Bourdieus Theory of Consumer Taste Formation Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Bourdieu rejects the assumption that tastes and preferences are formed on an individualistic basis and they are the results of the individualistic choices of the human intellect. He argues that tastes and preferences are socially constructed and that these tastes actually define the symbolic hierarchy within the society. This hierarchy is actually enforced by various classes within the society to actually enforce their distance and distinction from other classes of the society. Tastes and preferences, therefore, is a way through which different classes can actually distinguish themselves from other classes of the society. According to Bourdieu, tastes, and preferences, therefore, are a weapon for classes within the society to actually distinguish powerful from weak, high and low and legitimate and illegitimate within the society. He, however, defines a whole range of different social actions in which the tastes and preferences can actually distinguish people from each other. These s ocial actions include food consumption, drinks, newspapers, music, and literature and so on. It is also critical to note that Bourdieu has actually extended these social actions to the activities which have distinct aesthetics components such as clothing and perfumes to more ordinary and mundane activities such as choosing the leisure and food activities by the lower order of the society. We will write a custom essay sample on Bourdieu's Theory of Consumer Taste Formation or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page