The arts and the Welsh working-class: identities and communities

In an interview from 1972, Pierre Bourdieu affirms "Bientôt on mettra un paysan
empaillé au musée."1 He explains that in the context of the France of the early 70s, lower and
poorer classes were meant to disappear. He argues that the arts are genuinely talking about
this issue at that time.
First, the purpose of this study is to explore the representation of the Welsh workingclass
in the arts. Then, to analyse the perception of people from this social class on their own
representation in the arts. The study will be focusing on this relationship between the arts and
the Welsh working-class. In the context of massive economic changes with the rise of the gig
economy and precarious jobs (The Guardian, 2019), it is particularly interesting to highlight
the social changes lived by people from the working-class. Therefore, their representation in
the arts can give a unique perception of those changes and of changing identities. It is
necessary here, to understand arts in a large definition, including any kind of arts, from music
to TV series, paintings or photography.
In this study, I will address the issue of a potential glorification of a strong industrial
past through the arts, which contribute to shaping particular types of social and cultural
identities.