The sociologist’s anxiety regarding taste

Abstract

“Tastes must be discussed”: this is a common saying amongst sociologists, setting them apart from many of their economist colleagues. Tastes are not “given”, but complex structures of perception, evaluation and classification, whose social conditions of production and expression must be studied. But how, specifically, can “cultural taste” be studied sociologically? This article examines the major theoretical responses to this question, with particular emphasis on those of Adorno and Bourdieu. It suggests the need to go beyond them, engaging in dialogue — rather than conflict — with philosophy, aesthetics and literature.