Taste (sociology)

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Taste as a sociological concept is expressed in the idea that certain personal preferences develop as the product of social pressures. The notion of taste in aesthetics is often associated with manners and good habits that are of innate nature. The main critic of this idea is French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, whose main argument is based on the claim that individual tastes and preferences are socially produced. According to Bourdieu, individual tastes are shaped by certain aspects of social practices and position within society. People aspire towards "higher" cultural forms and produce their identities accordingly – they want to be associated with those who are considered to be more developed intellectually and artistically and therefore tend to consume corresponding cultural products. In this sense the notion of taste is closely linked to consumption and consumerism: the viewer or reader consumes various artistic products and then interprets them by the means of criticism that rests upon the idea of taste. Social interactions of people and their consequences are the subject of sociology studies. ... Aesthetics (also esthetics) is the philosophy of beauty and art. ... Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. ... Pierre Bourdieu Pierre-Félix Bourdieu (August 1, 1930-January 23, 2002) was a French sociologist. ... Pierre-Félix Bourdieu (August 1, 1930_January 23, 2002) was a French sociologist. ... In mathematics, an identity is an equality that remains true regardless of the values of any variables that appear within it. ... Consumption is the using up of a resource. ... Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of equating personal happiness with purchasing material possessions and consumption. ... A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ...

Bad taste is generally a title given to any object or idea that does not fall within the normal social standards of the time or area. Varying from society to society and from time to time, bad taste is generally thought of as a negative thing, but also changes with each individual.

Some varieties of black humor employ bad taste for its shock value, similarly some artists deliberately create vulgar or kitsch works of art to defy critical standards or social norms. Black comedy, also known as black humor, is a subgenre of comedy and satire that deals with serious subjects – death, divorce, drug abuse, et cetera in a humorous manner. ... Artist is a subjective term which describes a person creative in, innovative in, or adept at, their endeavors. ... Art in questionable taste is sometimes referred to as kitsch. ...

References

• Stern, Jane and Michael. (1990) The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste. New York: Harper Collins ISBN 0060921218 ISBN 0060164700

See also

Kitsch Art in questionable taste is sometimes referred to as kitsch. ...