Changing relations: Class, education and cultural capital

Based on analyses of survey data of the cultural practices of Norwegian students in 1998 and 2008, this article addresses the changing relations between class, education and cultural tastes of students in Norway – particularly focusing on what Bourdieu termed “cultural capital”. Proceeding from international and Norwegian debates regarding the nature and social importance of cultural capital, the article first discusses the changing relation between social class and educational careers. On this basis, changes with regard to the use of music and literature, both in forms of genres and individual artists/authors, are analysed. While general relations between preferences for musical and literary genres and social background appear to be quite stable, with traditional highbrow genres in both years being closely related to students with high levels of cultural capital, students’ interest in traditional highbrow genres have weakened considerably in the period under study. This suggests that traditional forms of highbrow culture are becoming increasingly more irrelevant for most students cultural lives, but also more socially distinctive, and they still appear to command a large degree of recognition. However, the article concludes, the general decline in interest towards such forms of culture suggests an increasingly precarious position for traditional highbrow culture.1

► Analysis of survey data on Norwegian students social recruitment and cultural habits in 1998 and 2008. ► Particular emphasis on the attitudes and knowledge in regard to music, literature and television shows. ► A major decline in interest in and knowledge of most forms of traditional legitimate culture is found. ► Legitimate culture is thus marginalized in one sense, but also increasingly linked to privileged social backgrounds.