Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu

by David L. Swartz

Pierre Bourdieu is one of the world's most important social theorists and is also one of the great empirical researchers in contemporary sociology. However, reading Bourdieu can be difficult for those not familiar with the French cultural context, and until now a comprehensive introduction to Bourdieu's oeuvre has not been available.

David Swartz focuses on a central theme in Bourdieu's work—the complex relationship between culture and power—and explains that sociology for Bourdieu is a mode of political intervention. Swartz clarifies Bourdieu's difficult concepts, noting where they have been misinterpreted by critics and where they have fallen short in resolving important analytical issues. The book also shows how Bourdieu has synthesized his theory of practices and symbolic power from Durkheim, Marx, and Weber, and how his work was influenced by Sartre, Levi-Strauss, and Althusser.

Culture and Power is the first book to offer both a sympathetic and critical examination of Bourdieu's work and it will be invaluable to social scientists as well as to a broader audience in the humanities.

Genres: Sociology, Philosophy, Cultural, Theory, Nonfiction, Academic, Cultural Studies

342 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Simge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benim için bir anlamda ' Bourdieu'ye Giriş ' niteliğinde bir kitap oldu ' Kültür ve İktidar: Pierre Bourdieu'nün Sosyolojisi '. Bourdieu'nün sosyolojisini kendinden okumak en güzeli olurdu elbette fakat benim amacım öncelikle onun sosyolojisini ve ayrıntıları dışarıdan bakan bir göz aracılığıyla görebilmek ve o gözden sosyolojisi için kurduğu yapıyla ilgili çok yönlü bir eleştiri okumaktı. Kitabın bana istediğimi fazlasıyla verdiğini düşünüyorum. Swartz, hem genel olarak konu anlatımıyla hem de konuyla ilgili yerine göre yaptığı eleştirilerle, Bourdieu'yü oldukça iyi çözümlemiş olduğunu kanıtlıyor. Bu nedenle, Bourdieu'nün yapıtlarını okurken bu kitabın başvurulabilecek önemli bir kaynak olacağını düşünüyorum. Swartz'ın bana bu kitabıyla keyifli ve bilgilendirici bir okuma olanağı sunduğunu söyleyebilirim.

[Mike Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is the absolute best Bourdieu primer I have read. But this will be useful to all-level Bourdieu readers as a sort of quick reference guide to concepts (and "common" terms used in that very specific Bourdieu way). Pedagogically, this book's chapters will pair well with Bourdieu articles/chapters. Teachers/Professors should take this book seriously when teaching the kiddos some Bourdieu.

[Vip Vinyaratn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great accesible introduction to Bourdieu's theoretical concept. Mostly emphasised on his so-called political economy, his habitus/field concept and his idea of power/violence.

[Mike Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, but you need to have some background in Bourdieu to access it IMO. My limited reading of Bourdieu before this helped, but greater knowledge would help far more in the overall thesis.

[szymborskalyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply the best Pierre Bourdieu primer out there.

[Tom Leland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I didn't get past page 49, I think it's fair for me to at least offer this thought: like so many books written by intellectuals, for the most part this book can only be understood by people of comparable intellectual capacity and knowledge -- a relatively small number.

When these folks are able to break down their language and concepts for the masses -- and also, use titles that get at how the given knowledge, if widely understood, could benefit the reader and/or the world, then their extraordinary thinking is so much more useful than what amounts to not much more than a conversation with their small circle of peers.

[Ahmed Kassem · Rating 5 out of 5]

مدخل رائع ومهم لنظرية بيير بورديو الاجتماعية، خصوصا إن بيير بورديو صعب جدًا قراءة أعماله بشكل مباشر لإنه يتعمد كلعكعة العبارات وغموضها ودي طريقة الفرنسيين الأكاديمية، ناهيك عن إن أعماله أصلا مترجمة للإنجليزي أو العربي ودا بيخلي الصعوبة أكثر. في نفس الوقت أنا مستغرب من نفسي وأنا بقول كدا لإن اللى خلاني اهتم ببير بورديو هو إني قريلته بشكل مباشر عملين ليه مترجمين للعربية .. واحد مهم عن التلفزيون والتاني أهم عن الهيمنة الذكورية.

[Kerem Demirtas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kendini çok tekrar etse(aslında olumsuz bir şey olmayabilir de misal entelektüeller üzerine olan bölümde bütün teorik şemanın üzerinden tekrardan geçmek pratik kavrayışı kolaylaştırıyor kesin)de Bourdieu’ya hayli yetkin bir İngilizce commentary ve giriş niteliğinde bir şey arıyordum tam aradığım şeydi

[Blondi Barnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense and got quite lost in terminology not used to as I’m from a completely different ‘field’. Continued with it though as was hoping that it would become familiar the more I read. Will do more reading around this area and probably return for a 2nd read.
Would have like a few more examples of the concepts

[River Erdenebuyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super academic, I remember that I’ve had hard time to reading this book, had to think thru one sentence for 3 days, yet joyful, one of the books that changed my life.

[Batur Kılıç]

Very good start for Bourdiue sociology. When I start Reproduction of Bourdieu , It will be easier to comprehend the book.

[Charlie Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ch. 4- useful but a bit hard to follow time to time

[Karla Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES.

[A.S. Crowder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a worthwhile read if you're interested in the study of culture. Bourdieu's work itself can be difficult to get through; this is a good tool to clarify some of the concepts.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to get through at times But a Brilliant synthesis of Bourdieu's critical theory.