Bourdieu First Run

     Bourdieu opens up Distinction by talking about taste and how it is an “acquired disposition to ‘differentiate’ and ‘appreciate.’” This rings true in several cases of literature, especially when it comes to the two terms, meaning and pleasure. The unique thing about literature is that everyone has a different opinion. Some people may love reading Jane Austen while others may despise reading her work. The symbols in one novel may mean something to one person, but someone else may have a completely different interpretation. Literature requires this acquired disposition because literature needs to be performed on like surgery, removing, dissecting, and analyzing little things that have big meanings. Bourdieu talks about how people perceive schemes and a large part of this depends on the classification systems that readers use. The great thing about literature is the ambiguity when it comes to interpretations and the open-mindedness that is available while reading. There is never really such a thing as the “right” answer, but instead there is an abundance of answers. Literature is an acquired taste, because it takes years of practice when it comes to explicating text and finding a strong stance. The meaning of the text can easily be differentiated, as well as the pleasure of a text too as some works require a finite amount of analysis to find enjoyment.