Sociology of Culture and of Cultural Practicestraces the development of the sociology of culture from its origins (Weber and Simmel) and examines the major trends that have emerged in this branch of sociology. It raises issues of cultural hierarchy, of distinction, and of legitimate culture and mass culture, and focuses on new areas of research, including the role of institutions, the reception of works of art, aesthetic experience, and emancipation through art and presents a synthesis of research and debate from France and the United States.
institutingprocess helps to counteract the determinism of certain ideas based on a rigid conception of thehabitusand underlines the transformative power of cultural institutions.
cultural practices can be politically instituted. In examining the ideal of the democratization of culture, and, especially, the possibility of realizing such an ideal, Fleury describes how cultural inequalities can be overcome and shows how culture can fulfil an emancipatory function.