Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order
Između kritičkog i angažovanog: zašto je važno istraživati simboličke aspekte reprodukcije društvenog poretka
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Late 20th century developments in social sciences and humanities have
placed particular focus on the symbolic aspects of reproduction of social order,
stressing the importance of discursive work in the process. It has become
widely accepted that discourse is profoundly embedded in society and culture,
and hence, closely related also to all forms of power and social inequality. Therefore,
it rightfully assumes a central position among the research objects of
contemporary social sciences. The aim of this article is to critically examine the
impact of the interpretive turn on the study of culture and symbolic registers of
society. The analysis focuses on three approaches to the study of discourse,
culture and society: critical discourse analysis, Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology of
culture and Jeffrey Alexander’s strong program in cultural sociology. These approaches
are further analyzed according to their position within Burawoy’s division
of sociological labor, particularly betwe...en critical and public (engaged) sociology.
Finally, the author suggests that engagement in detailed reconstructions
of discursive manifestations of power, symbolic struggles and/or discursive codes
in a society can provide valuable insight that could open up space for social
engagement. However, in order to fully grasp the importance of symbolic aspects
for the everyday reproduction of social order, the focus of analysis must also be
placed on the role cultural traits and practices (understood as a discursive resources
like any other) play in constructing stratificational categories, identities
and distinctions, masking the very roots of inequalities that created the perceived
cultural differences in the first place.
Keywords:
discourse / culture / symbolic order / interpretive turn / critical sociology / public sociologySource:
Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society, 2016, 27, 2, 407-418Publisher:
- Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Funding / projects:
- Studying climate change and its influence on environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation (RS-43007)
URI
http://journal.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php?journal=fid&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=382&path%5B%5D=382http://rifdt.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/123456789/1854
Collections
Institution/Community
IFDTTY - JOUR AU - Petrović Trifunović, Tamara PY - 2016 UR - http://journal.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php?journal=fid&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=382&path%5B%5D=382 UR - http://rifdt.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/123456789/1854 AB - Late 20th century developments in social sciences and humanities have placed particular focus on the symbolic aspects of reproduction of social order, stressing the importance of discursive work in the process. It has become widely accepted that discourse is profoundly embedded in society and culture, and hence, closely related also to all forms of power and social inequality. Therefore, it rightfully assumes a central position among the research objects of contemporary social sciences. The aim of this article is to critically examine the impact of the interpretive turn on the study of culture and symbolic registers of society. The analysis focuses on three approaches to the study of discourse, culture and society: critical discourse analysis, Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology of culture and Jeffrey Alexander’s strong program in cultural sociology. These approaches are further analyzed according to their position within Burawoy’s division of sociological labor, particularly between critical and public (engaged) sociology. Finally, the author suggests that engagement in detailed reconstructions of discursive manifestations of power, symbolic struggles and/or discursive codes in a society can provide valuable insight that could open up space for social engagement. However, in order to fully grasp the importance of symbolic aspects for the everyday reproduction of social order, the focus of analysis must also be placed on the role cultural traits and practices (understood as a discursive resources like any other) play in constructing stratificational categories, identities and distinctions, masking the very roots of inequalities that created the perceived cultural differences in the first place. PB - Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju T2 - Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society T1 - Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order T1 - Između kritičkog i angažovanog: zašto je važno istraživati simboličke aspekte reprodukcije društvenog poretka IS - 2 VL - 27 SP - 407 EP - 418 DO - 10.2298/FID1602407P ER -
@article{ author = "Petrović Trifunović, Tamara", year = "2016", abstract = "Late 20th century developments in social sciences and humanities have placed particular focus on the symbolic aspects of reproduction of social order, stressing the importance of discursive work in the process. It has become widely accepted that discourse is profoundly embedded in society and culture, and hence, closely related also to all forms of power and social inequality. Therefore, it rightfully assumes a central position among the research objects of contemporary social sciences. The aim of this article is to critically examine the impact of the interpretive turn on the study of culture and symbolic registers of society. The analysis focuses on three approaches to the study of discourse, culture and society: critical discourse analysis, Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology of culture and Jeffrey Alexander’s strong program in cultural sociology. These approaches are further analyzed according to their position within Burawoy’s division of sociological labor, particularly between critical and public (engaged) sociology. Finally, the author suggests that engagement in detailed reconstructions of discursive manifestations of power, symbolic struggles and/or discursive codes in a society can provide valuable insight that could open up space for social engagement. However, in order to fully grasp the importance of symbolic aspects for the everyday reproduction of social order, the focus of analysis must also be placed on the role cultural traits and practices (understood as a discursive resources like any other) play in constructing stratificational categories, identities and distinctions, masking the very roots of inequalities that created the perceived cultural differences in the first place.", publisher = "Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju", journal = "Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society", title = "Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order, Između kritičkog i angažovanog: zašto je važno istraživati simboličke aspekte reprodukcije društvenog poretka", number = "2", volume = "27", pages = "407-418", doi = "10.2298/FID1602407P" }
Petrović Trifunović, T.. (2016). Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order. in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju., 27(2), 407-418. https://doi.org/10.2298/FID1602407P
Petrović Trifunović T. Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order. in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society. 2016;27(2):407-418. doi:10.2298/FID1602407P .
Petrović Trifunović, Tamara, "Between the Critical and the Engaged: On the Importance of Studying Symbolic Aspects of the Reproduction of Social Order" in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society, 27, no. 2 (2016):407-418, https://doi.org/10.2298/FID1602407P . .