Since Engelstad and Næss each stand as representatives for their rspective generations – Engelstad is one of the country's most respected sociologists, with a long and wide-ranging list of publications behind him, while Næss is a research fellowat the department of sociology and human geography and Kultrans – the subject of the conversation was at times generations within sociology.
In the 1960s and 1970s sociology was characterised by a strong political engagement within society, but the situation today appears to bve quite different. Nevertheless neither Næss nor Engelstad would agree that a significant shift has taken place. They both would rather focus on continuity within the discipline and that sociological tools can contribute to shedding light on all sorts of processes of change. What is researched into at any one time, they both pointed out, is to a large extent dependent upon the individual researcher's interests, and naturally also upon opplortunities for financing their research.
The analysis of power and cultural expression
Engelstad's book finds itself on the borderlines, where its proximity to both psychology and literary theory are clear. The analysis of power begins with close relations -- Ibsens chamber plays, Godard's films, Marilyn Monroe's "charismatic power" -- and can then be connected up to larger processes. Engelstad himself believe's that both practitioneers and researchers of culture could profit from a better understanding of sociology.
Fredrik Engelstad's Makten's uttrtykk (The Expression of Power) is a reading of a series of cultural expressions -- film, drama, novels -- analysed with the help of sociological theory of power.
Sociological thought
Although Næss agrees with Engelstad that one shouldn't have to much respect for the boundaries of one's discipline, his book is one of more orthodox sociology, and it is also more relevant for students. He too shows how small examples, correctly analysed, can shed light on a larger universe. One example is the relationship between Swedish tax policy in the 1960s and "the curious clothes fashions of Swedish bands" during the same period. Hans Erik Næss' Små nøkler -- store dører (Small keys - Big Doors) is an introduction to sociology, that among other things stands out due to its original choice of topics and engaged style.
In other words there was no generation conflict at the lunchmeeting in the bookshop, but rather a conversation that showed that sociological reasoning is maybe not necessary for to understand what people do, but is invaluable if one wishes to understand what people do, does.