The Social Lens: An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory by Kenneth Allan

Author:Kenneth Allan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781483315836
Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Published: 2013-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Fields

Bourdieu uses the analogy of the field to explain how empirical and symbolic worlds work (see Calhoun, 2003). Bourdieu was a rugby player, which is a European game somewhat like American football, but it is considered by most to be much more grueling than football. In rugby, the play is continuous with no substitutions or time-outs (even for injury). The game can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, with two halves separated by a 5-minute halftime. An important part of the game is the scrum. In a scrum, eight players from each side form a kind of inverted triangle by wrapping their arms around each other. The ball is placed in the middle, and the two bound groups of players struggle head-to-head against each other until the ball is freed from the scrum. To see the struggle of the scrum gives a whole new perspective on Bourdieu’s idea of social struggle.

Rugby matches take place on a field, involve strategic plays and intense struggles, and are played by individuals who have a clear physical sense of the game. Matches are of course structured by the rules of the game and the field. The field not only delineates the parameters of the play, but each field is different, and thus knowledge of each field of play is important for success. The rules are there and, like in all games, come into play when they are broken, but a good player embodies the rules and the methods of the game. The best plays are those that come when the player is in the “zone,” or playing without thinking. Trained musicians can also experience this zone by jamming with other musicians. Often when in such a state, the musician can play things that he or she normally would not be able to, and might have a difficult time explaining after the fact. The same is true for athletes. There is more to a good game than the rules and the field; the game is embodied in the performer. Finally, there is the struggle, against not only the other team, but also the limitations of the field, rules, and one’s own abilities.

What I just gave you is actually an explanation of Bourdieu’s theory through analogy. Keep your eyes open for how it fits. Just like in rugby, fields are delineated spaces wherein “the game” is played. Obviously, in Bourdieu’s theoretical use of field, the parameters are not laid out using fences or lines on the ground. The parameters of the theoretical field are delineated by networks or sets of connections among objective positions. The positions within a field may be filled by individuals, groups, or organizations. However, Bourdieu is adamant that we focus on the relationships among the actors and not the agents themselves. It’s not the people, groups, or even interactions that are important; it’s the relationships among and between the positions that set the parameters of a field. For example, while the different culture groups (like theater groups, reading clubs, and choirs)

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