Distinction : a social critique of the judgement of taste

No judgment of taste is innocent. In a word, we are all snobs. Pierre Bourdieu brilliantly illuminates this situation of the middle class in the modern world. France’s leading sociologist focuses here on the French bourgeoisie, its tastes and preferences. Distinction is at once a vast ethnography of contemporary France and a dissection of the bourgeois mind.In the course of everyday life people constantly choose between what they find aesthetically pleasing and what they consider tacky, merely trendy, or ugly. Bourdieu bases his study on surveys that took into account the multitude of social factors that play a part in a French person’s choice of clothing, furniture, leisure activities, dinner menus for guests, and many other matters of taste. What emerges from his analysis is that social snobbery is everywhere in the bourgeois world. The different aesthetic choices people make are all distinctions―that is, choices made in opposition to those made by other classes. Taste is not pure. Bourdieu finds a world of social meaning in the decision to order bouillabaisse, in our contemporary cult of thinness, in the “California sports” such as jogging and cross-country skiing. The social world, he argues, functions simultaneously as a system of power relations and as a symbolic system in which minute distinctions of taste become the basis for social judgment.The topic of Bourdieu’s book is a fascinating one: the strategies of social pretension are always curiously engaging. But the book is more than fascinating. It is a major contribution to current debates on the theory of culture and a challenge to the major theoretical schools in contemporary sociology.

no Judgement Of Taste Is Innocent. In A Word, We Are All Snobs. Pierre Bourdieu Brilliantly Illuminates This Situation Of The Middle Class In The Modern World. France's Leading Sociologist Focusses Here On The French Bourgeoisie, Its Tastes And Preferences. Distinction Is At Once A Vast Ethnography Of Contemporary France And A Dissection Of The Bourgeois Mind.

in The Course Of Everyday Life People Constantly Choose Between What They Find Aesthetically Pleasing And What They Consider Tacky, Merely Trendy, Or Ugly. Bourdieu Bases His Study On Surveys That Took Into Account The Multitude Of Social Factors That Play A Part In A Frenchperson's Choice Of Clothing, Furniture, Leisure Activities, Dinner Menus For Guests, And Many Other Matters Of Taste. What Emerges From His Analysis Is That Social Snobbery Is Everywhere In The Bourgeois World. The Different Aesthetic Choices People Make Are All Distinctions-that Is, Choices Made In Opposition To Those Made By Other Classes. Taste Is Not Pure. Bourdieu Finds A World Of Social Meaning In The Decision To Order Bouillabaisse, In Our Contemporary Cult Of Thinness, In The California Sports Such As Jogging And Cross-country Skiing. The Social World, He Argues, Functions Simultaneously As A System Of Power Relations And As A Symbolic System In Which Minute Distinctions Of Taste Become The Basis For Social Judgement.

the Topic Of Bourdieu's Book Is A Fascinating One: The Strategies Of Social Pretension Are Always Curiously Engaging. But The Book Is More Than Fascinating. It Is A Major Contribution To Current Debates On The Theory Of Culture And A Challenge To The Major Theoretical Schools In Contemporary Sociology.

anthony Giddens - Partisan Review

one Of The More Distinguished Contributions To Social Theory And Research In Recent Years...there Is In This Book An Account Of Culture, And A Methodology Of Its Study, Rich In Implication For A Diversity Of Fields Of Social Research. The Work In Some Ways Redefines The Whole Scope Of Cultural Studies.

Distinction is at once a vast ethnography of contemporary France and a dissection of the bourgeois mind. Bourdieu's subject is the study of culture, and his objective is most ambitious: to provide an answer to the problems raised by Kant's Critique of Judgment by showing why no judgment of taste is innocent. "A complex, rich, intelligent book. It will provide the historian of the future with priceless materials and it will bring an essential contribution to sociological theory." Fernand Braudel "One of the more distinguished contributions to social theory and research in recent years . . . There is in this book an account of culture, and a methodology of its study, rich in implication for a diversity of fields of social research. The work in some ways redefines the whole scope of cultural studies." Anthony Giddens, Partisan Review "A book of extraordinary intelligence." Irving Louis Horowitz, Commonweal Bourdieus analysis transcends the usual analysis of conspicuous consumption in two ways: by showing that specific judgments and choices matter less than an esthetic outlook in general and by showing, moreover, that the acquisition of an esthetic outlook not only advertises upper-class prestige but helps to keep the lower orders in line. In other words, the esthetic world view serves as an instrument of domination. It serves the interests not merely of status but of power. It does this, according to Bourdieu, by emphasizing individuality, rivalry, and distinction and by devaluing the well-being of society as a whole. Christopher Lasch, Vogue In this guide to the strategies of pretension in contemporary France, Bourdieu describes how class segments separate from each other by their contrasting attitudes towards art and beauty. Examines differences in taste between modern French classes, discusses the relationship between culture and politics, and outlines the strategies of pretension