Download Faculty of Social Sciences Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY
Faculty of Social Sciences
Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion
BRITAIN’S cultural tastes and their impact on society
The research, undertaken with the Sociology
is the focus of a major research project by OU
Department from the University of Manchester and
sociologists.
funded by the Economic and Social Research
Council, also explored the relationship between
Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion is the first such
economic, social and cultural ‘capitals’ – and,
major exercise to examine cultural interests–
pertinently, the role cultural capital plays in social
including such strands as cuisine, fashion and
exclusion.
cinema – and explore the connections between them
that shape modern Britain.
“We are examining the acquisition of cultural capital
and the degree of inclusiveness in particular class
“Such connections, in terms of social class, culture,
positions,” said Professor Bennett, “and the extent to
ethnicity, gender and questions of equality – and
which gender and ethnicity affects prospects of
inequality – have never been examined in this way
inclusive cultural participation.”
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before,” said project leader Professor Tony Bennett.
Articles about the study and its results have recently
“We wanted to determine the relationship between
been published in a number of journals including
cultural knowledge, taste and participation and
Cultural Trends and the British Journal of Sociology
discover if it is close enough to warrant the term
and the team is also about to publish a report of its
‘cultural capital’.”
findings for the British Film Institute. They are also
working on a major book – Culture, Class, Distinction
In doing so the research team from the Faculty of
Social Sciences are also exploring whether there is a
breakdown of cultural distinctions and more people of
different backgrounds are now tapping into one, more
generic culture – and whether cultural capital takes
the same form and role as in in France, Australia and
the USA.
Nearly 1800 adults – a random sample boosted by
227 interviewees deliberately chosen to represent
Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean ethnic groups –
completed a questionnaire which covered their
consumption of mass media, visual and performance
arts, music, sport, food and drink and domestic
leisure. Forty-four respondents were then interviewed
in more detail about their responses.
– to be published by Routledge.
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