Pierre Bourdieu On Tv Analysis

Introduction In his work, On Television, the French sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu, explores the nature of television and how this form of media actually presents a false sense of autonomy. Bourdieu uses the economic market model to explain the structural problems with television and how it leads to the subversion of autonomy and expression. He analyzes the organizational structure of television, its portrayal of reality, and the players in this structure (which he refers to as journalists) in order to break down how television has created a repetitive loop of information which restricts freedom of expression rather than enabling it. This paper intends to make clear some of Bourdieu’s main points and terminology in order to understand how he has come to his conclusion on the nature of televised media.

Structures of Television The ground for Bourdieu’s work is in the notion of structural corruption. Structural corruption, according to Bourdieu, is an inherent …show more content…
The relations of competition in television are rooted in mechanisms which distinguish producers from audience in a way which limits the information that the audience receives. This competition by broadcasters to obtain prestige, higher audience ratings, and dramatize news comes at the expense of its freedom expression and at the expense of the viewers who are subject to whatever broadcasters deem important. Overall the system is in tension between independent expression and the market economy and in the current structure of television, the market economy rewards censorship while marginalizing critiques. While Bourdieu does not necessarily provide an alternative to the structure of television, his critique and explanations of the structure and mechanism involved in television provide solid models both for viewers and journalists alike to engage televised media more