Social Space and Symbolic Power
Sociological Theory: Vol. 7; No. 1 (Spring,1989) Pgs. 14-25.
Terms:
Habitus
Structure and Agency
Field
Symbolic Violence
Cultural Capital
Social Capital
Questions:
Bourdieu writes, "If you want to form a political movement or even an association, you will have a better chance of bringing together people who are in the same sector of space..." Thus, forming political affiliations is easier if you have a lot in common with the people you want in the group. Ever wondered why people at poetry readings, protest marches, public lectures, etc. all seem to hold the same position on things? How would Bourdieu account for that?
What about disenfranchised groups? Do they, by definition, have cultural capital? If so, how could they utilize it? How do you teach a group to recognize the cultural capital they may have? How do you give them "agency?"
What do you think he is saying when he writes, "To change the world, one has to change the ways of making the world, that is, the vision of the world and the practical operations by which groups are produced and reproduced."?
Discuss.
Bourdieu writes, "If you want to form a political movement or even an association, you will have a better chance of bringing together people who are in the same sector of space..." Thus, forming political affiliations is easier if you have a lot in common with the people you want in the group. Ever wondered why people at poetry readings, protest marches, public lectures, etc. all seem to hold the same position on things?
ReplyDeleteUm, I figured they were preaching to the choir. A choir of the like-minded, the curious, as well as the odd directionless misfit. I have known people who have been involved in left-wing and then right-wing political movements (or vice versa) and I think they were using politics as a way to find themselves, as a way to express their anger. (just my opinion)
How would Bourdieu account for that?
Bourdieu would say that it is because people who live in the same environment have similar values and opinions. People who occupy similar place in society experience the same conditioning. They develop these values in order to accept their place in society even if it is lower class.
I think he would say that because of our social space, we are conditioned to think certain political ideas are right and others are wrong. It is a very rare person who would volunteer as an escort for Planned Parenthood, for example, and also work for a pro-life pregnancy center.
What about disenfranchised groups?
“As perceptive dispositions tend to
be adjusted to position, agents, even the
most disadvantaged ones, tend to perceive
the world as natural and to accept it much
more readily than one might imagine-
especially when you look at the situation
of the dominated through the social eyes
of a dominant'' (18).
Do they, by definition, have cultural capital?
Perhaps their cultural capital comes from the strength they get from learning to accept their social position and make the most of what they have. Their cultural capital also comes from their earlier traditions, customs, culture, arts, religion, etc.
If so, how could they utilize it?
Maybe like in cognitive behavioral therapy, where the first step is acceptance. You must learn to accept your situation in order to be in a calm enough place where you can change it for the better, if you want to.
How do you teach a group to recognize the cultural capital they may have?
I don't think you can. I think groups should can learn this for themselves.
How do you give them "agency?"
They need to get it for themselves.
What do you think he is saying when he writes, "To change the world, one has to change the ways of making the world, that is, the vision of the world and the practical operations by which groups are produced and reproduced."?
We need new stories.
Invis,
ReplyDeleteTotally love how you jumped into this. Ultimately Bourdieu is a scientist, not an activist. I'm more of the activist slant, so I tend to disagree with the conception that we can't help "disenfranchised groups" understand their own cultural capital and do something to change. I do agree, however, that that is not Bourdieu's project.
My point is that disenfranchised people seem to do a very good job of doing this for themselves. For example, programs that use Native American or African American cultural heritage as a way to get youth involved in their communities and off of drugs and alcohol. These programs work better when people within that community do it for themselves.
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ReplyDeleteCertainly agree that the programs work better when they do it for themselves. Though an argument could be made that they need to do more, much more, and thus helping more disenfranchised groups recognize their agency and work to "improve" their cultural capital is probably what interested "enfranchised" parties should do.
ReplyDeleteI have joined up with a group in Albuquerque that is helping people with serious mental illness reach their potential by forming our own intentional community. My friend who also lives here was telling me that for her, having paranoid schizophrenia makes her part of a disenfranchised group. Through the disabled community, she has found cultural capitol: learning Braille and sign language, playing the cello, spending her young adulthood living on a working farm community for the mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYour link for "field" is broken. It should be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_(Bourdieu)
ReplyDelete