The High-End Model Computer Owned by Apple Inc - Case Study Example

Theories of Taste Name Course Lecturer Date In the social context, taste has been considered as a major part of the symbolic system classification whose both structure and content is perceived to shape and reflect specific position of social relations. Indeed, taste has increasingly become a process through which social actors or individuals construct clarification about their social environment, classifying practices, people, and other things into groups of unequal values. Such differences are displayed in form of manners, habits, conservation and possession of some goods that which primarily displays or signals membership into a community of knowledge or wealth. Notably, it is generally believed that not only do taste serves as a status marker but also an identity; and as such being used in the process of inclusion and exclusion. This primarily means that displays of taste to a certain object highly contribute to the establishment of networks and common identity within groups. Additionally, it permits identification of individuals whose standards definitely differ; and therefore, do not belong to that particular group. As such, an object, due to differences in taste somehow is able to attain social roles. Indeed, with the above understanding, the paper seeks to identify an object; in this case Mac Book Pro, a portable computer that was introduced into the market in 2006, and using the theories of taste construct its social roles. Notably, MacBook Pro is one of the high-end model computer owned by Apple Inc. Various models have been on the market since 2006; that is, the computer has had 3 generations since its entry into the market. Of important to note is the fact that it has continued to gain popularity among people. Indeed, this is as a result of its high standards and quality, and as such the object has played its social role in various ways. As seen in the theories of taste, invidious emulation and distinction are increasing driving reasons for social interaction (Warde 2008). Accumulation or owning of an object in most cases does not basically depict that it is a basic subsistence, but in most cases there is an honour attached to the possession of it. As argued, possession of a particular object, a MacBook Pro, in this case, is displayed through conspicuous utilization of the object. Therefore, owning this object does not reflect endless standard of beauty; but primarily a sense of expensiveness masquerading under the notion of beauty. In reference to the MacBook Pro, indeed, it is and also expected that this computer to be a basic subsistence especially in offices and other places that often use computers; however, analysing from a theory of taste, its purpose as requirement has been wiped out by the increased perception of it being a source of honour in the society. As such, it has resulted to creation of specific groups of individuals in the societies who are able to afford the machine as a source of honour. Owning a MacBook Pro, especially the third generation, become a source of pride and honour; therefore, in a way resulting to creation and maintenance of a particular standard of taste, which is mainly attached to the consumption and appropriation of such a costly object ignoring the some horrific consideration including its cost. In analysing theories of taste, distinction cannot be ignored. This is attributed to the fact that it has majorly contributed to the understanding of the theory of taste in relation to the social settings. Notably, given the fact that taste is primarily shaped by competition in the status realms, taste for a particular object will then result to the establishment of status (Warde 2008). For instance, in the presented object, by owning a MacBook Pro, particular individuals are able to create a distinction between themselves and those with other models of machines and also those who lack the machines. In this, the owners of MacBook Pro may simply argue that they have a good state which is indeed a mark of distinction. This is mainly attributed to the fact that by possessing the machine, it sets them apart and as such brings honour to those who claim to have it. This is true given the fact that according to theories of taste, it is generally believed that tastes classify and consequently classify the individual who classify. Similarly, it does not only bring honour as a sign of economic wealth but as expression of wealth, which is largely accepted in the society. In regard to the MacBook Pro, therefore, as noted earlier, it is not a sign of economic wealth but an expression of ‘wealth’ to the possessor which results to acceptance to a particular class which is naturally created by the society. With this understanding, one may agree to the fact that by owning a MacBook Pro as such plays a significant role in distinguishing individuals in a given societal set up; that is, in schools or work place; therefore, becomes a source of unequal distribution of capacity leading to creation of practices and to some extent other related objects. Along with other related factors including attitude, manners and preferences, it thus becomes a component of social capital that is mainly transmitted through complex processes of socialization through education system and the family. It becomes an element of a given set of preferences and disposition that are seen to be embraced by various social actors reflecting their class position. It is worth noting that possessing a MacBook Pro is not an innate nature rather it is a cultivated one. This is attributed to the fact that, as argued in the theories of taste, the current society is divided into class fractions and class membership is primarily determined by the position of individuals or actors not only in the social space but also in the perpetual framework which give them the a sense of the surrounding or world. More importantly, it is expected that members of a class of social actor possessing the machine, display little material constraints (owing to the notion that if they are able to possess a costly machine, then they are able to have other things) and this results to more detachment from people who are not able to meet their daily basic needs; consequently, resulting to a creation of more social groups. In relation to the above, authors of theory of taste argue that this theory has become a mechanism of class reproduction which has had major impact on the society. This argument is attributed to the notion that there has to be a ‘growth’ in the class that leads to variation. One of the theorists, Bouridieu argues that under the entire spectrum of status; that is, gender, language, age, ethnicity, there has to be a status marker, and in this, a MacBook Pro, becomes a marker that leads to distinction. Going DiMaggio argument that tastes are a major part of symbolic systems of classification (Warde 2008), one may understand the role that MacBook Pro may play in shaping the structural feature of the society into varying dimensions. These dimensions include differentiation, universality, symbolic potency and hierarchy. Segmentation of taste therefore, is perceived to be arranged hierarchically rather than considering equal value, recognised universally instead of being contested and possess rigid bounds instead of the permeable ones (Erickson 1996). This highly confirms the fact that there are social forces that highly separate individuals in regard to taste and possession. In regard to MacBook Pro, therefore, it has indeed shaped different individuals into different classes in given social set up. For instance, in a workplace set, people who are able to buy and posses a MacBook Pro as a result of taste, they will tend to be connected by the machine through maybe a discussion about the features, how to use it and other related issues; as such they will end finding themselves together in most cases. With this, the MacBook Pro largely plays a major social role of bringing people together. Similarly, students in a particular class will also end up forming a particular social group which is distinctive due to possession of a MaBook Pro. As discussed, tastes have are no longer thought to express eternal or universal standards of beauty which is perceived to originate from social experience. Rather there are now considered to be part of symbolic systems of classification that primarily shape and express social interaction. As such, taste are therefore, linked to the process of status exclusion and inclusion, and identity formation. The paper has been able to point out that MacBook Pro through the analysis of theories of taste plays a social role. Under this, it has been established that through the creation of social classes as a result of emulation and distinction, the object portrays its social roles. Of important to note is that many social actors may primarily buy the machine not for any economic gain but to fit in a particular social group as driven by taste of other social actors. References Erickson, B, 1996, Culture, Class, and Connections, American Journal of Sociology 102(1): 217-235. Warde, A, 2008, Dimensions of a social theory of taste, Journal of Cultural Economy, 3 (1): 321-336 Image: MacBook Pro Read More