THE LIVING

From: Paul Fussell, Class: A Guide Through the American Class System, 1983, Summit Books, pp. 194-197

(An earlier form of this was promulgated in 1935 by F. Stuart Chapin in his book Contemporary American Institutions.)

Begin with a score of 100. For each of the following in your living room (or those of friends or acquaintances) add or subtract points as indicated. Then ascertain social class according to the table at the end.

Hardwood floor (solid wood)	add 4
Parquet floor (solid wood)	add 8
Stone floor	add 4
Laminate floor	subtract 4
Vinyl floor	subtract 6
Wall-to-wall carpet	add 2
Shag carpet	subtract 4
Working fireplace	add 4
Gas log fireplace	subtract 5
New Oriental rug or carpet	subtract 2 (each)
Worn Oriental rug or carpet	add 5 (each)
Threadbare rug or carpet	add 8 (each)
Ceiling ten feet high, or higher	add 6
Cathedral Ceiling (with or without skylights)	subtract 5
Original paintings by internationally recognized practitioners add 8 Original drawings, prints, or lithographs by internationally recognized practitioner	add 5 (each)
Reproductions of any Picasso painting, print, or anything	subtract 2 (each)
Original paintings, drawings, or prints by family members	subtract 4 (each)
Windows curtained, rods and draw cords	add 5
Windows curtained, no rods or draw cords	add 2
Window Blinds, mini, plastic	subtract 2
Window Blinds, mini, metal	subtract 1
Window Blinds, mini, wood	add 1
Window Blinds, vertical	subtract 3
Wooden venetian blinds	subtract 2
Metal venetian blinds	subtract 4
Genuine Tiffany lamp	add 3
Reproduction Tiffany lamp	subtract 4
Any work of art depicting cowboys	subtract 3
"Professional" oil portrait of any member of the household	subtract 3
Any display of "collectibles"	subtract 4
Transparent plastic covers on furniture	subtract 6
Furniture upholstered with any metallic threads	subtract 3
Cellophane on any lampshade	subtract 4
Ashtrays (origninal list deducted for not having ashtrays--time change, social class doesn't!)	subtract 4
Refrigerator, washing machine, or clothes dryer in living room (includes "great rooms")	subtract 6
Motorcycle kept in living room (unless inner city loft)	subtract 10
Periodicals visible, laid out flat:
*National Enquirer*	subtract 6
Popular Mechanics, or any vehicle related periodical	subtract 5
Reader's Digest	subtract 3
*National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, Life, etc.*	subtract 2
*Smithsonian*	subtract 1
*Scientific American*	subtract 1
*Town and Country*	add 2
*New York Review of Books*	add 5
Times Literary Supplement (London)	add 5
*Paris Match*	add 6
*Hudson Review*	add 8
No periodicals	subtract 5
Each family photograph (black-and-white)	subtract 2
Each family photograph (color)	subtract 3
Each family photograph (black-and-white or color) in sterling-silver frame	add 3
Potted citrus tree with midget fruit growing	add 8
Potted palm tree	add 5
Fresh cut flowers	add 3
Artificial flowers (plastic)	subtract 5
Artificial flowers (silk)	subtract 3
Bowling-ball carrier	subtract 6
Fishbowl or aquarium (fresh water)	subtract 4
Fishbowl or aquarium (salt water)	add 1
Fringe on any upholstered furniture	subtract 4
Identifiable Naugahyde aping anything customarily made of leather	subtract 3
Any item exhibiting words in an ancient or modern foreign language (Spanish excluded)	add 7
Tabletop obelisk of marble, glass, etc.	add 9
Fewer than five pictures on walls	subtract 5
Each piece of furniture over 50 years old	add 2
Bookcase(s) full of books	add 5
Overflow books stacked on floor, chairs, etc.	add 6
Hutch bookcase ("wall system") displaying plates, pots, porcelain figurines, etc., but no books	subtract 4
Wall unit with built-in TV, stereo, etc	subtract 4
TV, stereo, etc	subtract 6
Piano (grand or baby grand)	add 4
Piano (upright)	subtract 1
Computer	subtract 3
Fax machine	subtract 4
On coffeetable, container of matchbooks from funny or anomalous places	add 1
Works of sculpture (original, and not made by householder or any family member)	add 4 (each)
Works of sculpture made by householder or any family member	subtract 5 (each)
Every item alluding specifically to the United Kingdom	add 1
Any item alluding, even remotely, to Tutankhamen	subtract 4
Each framed certificate, diploma, or testimonia1	subtract 2
Each "laminated" framed certificate, diploma, or testimonial	subtract 3
Each item with a "tortoiseshell" finish, if only made of Formica	add 1
Each "Eames chair"	subtract 2
Each recliner	subtract 3
Each recliner sofa	subtract 4
Each sofa with "hidden" compartments	subtract 5
Anything displaying the name or initials of anyone in the household	subtract 4
Curved moldings visible anywhere in the room	add 5