserved in terms of consumption and lifestyle. In 1900 and 1931, the salary of an adult male working in a factory was about £73 and £153 respectively; however, the pocket money of an Oxford undergraduate at the same time was about £300. Even today, despite the influx of middle-class and international students into Oxford University, Oxford University and the surrounding expensive private boarding schools still have many students from elite families who enjoy a more generous life than the average Oxford salaried class.
These differences are still reflected in the spatial divisions of daily life. For example, the bars frequented by townspeople and gentry are not the same, and they are not often confused with each other. The townspeople's bar was a place where local residents gathered for fun, and the gentry often used the bar as a place to produce academic knowledge. Academic literati discussed creative ideas here. The authors of "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Lord of the Rings" Come and discuss ideas in these gentlemen's bars. Although there is no significant difference in appearance and pricing between the two, and the distance between them is only a few minutes' walk, townspeople and gentry will still file into bars belonging to their own social locations and sit down for hundreds of years. The spatial order that has been secretly decided before.
The townspeople’s bar is simply a place for local residents to relax, drink and gather, but the gentry’s bar is a place with the mission of “collision of academic knowledge”. The picture shows the famous bar "The Eagle and Child" that gave birth to "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Lord of the Rings".
Although the consumption places of the gentry and the townspeople were separated, they still often encountered each other in streets, hospitals and other public service spaces, which triggered various emotions of contempt, jealousy and anger.
Like the Bullingdon Club to which Cameron and Johnson belong, it is famous among the townspeople for being drunk, causing trouble and making noise. These young male students who graduated from expensive private boarding schools such as Eton gathered in the city center, drove high-decibel cars, whizzed through many neighborhoods, damaged public property and then ended up paying high compensation. Townspeople were angry at these young students who dressed well and talked well but behaved in a way that made people shake their heads, calling them "posh hooliganism."
On the other hand, these elite students from Oxford University and surrounding private boarding schools often show contempt for the townspeople. Many students jokingly call the townspeople "townees" or "plebs". The word "townboy" refers to townspeople who wear casual clothes, sneakers, and shiny fake jewelry accessories. It is used to mock the townspeople's clothing style as being less formal and elegant than the elite; the word "commoner" comes from Latin - a language traditionally learned by the upper classes, refers to people of ordinary origin who lack noble birth. These epithets were derogatory, bitingly mocking the poor social status and poor taste of the townsfolk of Oxford.
The Bullington Club, to which Cameron and Johnson belong, is known among the townspeople for being drunk, causing trouble and making noise. The picture shows the movie "The Rich and Handsome Club" alluding to the Bullingdon Club.
Even though armed fighting is no longer common, the class situation of different classes still makes the "controversy between townspeople and gentry" in Oxford continue to this day. The picture shows Oxford students who have finished their final exams and are fulfilling the "traditional obligation" of carnival in the street.
public account: crocodile
Even though armed fighting is no longer common, the class situation of different classes still makes the "controversy between townspeople and gentry" in Oxford continue to this day. The picture shows Oxford students who have finished their final exams and are fulfilling the "traditional obligation" of carnival in the street.
public account: crocodile
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