Introduction to field theory:
Field theory is one of the main theories of sociology and a conceptual model of human behavior, which originated from the physical concept of 19 century. The proponents are Kurt Kaufka and others. Generally speaking, it means that every behavior of people is influenced by the field where the behavior occurs, and the field not only refers to the physical environment, but also includes the behavior of others and many factors related to it.
Regarding the concept of field, Bourdieu said: "I define field as a network or structure of objective relations between positions, and these positions are objectively defined."
The concept of Bourdieu's field cannot be understood as a territory surrounded by some boundary objects, nor is it equivalent to a general field, but there is a dynamic and potential existence in it.
Bourdieu studied many fields, such as aesthetics, law, religion, politics, culture and education. Every field is linked by a market, which connects the producers and consumers of symbolic goods in this field. For example, the art field includes painters, art buyers, critics, museum managers and so on.
Field is not only a concept in Bourdieu's sociological theory, but also an analytical unit he engaged in sociological research. Bourdieu's choice of this theoretical analysis tool and unit is inseparable from his research method.
Bourdieu entered the hall of sociology from anthropology, and he had a special liking for anthropological methods. In the study of primitive tribes in Algeria, he successfully applied anthropological methods. As for the study of modern French society, it involves two different levels of problems: First, can anthropological methods be used? Second, how to use anthropological methods?
Bourdieu's early research was deeply influenced by Levi-Strauss, but with the deepening of his research, he criticized structuralism and did not compromise on these two issues. He said: "Nothing can stop us from applying anthropological methods to modern society."
In the concrete practice process, Frenchman P Rabineau gave him great inspiration. Rabineau chose a group (elite French social reformers) who cared about urban planning and opposed racism and class oppression in the 1920s. Rabineau made an anthropological study of this group.
Bourdieu expanded from the research unit of "group" to "field", in which group occupies a position, and his anthropological research method is based on field.
Field is jointly constructed by social members according to specific logical requirements, and it is the main place for social individuals to participate in social activities, and it is also the place where symbol competition and personal strategies are concentrated. The purpose of this competition and strategy is to produce valuable symbolic goods, and the value of symbolic goods depends on the classification of related consumer societies.
The victory of symbolic competition means that a symbolic commodity is judged to be more valuable than its competitors and can be imposed on society, which Bourdieu called "symbolic violence".
He believes: "Strategy is the product of practice, the feeling of game, and the feeling of special game decided by history. It presupposes a permanent creative ability, which is indispensable for people to adapt to all kinds of complex, changeable and never-same situations."
Therefore, the field can be regarded as a space for indefinite item selection, which marks the items to be selected for social members, but there is no final option. Individuals can make a variety of competitive strategies to choose, and different people will have different results. In these results, on the one hand, it can reflect the will of the selector, on the other hand, it can reflect the framework requirements and restrictions of the topic selection.