Distinction (social)
Encyclopedia : D : DI : DIS : Distinction (social)
Distinction is a social force that places different values on different individuals. The criteria for such judgements have always been a matter of controversy and subject to criticism. They are, furthermore, subject to constant change.
In his 1960's book La Distinction, Pierre Bourdieu describes how those in power define aesthetic concepts such as "taste". His research shows how social class tends to determine a person's likes and interests, and how distinctions based on social class are reinforced in daily life.
The 2004 book The Rebel Sell describes "distinction" as a social arms race, in which social styles are in constant development, and those who do not follow the development become stale.
See also
David Bowie -the "chameleon of pop", predicting trends and completely adjusting his style and persona.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.