Społeczne uwarunkowania gustów i praktyk konsumpcyjnych. Zbieżność pozycji społecznych i stylów życia czy autonomizacja kultury?
Social Patterning of Consumption Tastes and Practices: Convergence of Social Positions and Lifestyles or Autonomy of Culture?

Summary/Abstract: The article reflects on the relationship between social sphere (social standing) and cultural configurations such as tastes, practices and consumption orientations. It is raised a problem whether traditional sociological concepts (e.g. social position, class membership or status) are still relevant to a description of cultural differentiation or otherwise differences in cultural taste and consumption are losing their grounding in social stratification. As a point of departure three main arguments concerning the relationship between social structure and cultural variables were considered: i.e. a) ‘homology’ argument, b) ‘individualisation’ or ‘neotribalism’ argument, and c) ‘omnivorousness’ argument. The relevance of structuralist approach to consumption is considered from the point of view of Pierre Bourdieu’s social theory. Contrary to some current theories of mass or postmodern culture, the results of analysis sustain the view that traditional social cleavages (including social class) still play an important role in structuring consumption and lifestyles. Consumption and culture serve as a consequential site for the reproduction of social divisions, inequalities and domination.

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