In his famous book Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, Pierre Bourdieu reports findings from a French survey of cultural tastes fielded in 1967-68. Of particular note is a figure showing the distribution of preferences for three musical works by class fractions. Bourdieu reports that Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” represents “legitimate taste” andContinueContinue reading “Contemporary Application of Bourdieu’s Distinction in Musical Taste”
Category Archives: Music
Sociological Theory Student Survey Updating Bourdieu
OK, Wake Forest Sociological Theory students. You asked for it, you got it. Listen to the following three songs and complete the survey at the bottom of this blog post! http://youtu.be/ViwtNLUqkMY http://youtu.be/IBH97ma9YiI http://youtu.be/MYxAiK6VnXw http://www.wedgies.com/question/534d6951305268020000067f Thanks for participating!!!!
Teaching the Frankfurt School on the Culture Industry and Standardization of Cultural Products
In my sociological theory class recently, I was teaching about critical theory (i.e., “the Frankfurt School”). Specifically, students were reading excerpts from Theodor Adorno’s and Max Horkheimer’s work on “The Culture Industry,” excerpted from their 1944 book The Dialectic of Enlightenment. We talked about how the production of mass cultural commodities (books, films, TV, music)ContinueContinue reading “Teaching the Frankfurt School on the Culture Industry and Standardization of Cultural Products”
What’s Gangsta? (Part Two)
First Diddy, now Nas has weighed in on what “gangsta” means now that the pioneers of gangsta rap are pushing 40 (or, in the case of Dr. Dre, are 40-something). According to Nas, “These days, to be gangster is to grow, to survive, to inspire, to change the world.” –Esquire, January 2007.
The Message 2006
Rhymefest updates Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s classic in “Bullet”: Straight outta high school he didn’t know what to do Wanted to go to college but no money was nothin’ new Wanted to get away go see the world and do somethin’ new He got approached in the mall by the army recruit ToldContinueContinue reading “The Message 2006”
What’s Gangsta?
”I wasn’t afraid to be sensual and romantic. But I wanted to still hit you hard and make your body move. I just think that being honest is the most gangsta thing you could ever do.” –Sean “Puffy”/”P-Diddy”/”Diddy” Combs A New Sound For Old What’s-His-Name By SIA MICHEL New York Times September 10, 2006
Another Reason Not to Like 50 Cent
In addition to being an average talent, here is what 50 Cent had to say about George W. Bush: “I think he’s incredible. I think George Bush is a gangsta. That’s what I think. I wanna meet George Bush, just shake his hand and tell him how much of me I see in him. DoContinueContinue reading “Another Reason Not to Like 50 Cent”
What’s wrong with Jay-Z?
I haven’t had alot of time to listen to Kanye West’s much anticipated sophomore album, Late Registration, but I have been intrigued by the remix of the song “Diamonds from Sierra Leone.” In the first half of the song, West makes very astute observations about the relationship between “bling” in America and the trade inContinueContinue reading “What’s wrong with Jay-Z?”
Savior of West Coast Rap?
Someone was hyping The Game as the savior of West Coast rap. After all, he’s produced by Dre and his new album debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. So I listened to the collabo with 50 Cent, “How We Do.” You can’t avoid it, really. And I say: if The Game is the saviorContinueContinue reading “Savior of West Coast Rap?”