Cultural capital: What does Bourdieu mean by the “domestic transmission of cultural capital”
and why is this such an important determinant educational investment (p. 17)? Quote
specific lines in the text where Bourdieu indicates so (not necessarily just this page) and
provide an explanation in your own words using an example from the text or an example of
your own.
“Their studies of
the relationship between academic ability and academic investment show that they
are unaware that ability or talent is itself the product of an investment of time and
cultural capital (Becker 1964a, pp. 63–66”
“The accumulation of cultural capital in the embodied state, i.e., in the
form of what is called culture, cultivation, Bildung, presupposes a process of embodiment, incorp
oration, which, insofar as it implies a labor of inculcation and
assimilation, costs time, time which must be invested personally by the investor. Like
the acquisition of a muscular physique or a suntan, it cannot be done at second
hand (so that all effects of delegation are ruled out).”
Bourdieu first refers to the “domestic transmission of cultural capital” in a statement about Education and
the constituting factors that determine its success. Here, he believes that Economists, though
commendable for linking investment in education and academic success, still falls short in that the currency
in which their respective investment is carried out remains limited only to money. Although it is a good
indicator, monetary investments are far from the greatest determinant, this Bourdieu assigns to ‘domestic
transmission of cultural capital’. As he had stated above, capital by Bourdieu’s definition is an
accumulation of value. Applying this to cultural capital we can infer that Bourdieu believes in the
inheritance of accumulated cultural education heretofore to be the make or break of a powerful education
system. This is also corroborated later in the report as Bourdieu refers to the redounding of cultural capital
as a proccess of cultivation that cannot by delegated. This fact guarantees that scholars of a body with
good cultural capital can gain authentic and qualitatively relevant experience in culture and, by extension,
their respective fields of study.
Social capital: What does Bourdieu mean when he says that through social capital we
“produce and reproduce lasting, useful relationships that can secure material or symbolic
profits” (p. 22)? How does this play out in the context of Qatar or other contexts you are
familiar with? Provide examples.
“The existence of a network of connections is not a natural given, or even a social
given, constituted once and for all by an initial act of institution, represented, in the
case of the family group, by the genealogical definition of kinship relations, which
is the characteristic of a social formation.”
“When, as in modern societies, families lose the monopoly of
the establishment of exchanges which can lead to lasting relationships, whether socially
sanctioned (like marriage) or not, they may continue to control these exchanges,
while remaining within the logic of laissez-faire, through all the institutions which
are designed to favor legitimate exchanges and exclude illegitimate ones by producing
occasions (rallies, cruises, hunts, parties, receptions, etc.), places (smart neighborhoods, select sch
ools, clubs, etc.), or practices (smart sports, parlor games, cultural
ceremonies, etc.) which bring together, in a seemingly fortuitous way, individuals as
homogeneous as possible in all the pertinent respects in terms of the existence and
persistence of the group”
First, as an introduction to his topic, the author mentions a network of connections and how they are
generally represented in the context of modern society. One particularly relevant example he mentioned
was the existence of families, which, at its core is little beyond geanological kinship but becomes significant
in human society as it connotates indubitable kinship. Make no mistakes, these societal ties are by no
means effortless and are usually result of artificial attempts at institution. With great social capital, a.k.a,
great accumulation of societal solidarity. The social networks of each and every individual are significantly
expanded, which then interweaves to create value whether in terms of emotional, economic, or
professional support between individuals. This interplay of social capital, networking and, in part, human
nature creates a solid base for social development with social capital at is core.