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Conspicuous distinction: a reading of Veblen and Bourdieu

Author

Listed:
  • Isabel Guimarães

    (Faculdade de Economia e Gestão, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto)

  • Eva Oliveira

    (Faculdade de Economia e Gestão, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto)

  • M. Rocha

    (Faculdade de Economia e Gestão, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto)

Abstract

The paper provides a comparative reading of two influential works of Veblen and Bourdieu, on cultural consumption. Approaches to consumers’ taste and preferences are predominantly essentialist. However, Veblen and Bourdieu focused on the relationship between consumption and social divisions. Their views are, nonetheless, contrasting. Veblen developed a somewhat speculative approach centred on waste and conspicuous consumption as evidence for the natural quest for social honour. Bourdieu drew on empirical research to argue that culture stems from class and is related to necessity. The concepts of habitus, cultural capital and field interact to provide a complex and detailed account of different tastes emerging within different social classes. The result is a variegated social space with different statuses and an ongoing struggle for the definition of ‘good” and “bad” taste.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabel Guimarães & Eva Oliveira & M. Rocha, 2010. "Conspicuous distinction: a reading of Veblen and Bourdieu," Working Papers de Gestão (Management Working Papers) 03, Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
    • Handle: RePEc:cap:mpaper:032010
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    File URL: http://www.feg.porto.ucp.pt/docentes/repec/WP/032010%20-%20Guimar%C3%A3es%20Oliveira%20Rocha%20-%20Conspicuous%20distinction%20a%20reading%20of%20Veblen%20and%20Bourdieu.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. De Rosa, Marcello & Adinolfi, Felice & Capitanio, Fabian & Paci, Federica & Pantini, Denis, 2015. "The role of culinary programs in the emergency of "distinct" consumers," 143rd Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar, March 25-27, 2015, Naples, Italy 202734, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Alexander Lenger, 2018. "Shared Mental Models and Habitus Towards a Mentality-Driven Economics," Journal of Contextual Economics (JCE) – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 138(1), pages 31-51.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    conspicuous consumption; social distinction; cultural capital; field; habitus;
    All these keywords.

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