La Distinction

work by Bourdieu

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July 22, 2026

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In his influential work, La Distinction (1979), French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu explored how taste is shaped by social class and background. Bourdieu argued that individuals with high social and cultural capital, often referred to as status, determine what is considered tasteful. This taste is not innate but rather a product of the social environment and class one belongs to, a concept he termed habitus. Bourdieu's work highlights how social distinctions are maintained and reproduced through these preferences, influencing social interactions and perceptions.1

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Pierre Bourdieu
In his best-known work, La Distinction (1979; Distinction), Bourdieu argued that those with high social and cultural capital (or status) are the arbiters of taste and thatone’s own particular taste comes from the milieu and social class in which one lives—that is, one’s field. An individual’s almost innate knowledge…
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In his best-known work, La Distinction (1979; Distinction), Bourdieu argued that those with high social and cultural capital (or status) are the arbiters of taste and thatone’s own particular taste comes from the milieu and social class in which one lives—that is, one’s field. An individual’s almost innate knowledge…
Read More