The social logic of cultural change has long preoccupied both cultural historians and sociologists, particularly during periods when the “doxa” – the normative, ideological, and aesthetic standards taken for granted – undergoes rapid and profound transformations. Such periods of symbolic upheaval often arise from struggles across various fields of cultural production, where competing visions of taste and value contest a dominant order. Understanding the mechanisms behind these revolutionary changes in art and culture remains one of the greatest challenges in both historical and sociological analysis.
This workshop is an invitation into the study of symbolic revolutions with presentations and discussions that provide approaches to uncover the underlying dynamics driving transformative shifts in cultural fields as well as their radical consequences. To explore the theme Martin Petzke offers a keynote speech, “Symbolic Revolutions: A Neglected Bourdieusian Concept for Theorizing Change within Fields.” Petzke’s presentation represents the state-of-the-art in Bourdieu-inspired sociological theory, offering applicable insights into art and cultural history. Furthermore, two expert reflections on these questions broaden and deepen the theoretical challenges: Leon Gabriel’s talk will explore the concept of revolutions as a nexus of art and politics in contrast to recent dynamics in the scenic arts. Ádám Havas will reflect on symbolic revolutions through music sociological examples, focusing on jazz and avant-garde music across East Central and Southwestern Europe.
Schedule
3-4 Keynote: Martin Petzke (Bielefeld University) – Symbolic Revolutions. A Neglected Bourdieusian Concept for Theorizing Change within Fields
4-4:30 Break
4:30-5:10 Leon Gabriel (Ruhr University Bochum) – After the Revolutions: Relational Practices in the Scenic Arts
5:10-5:20 Break
5:20-6: Ádám Havas (KWI) – Homage to Dionysius: Reflections on Symbolic Revolutions through Free Improvisation in Europe
Chair: Paul Buckermann
