Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 10:19:31 -0500
From: Deborah W Kilgore <dkilgore-AT-iastate.edu>
Subject: Re: [BOU:] Subfields and other sundry items


At 01:24 AM 5/15/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>I think Bourdieu underestimated as you say
>the sources for change in the habitus, media as a source of new symbolic
>economies, new individuals as commodities being discoursed with new (lack
>of) ideal performances being one example and because he wasn't addressing
>commodification this too may be part of why he overestimates agreement about
>the dominant norms.

I am having trouble with this idea.  I think to say that B. 
"underestimated" is to take a particularly optimistic (or naive) view of 
social life.  Lots of Americans say that B. is rather pessimistic, but I 
think the promise of B's ideas is that he helps us focus on what really 
constitutes change, as opposed to more of the same.

Women's studies, as an example, is not always especially unique within the 
University.  I'm an affiliate member of a particularly effective women's 
studies program, where we definitely have a different way of doing business 
(more preferable to me) in comparison to my other department.  But, we are 
driven by some of the same logic -- get money, get published, get status, 
etc. etc.  For instance, my sense of feminist theory and feminist 
publications is that they are so damn smart, and the work is so damn 
good.  If you ask me, it is harder to be considered brilliant among 
feminists than it is in the larger intellectual field.  Which to me, plays 
into the oppression of women.

Regards, Deborah Kilgore


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Deborah Kilgore, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Iowa State University
N232 Lagomarcino Hall
Ames, IA  50011-3195
(515) 294-9121, dkilgore-AT-iastate.edu



**********************************************************************
Contributions: bourdieu-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Commands: majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Requests: bourdieu-approval-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu