The sociology of elite distinction : from theoretical to comparative perspectives

This Major New Contribution To The Study Of Consumption Examines How Dominant Groups Express And Display Their Sense Of Superiority Through Material And Aesthetic Attributes, Demonstrating That Differences From One Society To Another, And Across Historical Periods, Challenge Current Understandings Of Elite Distinction--provided By Publisher. Classical Approaches To Social Emulation And Distinction -- Major Subsequent Contributions -- Grand Theories : Limits And Merits -- External Signs Of Superiority -- Embodied Signs Of Superiority -- Vicarious Display -- The Historicity Of Elite Distinction : Selected Themes -- Tradition, Fashion, Borrowing And Syncretism -- Beyond Reductionism. Jean-pascal Daloz. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part I: Social Theory and Elite Distinction......Page 16 Precursors......Page 18 Spencer......Page 24 Tarde......Page 25 Veblen......Page 27 Simmel......Page 31 Weber......Page 33 Sombart......Page 35 (Neo-)Marxist views......Page 37 The functionalist school......Page 39 Elias......Page 42 Goffman......Page 44 Bourdieu......Page 46 Baudrillard......Page 47 Analysts of postmodernity......Page 48 Psycho-sociological perspectives......Page 50 Elements of socio-economics......Page 52 Endless rediscovering......Page 55 On dubious generalisations and extrapolations......Page 57 The analytical models confronted with comparative research......Page 63 Part II: Key Manifestations......Page 70 Some premises about prestigious goods......Page 72 Adornment......Page 75 Residence......Page 79 Vehicles......Page 84 Culinary aspects......Page 88 Self-confidence and assertiveness......Page 92 Distinguished manners......Page 95 Physical appearance......Page 99 Cultivation and linguistic competence......Page 102 Relatives......Page 105 Flaunting elitist connections......Page 107 Glamorous female company......Page 111 Servants......Page 116 Art patronage......Page 119 Part III: Variability......Page 124 Early stages: accounts from anthropological works......Page 126 Sumptuary laws compared......Page 128 Revolutionary reactions......Page 131 Processes of (in)formalisation......Page 134 The outcome of mass consumer society......Page 136 Distinction through antiquity – distinction through novelty......Page 140 Adoptions – adaptations......Page 144 The advent of globalised patterns?......Page 146 On profusion and sophistication......Page 150 On dominant codes and styles......Page 154 Conclusion......Page 161 Notes......Page 162 Works Cited......Page 188 C......Page 210 F......Page 211 J......Page 212 M......Page 213 S......Page 214 V......Page 215 Z......Page 216 A......Page 218 C......Page 219 E......Page 221 G......Page 222 H......Page 223 L......Page 224 N......Page 225 P......Page 226 R......Page 227 S......Page 228 U......Page 230 Z......Page 231 The Sociology Of Elite Distinction Offers A Systematic Discussion Of The Theoretical Frameworks Which Deal With Symbolic Manifestations Of Eminence From A Comparative Standpoint. Through A Wide Exploration Of External And Embodied Signs Of Superiority, But Also Vicarious Display, Jean-pascal Daloz Demonstrates That Considerable Dissimilarities Between Societies, And Across Historical Periods, Question The Generalizing Ambitions Of Many Classical Models Of Interpretation. This Major Contribution To The Study Of Social Distinction Leads Us To Examine A Variety Of Fascinating Facets Such As Prestigious Goods, Posture, Distinguished Manners, Or Glamorous Female Company. It Is Essential Reading For Scholars And Researchers Interested In Upper Groups And Expressions Of Social Rank. Classical Approaches To Social Emulation And Distinction -- Major Subsequent Contributions -- Grand Theories: Limits And Merits -- External Signs Of Superiority -- Embodied Signs Of Superiority -- Vicarious Display -- The Historicity Of Elite Distinction: Selected Themes -- Tradition, Fashion, Borrowing, Syncretism -- Beyond Reductionism. By Jean-pascal Daloz. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. This major new contribution to the study of consumption examines how dominant groups express and display their sense of superiority through material and aesthetic attributes, demonstrating that differences from one society to another, and across historical periods, challenge current understandings of elite distinction. The Sociology of Elite Distinction offers a systematic discussion of the theoretical frameworks which deal with symbolic manifestations of eminence from a comparative standpoint. Through a wide exploration of external and embodied signs of superiority, but also vicarious display, Jean-Pascal Daloz demonstrates that considerable dissimilarities between societies, and across historical periods, question the generalizing ambitions of many classical models of interpretation. This major contribution to the study of social distinction leads us to examine a variety of fascinating facets such as prestigious goods, posture, distinguished manners, or glamorous female company. It is essential reading for scholars and researchers interested in upper groups and expressions of social rank "Daloz identifies and challenges the simplifications and reductions that have marked sociological efforts to investigate the symbolic displays of classes and elites. In his often witty, encyclopedic exploration of the fantastic variations that actually have marked such displays, he gives the culture of distinction not only an autonomy but an internal structure- for the first time."--Jeffrey C. Alexander, Professor of Sociology, Yale University, USA 'Thanks to its comparative approach and its concern for varieties of social behaviour, this analysis of social distinction by Jean-Pascal Daloz helps us to go beyond Bourdieu's famous study, published thirty years ago.' - Peter Burke, Professor of Cultural History, University of Cambridge, UK 'This ambitious book fills a yawning gap in the social scientific literature and will appeal to a readership across the social sciences.' - Alan Warde, Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester, UK Machine generated contents note: Introduction PART I: SOCIAL THEORY AND ELITE DISTINCTIONClassical Approaches to Social Emulation and DistinctionMajor Subsequent Contributions Grand Theories: Limits and Merits PART II: KEY MANIFESTATIONSExternal Signs of SuperiorityEmbodied Signs of Superiority Vicarious Display PART III: VARIABILITY The Historicity of Elite Distinction: Selected ThemesTradition, Fashion, Borrowing, Syncretism Beyond Reductionism Conclusion.