In 1988, the renowned sociologist Pierre Bourdieu and the leading
historian Roger Chartier met for a series of lively discussions that
were broadcast on French public radio. Published here for the first
time, these conversations are an accessible and engaging introduction to
the work of these two great thinkers, who discuss their work and explore
the similarities and differences between their disciplines with the
clarity and frankness of the spoken word.
Bourdieu and Chartier discuss some of the core themes of Bourdieu's
work, such as his theory of fields, his notions of habitus and symbolic
power and his account of the relation between structures and
individuals, and they examine the relevance of these ideas to the study
of historical events and processes. They also discuss at length
Bourdieu's work on culture and aesthetics, including his work on
Flaubert and Manet and his analyses of the formation of the literary and
artistic fields. Reflecting on the differences between sociology and
history, Bourdieu and Chartier observe that while history deals with the
past, sociology is dealing with living subjects who are often confronted
with discourses that speak about them, and therefore it disrupts,
disconcerts and encounters resistance in ways that few other disciplines
do.
This unique dialogue between two great figures is a testimony to the
richness of Bourdieu's thought and its enduring relevance for the
humanities and social sciences today.
