Globalisation, Modernity And Postmodernity

Question 1

Globalisation, causes

Answer 1

Economic changes
Technological changes
Political changes, fall of communism and growth of capitalism
Changes in culture and identity

Question 2

Postmodernism

Answer 2

Knowledge- no criteria to prove whether something is true.
Someone’s version of reality.
Celebrate diversity

Enlightenment project- hyper reality, signs appear more real than reality, unable to distinguish between two. Cannot grasp reality, so we can’t change society.

Culture and identity- culture is unstable and fragmented, no one truth, pick and mix consumption, destabilised society

Question 3

Criticisms of post modernism

Answer 3

Ignores how ruling class use media as ideological tool
Wrong to claim people cannot distinguish between the media and reality
Views are equally true
Knowledge to solve human problems

Question 4

Theories of late modernity

Answer 4

Rapid change is a continuation of modern society
Subscribe to enlightenment project
Giddens- we gave become disembedded, lifted out of contexts, broken down geographical barriers.
Reflexivity - tradition and custom are no longer a guide to how we should act

Question 5

Late modernity and risk

Answer 5

High consequence risks eg environmental harm, ‘manufactured risks’
Rational plans to reduce these risks

Question 6

Marxists views on postmodernity

Answer 6

We are in the Most recent stage of capitalism
Flexible accumulation; a new way of achieving profit, ICT, finance sector etc, production of customised products for niche markets
Promote cultural diversity
Become commodities for profit
Compression of time and space
Weakening of working class movement.