How was jazz initially perceived by mainstream society? Was it considered 'high art' or 'degenerate music'?

Okay, this is an interesting issue, let's dive in.

In one sentence: At its birth, jazz music was decisively considered "decadent music" by the mainstream society (specifically, the elite white society at the time), carrying no association whatsoever with "high art."

Think of it as the equivalent of modern-day "Hip-Hop chanting" (喊麦) or some popular cultures viewed by parents as "spiritual opium," and you'll get a rough sense of how mainstream society perceived it back then.

Why was this the case? There are three main reasons:

1. Dubious "Origins": Not from Concert Halls, but from Red-Light Districts and Bars

Classical music was the domain of European nobility, enjoyed by audiences sitting upright in grand concert halls.

Jazz? It was born in New Orleans, USA, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its cradle was local bars, dance halls, and even the notorious Storyville red-light district, rife with vice. The performers were primarily African Americans, the audience a mix of people seeking entertainment.

Against the backdrop of severe racial discrimination, mainstream society naturally labeled this music: "This is music from the Black underclass—vulgar and intrinsically linked to alcohol and sex." From the outset, this original sin associated with its origins barred it from being considered "high art."

2. The Music Itself Was "Too Wild": It Just Sounded "Unrefined"

What was considered "respectable" music back then? Structured, melodious, harmonically pleasing classical music and European folk tunes. To their ears, the characteristics of jazz were sheer "nonsensical noise."

Strong Rhythms and "Swing": Jazz rhythm is very distinct, full of syncopation that makes people want to nod their heads, tap their feet, and dance. At a time when even waltzing was considered the height of elegance, the energetic, body-twisting dances that jazz inspired (like the Charleston) were seen by moralists as "primitive," "sexually suggestive," and "indecent."
Extensive Improvisation: Classical musicians play precisely from the score; hitting every note as written is fundamental. Jazz musicians? They frequently engage in wildly free improvisation around the basic melody! To mainstream listeners, this seemed like "cacophonous playing"—undisciplined and a desecration of musical art. They failed to understand that behind this apparent "chaos" lay incredible skill and deep musical communication between the players.
"Dirty" Tones and Blues Elements: Jazz musicians often used trumpets or trombones to imitate human cries or growls, creating various "rough," "unclean" tonal qualities. Add to that the slightly "bent," melancholic blues scales that could sound "out of tune." This flew in the face of the pure, beautiful tones prized in classical music. They perceived these sounds as "crude" and "unpleasant."

3. Association with "Bad" Elements: Alcohol, Sex, and Rebellion

By the 1920s, Prohibition was in full force in the US. But rules were circumvented, and speakeasies popped up everywhere. And the ubiquitous background music in these places was almost entirely jazz.

Thus, jazz became firmly linked with bootleg liquor, gangsters, libertine youth (the short-skirted, bobbed-hair "Flappers"), and the rebellious spirit of the post-war generation. Newspapers and magazines of the time frequently denounced jazz, claiming it "caused the moral decay of the young," was "the music of Satan," and "destroying American civilization."

The Road to Eventual "Rehabilitation"

Of course, we all know how the story ends. The appeal of jazz couldn't be contained.

Some white musicians, like the so-called "King of Jazz" Paul Whiteman, "refined" jazz, making it "gentler" and more "lavish," easing its acceptance by the white middle class.
The artistry and skill of genius musicians like Louis Armstrong conquered more and more listeners.
By the Swing Era of the 1930s and 40s, Big Band jazz had become the dominant popular dance music, establishing jazz as American mainstream pop culture.
Later, evolving through styles like Bebop, jazz became increasingly complex, emphasizing individual virtuosity and artistic expression. It was ultimately recognized as an original American art form—deep, complex, and worthy of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with classical music.

Therefore, the journey of jazz's ascent is itself a fascinating chapter of social and cultural history. Rising from its roots in society's noisy underbelly and prejudice, it finally ascended to the halls of high art. That process, in itself, is pretty "jazzy," wouldn't you say?