Showing papers by "Paul DiMaggio published in 2017"
TL;DR: The authors examined Americans' attitudes toward science and religion in the late 20th century, at the onset of a period of acute cultural contention between religious conservatives and secular liberals, and found that large subsets of respondents for whom science and faith are allied, rather than opposed.
36 citations
28 Apr 2017
TL;DR: The role of high culture in the reproduction of the class structure from generation to generation is discussed in this paper, where it has been argued that involvement in the arts is useful as a ritual for ratifying elite solidarity and for screening prospective members of elite status groups for acceptability and trustworthiness.
Abstract: This chapter provides a brief overview of the role of high culture in the reproduction of the class structure from generation to generation. Social class stability depends on, first, general acceptance of the propriety of the class hierarchy and, second, on the effective placement and socialization of youth into the system. In addition to maintaining solidarity, adherence to a shared status culture is used as a basis for the allocation of scarce social goods. To the extent that high-status students persist longer in school, class differentials in involvement with high culture are supported by educational process. It has been argued that involvement in the arts is useful as a ritual for ratifying elite solidarity and for screening prospective members of elite status groups for acceptability and trustworthiness. Analyses of boards of trustees of major arts organizations bear witness to the extent to which such institutions are controlled by members of the upper class, often local, closely linked, and socially exclusive.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this article, DellaPosta, Nee and Opper present an innovative account of endogenous change applicable to a broad range of events, and their model strikes the right balance between detail and elegance, and case studies demonstrate the breadth of cases to which the theory applies.
Abstract: Most institutional theories are good at explaining the persistence of institutions but few are good at explaining change. Too often, we are forced to rely on some sort of external shock—an economic depression, a lost war, a demographic catastrophe—as a deus ex machine to extract us from this dilemma. Alternately, we can rely on gifted and far-sighted actors—entrepreneurs or visionaries—to produce change. Such explanations are unsatisfying, the first because much change occurs in between catastrophes and the latter because the distribution of entrepreneurs and visionaries is itself nonrandom in ways that require explication. Thus, in producing an innovative account of endogenous change applicable to a broad range of events, DellaPosta, Nee and Opper (henceforth DNO) perform a great service. Their model strikes the right balance between detail and elegance, and their case studies demonstrate the breadth of cases to which the theory applies. Having read the article in draft and then, having read it for a second time in its published version, I found myself with few criticisms but many reflections: The article is good to think with. So this essay will be less of a critique and more an elaboration of some thoughts that
4 citations
01 Mar 2017
3 citations
30 Nov 2017
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyze two "jams" conducted at IBM in 2003-4, which were open discussions on the intranet of the values and practices of the company, involving a large swath of employees.
Abstract: We analyze two “jams” conducted at IBM in 2003-4. These were open discussions on the intranet of the values and practices of the company, involving a large swath of employees. We argue that the act...
2 citations