Bourdieusian Media Studies illustrates the merits of Pierre Bourdieu’s cultural sociological approach in the field of media studies, explicating exactly what a “Bourdieusian” analysis of media would entail, and what new understandings of the digital media landscape that would emerge from such an analysis.
The author applies the Bourdieusian concepts of social field, capital and habitus to understand the social conditions of media and cultural production, media users’ practices and preferences and the power dynamics entailed in social media networks. Based on a careful illumination of Bourdieu’s concepts, epistemological assumptions and methodological approach, the book presents a range of case studies covering television production, the field of media studies itself, media use and social media networks.
Illustrating the craft of Bourdieusian media studies and shedding new light on key dynamics of digital media culture, this book will appeal to scholars and students working in media studies, media theory, sociology of media, digital media, and cultural production.
1. Introduction: Why Bourdieusian Media Studies?
2. Bourdieusian Media Studies: Key Concepts
3. The Craft of Bourdieusian Media Studies
4. The Social Space and Media Use
5. Fields of Media and Cultural Production
6. Digital Bourdieu
7. Summary and Conclusion
Biography
Johan Lindell is Associate Professor of Media and Communication Studies at the Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University. He has published widely on Bourdieu. His research deals with social inequality and media use, fields of media and cultural production and the Nordic media system.
"This is THE book that many of us have been waiting for! With its rigor and empirical illustrations this book is a must read for any scholar interested in putting Bourdieu to work in the field of media and communication research. It usefully and impressively unfolds how Bourdieu’s key theoretical concepts can be operationalized into research practice with particular attention to correspondence analysis and is thus a really important contribution in the establishment of field theory as the new paradigm for media studies."
Jannie Møller Hartley, Professor of Journalism, Roskilde University.
"This is a most timely book. It includes a comprehensive review of Bourdieusian media studies, a pedagogical introduction to Bourdieu’s sociology, a convincing demonstration of its applicability in practical research and even an update on how this approach can grasp our digital age. Simply impressive!"
Annick Prieur, Professor of Sociology, Aalborg University.
"In this excellent one-of-a-kind book, Johan Lindell clearly explains and demonstrates how to put Bourdieu’s complete toolkit to work for systematic empirical research. Essential reading for anyone investigating power and inequality in contemporary digital media environments."
Rodney Benson, Professor of Media, Culture and Communication, and Sociology New York University.
