bourdieu distinction a social critique of the judgement of taste

Commentators and scholars, alike have advanced their own ‘take’ on the formula, (e.g. (Bourdieu, 1984: 101) The formula has been the subject of controversy and debate amongst scholars as they strive to make meaning of it. One area which has been a bone of contention can be gleaned from the formula presented in Distinction: plus field = practice. Opinion is therefore divided on the ‘grandeur’ of Bourdieu as a scholar especially as seen through the ‘lens’ of criticism levelled against ‘Distinction’. Such is the ‘prominence’ synonymous with this text that it has received critical acclaim from diverse scholars. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste is regarded as one of Bourdieus’ acclaimed books, having won an accolade bestowed by the International Sociology Association as one of the 20th centuries’ ten most important works of Sociology. Much as Bourdieu is lauded as a luminary with far reaching influence in the field of Sociology and empiricism, there is need to critically focus on sections of his work, for instance, Distinction in order to appreciate whether this view holds.

These have subsequently been useful tools of analysis in empirical investigations. Practice and field have been described by scholars as: central to the conceptual armoury of Pierre Bourdieu, in addition to other concepts like capital and habitus. Of primary interest to me was to establish whether Bourdieu would be relevant to my study: an investigation into different generations’ use of social media platforms to consume, produce and disseminate popular cultural content such as music.īourdieu popularised terms such as habitus, field and hysteresis among others and what is of relevance to me, a scholar navigating social research field is to consider the extent to which Bourdieus’ concepts are valuable as tools for analysis/in establishing my epistemological framework. The key to understanding Pierre Bourdieu perhaps lies in striving to understand how he explores the various ways in which people conduct their lives in relation to one another and social institutions. (Text translated by Richard Nice) Routledge, London, 1984. Pierre Bourdieu – A Critical Review of His Text – ‘Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste’ & Some of his Key Ideas

Bourdieu distinction a social critique of the judgement of taste