Bourdieu in Hyperspace: From Social Topology to the Space of Flows

• In Event: 038 - Theory Section Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 04. Field Theory and Beyond

Abstract

Along with habitus, capital and practice, Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological model revolves around the concept of social space (or field) which he defines in topological terms. I take this geometric characterization literally so as to mobilize other types of geometry for comparative purposes. By working with the opposition between topology and Euclidean geometry, I argue that Bourdieu describes social reality as a space of groups exclusively, even though some aspects of it are best described as a space of flows. Without being erroneous, Bourdieu’s model nevertheless produces an incomplete picture of social reality. It is necessary to give ourselves additional analytical tools to uncover these neglected aspects. For this, I develop the contrast between groups and flows in four points: (1) groups introduce an inequality between individuals (to separate members from non-members) whereas flows require an equality between them (as users or operators); (2) groups are based on nonmetric differences (between identities) whereas flows embody metric differences (speed, volume, etc.); (3) individuals are enrolled in groups for an indefinite period of time while they never stay or reside within a flow, but only pass through it in an instant; (4) a group is created when numerous bodies are joined together, if only symbolically, while flows do not depend on whole bodies (like building bricks), but only on a simple act or operation executed in repetition by multiple bodies in movement. In conclusion, I discuss how groups and flows interact together. I argue that flows are as active as groups are.

Author

• Jean-Sebastien Guy, Dalhousie University