I like this analysis a lot. BTW there’s a word for the effect of Oxonian behaviour: sprezzatura—meaning apparently nonchalant, effortless ability obtained by extensive secret practice. This was considered desirable among 16th century Italian courtiers:
“The ideal courtier was supposed to be skilled in arms and in athletic events but be equally skilled in music and dancing. However, the courtier who had sprezzatura managed to make these difficult tasks look easy – and, more to the point, not appear calculating, a not-to-be-discounted asset in a milieu commonly informed by ambition, intrigue, etc.”
I like this analysis a lot. BTW there’s a word for the effect of Oxonian behaviour: sprezzatura—meaning apparently nonchalant, effortless ability obtained by extensive secret practice. This was considered desirable among 16th century Italian courtiers:
“The ideal courtier was supposed to be skilled in arms and in athletic events but be equally skilled in music and dancing. However, the courtier who had sprezzatura managed to make these difficult tasks look easy – and, more to the point, not appear calculating, a not-to-be-discounted asset in a milieu commonly informed by ambition, intrigue, etc.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprezzatura
In the 90s we called this frontin’. https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/fronting#English