This week, I’m reading Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste by Pierre Bourdieu. While I usually read quickly, some books demand more time for reflection. And this is one of them. I’m only on page four, yet I’ve already had to pause multiple times to think deeply about the ideas presented.
As I reflect, I notice how strongly Bourdieu’s concepts connect with my experience running Glitter Records. What might seem like abstract philosophy—ideas like the “pure gaze” or the “popular aesthetic”—are remarkably relevant to the everyday decisions I make as a record store owner.
The Pure Gaze vs. The Popular Aesthetic
Pierre Bourdieu discusses the idea of the “pure gaze” and the “popular aesthetic.” The pure gaze views art as autonomous. It values intellectual engagement and form over emotional immediacy. This idea aligns with my goal to celebrate music as art. In contrast, the popular aesthetic values art for its re-enforcement of everyday life and dominant social values. It prioritizes accessibility and emotion.
Balancing Contrarianism and Accessibility
Glitter Records aims to be more than just a “nice and congenial” record store. By emphasizing rarity and experimentation, it positions itself as a destination for discovery and cultural enrichment. However, this approach comes with challenges.
How can I stay true to the shop’s unique identity while ensuring it remains inviting and inclusive for everyone? Many new customers—some entering a record store for the first time—seek familiarity. I genuinely enjoy helping people find the records they’re searching for. What is more my objective approach to curation often means I have something on hand.
That said, all else being equal, adding a 1992 cassette by Turkish folk rebel Selda Bağcan called Ziller ve İpler to the store’s collection excites me far more than anything from the ARIA Top 20 best-selling vinyl chart. Striking a balance between boldness and accessibility is an ongoing challenge. But perhaps it’s this frisson that is the essence of what makes a record store unique.
What Pierre Bourdieu Has To Say On Taste and Separation
Bourdieu’s idea that taste creates social barriers feels very relevant. A niche collection like Glitter Records has naturally creates exclusivity. Not everyone will “get” what the store offers.
Bourdieu’s ideas play out in the small decisions I make every day. What music should I focus on? How should I display it? How should I talk about music with customers? There’s always a choice. These questions turn routine tasks into acts of philosophical reflection.
A Record Store as a Philosophical Project
Glitter Records is both a business and an exploration of music culture. Inspired by Bourdieu, the store embraces the tension between art’s autonomy and its connection to everyday life. This duality allows Glitter Records to stand out. While selling recorded music is a necessary part of Glitter Records’ operation my work is equally about encouraging others to think, feel, and discover. By blending commerce with philosophy, the shop, and others like it, can help redefine what a modern record store can offer.