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Britain's cultural tastes and their impact on society is the focus of a major research project by Open University sociologists.

Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion is the first such major exercise to examine cultural interests– including such strands as cuisine, fashion and cinema – and explore the connections between them that shape modern Britain.

“Such connections, in terms of social class, culture, ethnicity, gender and questions of equality – and inequality – have never been examined in this way before,” said project leader Professor Tony Bennett.

“We wanted to determine the relationship between cultural knowledge, taste and participation and discover if it is close enough to warrant the term ‘cultural capital’.”

In doing so the research team from the Faculty of Social Sciences are also exploring whether there is a breakdown of cultural distinctions and more people of different backgrounds are now tapping into one, more generic culture – and whether cultural capital takes the same form and role as in  France, Australia and the USA.

Nearly 1800 adults – a random sample boosted by 227 interviewees deliberately chosen to represent Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean ethnic groups – completed a questionnaire which covered their consumption of mass media, visual and performance arts, music, sport, food and drink and domestic leisure. Forty-four respondents were then interviewed in more detail about their responses.

The research, undertaken with the Sociology Department from the University of Manchester and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, also explored the relationship between economic, social and cultural ‘capitals’ – and, pertinently, the role cultural capital plays in social exclusion,

“We are examining the acquisition of cultural capital and the degree of inclusiveness in particular class positions,” said Professor Bennett, “and the extent to which gender and ethnicity affects prospects of inclusive cultural participation.”

Articles about the study and its results have recently been published in a number of journals including Cultural Trends and the British Journal of Sociology and the team is also about to publish a report of its findings for the British Film Institute.  They are also working on a major book – Culture, Class, Distinction – to be published by Routledge.