Question

According to Pierre Bourdieu taste is:

1) The results of the three forms of capital.
2) A natural disposition.
3) An ability do distinguish real value of goods.

Answer 1

Taste, according to Pierre Bourdieu, is the result of the interplay between economic, social, and cultural capital, reflecting an individual's social class rather than innate predispositions. It is shaped by one's access to resources and the dominant values of the educational system, which may maintain social inequalities.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Pierre Bourdieu, taste is the result of the three forms of capital: economic, social, and cultural. Bourdieu argues that individual preferences and tastes are informed by one's accumulated cultural capital, which includes material goods, non-material attitudes, and knowledge that is specific to a person's social class. Therefore, taste is not merely a natural disposition or an innate ability, but rather a socially informed set of preferences shaped by class and the culturally contingent access to resources.

Bourdieu's concepts entail that the educational system may perpetuate social inequalities by rewarding the dominant culture's values. In other words, cultural capital affects access to power and standing in society. Standardized tests such as the SAT have been criticized for measuring cultural ability rather than natural intelligence, thus reflecting the influence of cultural capital on what is deemed valuable or 'tasteful'.

This framework helps to explain why patterns of cultural consumption are often closely linked with one's class position, with those from the upper and middle classes having different tastes and consumption habits compared to lower-class families. Bourdieu's theory has expanded our understanding of how personal preferences are shaped by broader socioeconomic forces, rather than existing as purely individual or 'natural' choices.

Answer 2

According to Pierre Bourdieu, taste is not simply an individual preference or choice, but is shaped by social structures and cultural capital. Bourdieu believed that taste is the result of the interplay between three forms of capital: economic, cultural, and social.

1) Economic capital refers to the material resources that individuals possess, such as income and wealth, which allow them to consume and appreciate certain goods and experiences.

2) Cultural capital refers to the knowledge, skills, and cultural practices that individuals acquire through education, upbringing, and exposure to different cultural forms. This cultural capital shapes an individual's taste and appreciation for certain forms of art, music, literature, and other cultural products.

3) Social capital refers to the networks and relationships that individuals have with others in their social circles, such as family, friends, and colleagues. These social connections can influence an individual's taste through exposure to different forms of cultural capital and social norms.

Therefore, taste is not simply a natural disposition or an ability to distinguish the real value of goods, but is shaped by the individual's social, economic, and cultural context. It reflects the social status and position of the individual in relation to others and their access to different forms of capital.

Step-by-step explanation: