I really love Bourdieu’s thought process in Distinction. I believe he reflects several other philosophies, namely Immanuel Kant’s work. I can also see a parallel between an excerpt from Sir Francis Bacon’s Novum Organum. The idea that knowledge, thus meaning, is in part innate in the form of subconscious templates (knowledge a priori) from which one constructs a subconscious and conscious understanding of social hierarchies, be that age, gender, socio-economic status, etc. through social interactions and experiences is brilliant. While I could delve into many areas for discussion, I wish to highlight Bourdieu’s reference to “’logical conformity’” and what he describes as everyone, “condemning themselves to their lot” (241). I must question then, is this a negative occurrence since it perpetuates a social hierarchy? Further, does this still occur today and in what ways? Class markers are becoming more blended with the increasing self-identified people of the “middle class.” If conformity is tied to the need for belonging, which ties directly to personal identity, is logical conformity a positive or negative move? Conformity has a negative connotation, but collective action seems more positive. However, this perpetuation of a cycle by embracing a niche of belonging within the social hierarchy is a little less black and white and a little more gray. Perhaps, gray areas elicit pleasure for they seem to be teeming with meaning. Perhaps then, meaning and pleasure have a symbiotic relationship. What do you think?
-Kaylie Fougerousse
Meaning and Pleasure2014 