Photo Elicitation and the Sociology of Taste: A Review of the Field, Empirical Illustrations, Arguments for A “Return to Photography”

ABSTRACT

The recent flourishing of visual methods is not mirrored in studies of taste. This paper engages with photo elicitation (PE), which Bourdieu applied in Distinction, but never elaborated on. We conducted systematic photo-interviewing in arts, fiction and architecture. After reviewing the relevant literature, we highlight illustrative findings and discuss the potential of PE. In studies of taste, PE helps in bridging “social worlds”, and can unveil class-based repertoires for understanding culture. It provides entry to tacit knowledge, and aids comparisons. Importantly, when two methods, PE and oral interviewing, are used in combination, this significantly helps substantiate our findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Class
• culture
• qualitative methodology
• theory; visual methods

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the editors and the three anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and valuable comments, which significantly helped increase the quality of this paper. We also thank Caroline Knowles, Annick Prieur, and Jan-Fredrik Hovden for their comments on previous versions.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report of no conflicts of interests. The study was funded by the Norwegian Research Council (grant number 204390).

Notes

1. A note on context: Kenneth picturing an industrial worker in a fairly big single-unit dwelling, and Lene imagining a bus-driver in an even bigger one, might seem strange to non-Norwegians. As Norway’s oil capital, the Stavanger region is prosperous. Furthermore, terraced and detached houses dominate the housing structure, which will influence people’s assessments. Big houses that might elsewhere be deemed impressive fit seamlessly into a context of general affluence.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anders Vassenden

Anders Vassenden is Professor of sociology at the Department of Media and Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway. His main research and publications are within cultural sociology, ethnic relations, child welfare and housing studies.

Merete Jonvik

Merete Jonvik is Associate Professor at the Department of Media and Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway. Her research and publications are within cultural sociology and the arts.