Culture, Class, Distinction

The active pursuit of classical music is predominantly the preserve of the educated middle classes.

“whereas the active pursuit of classical music is predominantly the preserve of the educated middle classes.”

Tastes for certain types of music are correlated with social variables.

“Tastes for certain types of music are also correlated with social variables, according to the research.”

A preference for 'urban music' is more likely to be found amongst 18-24 year olds.

“A preference for ''urban music'' is more likely to be found amongst 18-24 year olds, for instance”

People tend to specify clear preferences for particular music genres, and do so passionately and in mutually exclusive ways.

“People, it seems, not only tend to specify clear preferences for particular music genres, but do so passionately and in mutually exclusive ways.”

When respondents were asked to report how much they liked or disliked a series of eight different genres, the most common response on a sliding scale of 1-7 was 7, signifying extreme dislike.

“When respondents were asked to report how much they liked or disliked a series of eight different genres, for instance, the most common response on a sliding scale of 1-7 was 7, signifying extreme dislike.”

It is in the field of popular music that the most potent and intense attachments take place, and where the most significant internal divisions occur.

“Rather, it is in the field of popular music that the most potent and intense attachments take place, and where the most significant internal divisions occur.”

No working-class interviewees displayed a deep appreciation for classical music, according to Bennett et al.

“whilst no working-class interviewees displayed a deep appreciation for classical music, according to the authors (Bennett et al. 2009).”

Many respondents viewed classical music as background music that they listened to for the sole purpose of relaxation and therefore not music to get particularly animated about.

“Indeed, many respondents viewed classical music as background music that they listened to for the sole purpose of relaxation and therefore not music to get particularly animated about (Bennett et al. 2009).”

Aesthetic judgments now mark out what are sometimes quite narrow differences between groups in the contemporary field, essential to which is, contra Bourdieu, the circulation of forms of popular cultural capital.

“Aesthetic judgments now mark out what are sometimes quite narrow differences between groups in the contemporary field, essential to which is, contra Bourdieu, the circulation of forms of popular cultural capital.”

Bennett et al.'s study shows that it is no longer in the field of classical music that intense position-takings and attachments occur.

“The study shows that it is no longer in the field of classical music that intense position-takings and attachments occur.”

Differentials in cultural capital still work themselves out in divisions between classical and contemporary music, as they did in Bourdieu's study.

“Clearly, differentials in cultural capital still work themselves out in divisions between classical and contemporary music, as they did in Bourdieu's study.”

Bennett et al.'s study suggests changes to the way musical tastes intersect with social class and cultural capital.

“it also suggests changes to the way these tastes intersect with social class and cultural capital.”

Graduates were six times more likely to report a preference for classical music than those with no qualifications.

“Graduates were six times more likely to report a preference for classical music than those with no qualifications, for instance”

Bennett et al.'s (2009) far-reaching study of consumption habits in the UK, which was itself modelled on Bourdieu's investigations in Distinction, corroborates many of Thornton's findings.

“Indeed, Bennett et al.'s (2009) far-reaching study of consumption habits in the UK, which was itself modelled on Bourdieu's investigations in Distinction, corroborates many of Thornton's findings.”

Symbolic legitimacy still circulates around classical music as an elite pursuit, with opera serving, in particular, as an outlet for 'respectable socialising'.

“Symbolic legitimacy still circulates around classical music as an elite pursuit, with opera serving, in particular, as an outlet for ''respectable socialising'' (Bennett et al. 2009, 92).”

Certain music consumers are more eclectic or 'omnivorous' in their tastes than was assumed by Bourdieu, undermining the central connection that he makes between taste and cultural capital.

“In other words, certain music consumers are more eclectic or ''omnivorous'' in their tastes than was assumed by Bourdieu, undermining the central connection that he makes between taste and cultural capital.”

Bennett et al. describe a profoundly divided field of popular musical tastes in which people find it hard to be neutral about their musical preferences.

“For instance, the authors describe a profoundly divided field of popular musical tastes in which people find it hard to be neutral about their musical preferences.”

If contemporary pop music was once the poor relation at the fringes of legitimate culture it is now firmly at the centre of the field of musical production.

“In other words, if contemporary pop music was once the poor relation at the fringes of legitimate culture it is now firmly at the centre of the field of musical production.”

A deep social division between popular and classical music devotees is apparent from Bennett et al.'s data, with correlations between the latter and higher education.

“A deep social division between popular and classical music devotees is also apparent from this data, with correlations between the latter and higher education.”

Bennett et al. conclude that the symbolic power of classical music may be declining among middle-class groups.

“This leads the authors to the conclusion that the symbolic power of classical music may be declining among middle-class groups.”

Bennett et al.'s study contains some evidence of a relationship between social indicators and musical tastes.

“For while Bennett et al.'s study contains some evidence of a relationship between social indicators and musical tastes, it also suggests changes to the way these tastes intersect with social class and cultural capital.”

More than half of over 1500 respondents expressed a deep aversion to heavy metal.

“This included more than half of over 1500 respondents expressing a deep aversion to heavy metal (see also Bryson 1996).”

The study finds some openness and diversity in the range of musical styles enjoyed by respondents, raising the prospect that certain consumers are less 'univorous' in their musical diets, sampling instead from across a range of genres conventionally seen as high, low and middlebrow.

“In particular, the study finds some openness and diversity in the range of musical styles enjoyed by respondents, raising the prospect that certain consumers are less ''univorous'' in their musical diets, sampling instead from across a range of genres conventionally seen as high, low and middlebrow.”