Bourdieu Research Questions

 

34. Explain what Bourdieu means by: institution (p.8), habitus (p.12), practical sense

(p.13), linguistic capital (p.18), censorship (p.19).

35. Bourdieu describes gift exchanges as symbolic violence (p.24). What does he mean by

‘symbolic violence’? Can you think of a time when you experienced the giving or

receiving of a gift as symbolic violence? Explain in Bourdieu’s terms.

36. What does Bourdieu mean by the statement: “within a field, individuals occupy positions

determined by the quantity of different types of capital they possess” (p.29).? Give an

example.

 

The economy of linguistic exchanges.

 

37. Consider the following statement by Bourdieu: “The power of suggestion which is

exerted through things and persons and which, instead of telling the child what he

must do, tells him what he is, and thus leads him to become durably what he has

to be, is the condition for the effectiveness of all kinds of symbolic power that

will subsequently be able to operate on a habitus predisposed to respond to them”.

(p.52) 1) Explain what each of the italicized phrases means 2) Does this statement apply to schooling in the US.? Why? Why not?

38. What does Bourdieu mean by the phrase profit of distinction (p.18)? Give an example.
39. Two properties characterize linguistic excellence: distinction and correctness (p.60) Drawing

on Bourdieu’s discussion on p.63, explain the difference between distinction and

correctness in language use.

 

Bourdieu, Price formation and anticipation of profits

 

40. Explain what Bourdieu means by strategies of condescension (p.68). Give an example.
41. What does Bourdieu mean by the statement: “The source of the profit of distinction

…derives from the totality of the social universe and the relations of domination

that give structure to it, although one of the most important constituents of this

profit lies in the fact that it appears to be based on the qualities of the person

alone” (p.73 end of first paragraph). Can you think of an example?

42. Think of one or two euphemisms (p.78 bottom) prevalent in our society, that are the

result of a “censorship inherent in particular relations of linguistic production”

(p.79 top). What censorship governs these euphemisms and, vice-versa, which

market demands do these euphemisms respond to, i.e., what symbolic profit is

gained by the use of these euphemisms and by whom?

 

Bourdieu, Authorized language, rites of institution.

 

43. Consider a ritual discourse (e.g., school instruction, religious liturgy, graduation/

marriage/  US naturalization ceremony, SAT or GRE examination, college

application, college or job interview). List the set of institutional conditions (not felicity conditions!)  which must be fulfilled in order for this ritual discourse to be recognized, i.e., received and accepted as such. (Be precise: what happens? Who says what?)

44. What is “social magic”? What does Bourdieu mean by the statement: “social magic

manages to produce discontinuity out of continuity”? (p.120) Give an example.

45. Do you agree with Bourdieu’s statement at the end of Ch.4 that the sole function of rites of

institution is to give meaning to people’s existence, without which their lives would

remain “in the clutches of insignificance?” Find examples for and against  proposition.