Bourdieus Theory of Cultural Capital - 990 Words

Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital has been extremely influential, and has garnered a great deal of literature, both theoretical and empirical. Like Marx, Bourdieu posited that capital was the foundation of social life and dictated people’s position within the social hierarchy (Bourdieu 1986). According to Bourdieu, the more capital one possesses, the more prestigious a position one occupies in social life (Bourdieu 1986). In addition to that, Bourdieu extended Marx’s idea of capital beyond the economic and into cultural symbolism (Bourdieu 1986). Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital that refers to the collection of symbolic elements (e.g. skills, tastes, clothing) one acquires through being part of a particular social niche and his concept of habitus that refers to the physical manifestation of cultural capital owned by individuals due to life experiences are his major influential concepts that are very useful in deconstructing power in development a nd social change processes. However it must be recognized that these concepts also propagate social inequalities at the same time. This essay will closely examine his concepts of capital that comes in three forms - embodied, objectified, and institutionalised, and habitus in the fields of education and stratification have made of it. Bourdieu’s work will be analysed in the context both of the debate on class inequalities in educational attainment and of class reproduction in advanced capitalist societies. An importantShow MoreRelatedSocial Class And The Self1502 Words   |  7 Pagesdo this by examining the theories of social class and examining them against Bourdieu’s work. The two main theorists on the idea of social class are Karl Marx and Max Weber. Marx based his theory on the idea that there are only two social classes, the bourgeoisie and proletariat. The bourgeoisie being the capitalist upper classes such as factory and business owners who exploit and dominate the mindless proletariat (lower or working class). ‘In bourgeois society capital is independent and has individualityRead MoreBourdieu Marx And Durkheim, Political Economy With Cultural Studies Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesBourdieu connects Marx with Durkheim, political economy with cultural studies. He distinguishes cultural production from other economic manufactory field using the interlocking conceptual tools of field, habitus and capital. The conceptual categories Bourdieu brought to cultural analysis have since shaped the study of what I find valuable to my analysis. Bourdieu described media, art, academic settings, and various areas of intellectual production, as fields tha t appear to be autonomous. HoweverRead MoreThe Field Of The Investigative Journalism1508 Words   |  7 PagesIn this article, Bourdieu proposes that the television has impacted the journalistic field in a wider and strong way that other cultural transformations did before within the cultural field. Doing so, says Bourdieu, television and journalistic field have also triggered transformations in other fields upon which journalism has an impact. As it is performed, the journalistic field tends to reinforce the economic (commercial) field instead of the pure one. Following Bourdieu, the journalistic fieldRead MoreSocial Capital And Cultural Capital1264 Words   |  6 PagesAfter cultural capital and cultural arbitrary, then, comes the third capital, which Bourdieu’s theory terms habitus. Habitus is a term, which is similar to cultural capital because they are transmitted from home: â€Å"Like cultural capital, habitus is transmitted within the home† (Sullivan 149). How ever, there is a dissimilarity concerning cultural capital and habitus: â€Å"†¦ whereas cultural capital consists of the possession of legitimate knowledge, habitus is a set of attitudes and values, and the dominantRead MoreBourdieus Theory Of Cultural Development1606 Words   |  7 PagesPierre Bourdieu’s cultural reproduction has transformed as well as influenced the literature field, following Alice Sullivan’s statement on the successful results of Bourdieu s theory: â€Å"Bourdieu s theory of cultural reproduction has been highly influential, and has generated a great deal of literature, both theoretical and empirical† (144). According to Bourdieu’s theory, based on his book Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, makes the declaration that higher levels of educationRead MoreDISCUSS THE RELEVANCE OF BOURDIEU1339 Words   |  6 PagesRELEVANCE OF BOURDIEU’S CULTURAL CAPITAL CONCEPT IN EXPLAINING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ZIMBABWE. 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The concept of cultural capital originates inRead MoreAin t No Makin By Jay Mcleod960 Words   |  4 PagesIn Jay McLeod’s influential book, Ain’t No Makin’ It (2009), he discovers new sociological theories and social reproduction through his research over many years. Through social reproduction McLeod shows us how education’s role gets passed down from one generation to the next from class inequality. He claims that aspirations/lack of aspirations is being reproduced. He deeply examines two resident groups of male youths that have opposing views on what their aspirations are in life. McLeod alsoRead MoreCultural Studies: What is Subjectivity? Essays1126 Words   |  5 Pagessubjective towards other people. People have different opinions because not everyone was raised the same, and they were brought up with the same surroundings or influences. 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