Late and Postmodernism Flashcards
In what time period is a ‘modern’ society?
Pre-globalisation, 1700s, until the 1900s
What 4 things make up a modern (pre-globalisation) society?
- the nation state
- capitalism
- rationality
- individualism
What is the nation state (modern)?
Government was a significant force for all citizens. Growth of the economy lead to a national government to manage things, it provided law, education and welfare. National identity also became significant because of it
What is capitalism (modern)?
When the factors of production are owned by private individuals. Capitalism later developed to be more efficient e.c.t.
Marxists criticised it
What is rationality (modern)?
Decline in relgigous thinking and a rise in science. Stemmed from the Enlightenment in France where new ideas emerged about how the world was organised.
Knowledge could be backed up by evidence and lead to the beginnings of securalisation
What is individualism (modern)?
A modern society was built upon competition and putting ones needs before another. Growing emphasis on achieved status rather than ascribed. Still continues to be inequality though.
What began to happen in the transition between a modern society and a postmodern society?
1950s Britain began to experiance the effecrts of globalisation. There was an increase in migration.
From the 80s onwards, developments in technology and transport meant mass migration and trade was now possible.
What are the 3 features of a postmodern society?
- all knowledge is relative
- society is media-saturated
- culture and identity is diversifying
According to postmodernists, how is all knowledge relative in a postmodern society?
Postmodernists take an anti-foundatinalism approach to knowledge. They are highly critical of the Enlightenment as early sociologists such as functionalists used its repercussions to uncover truths and facts about how best to organise society.
Postmodernists would argue that the ideas behind the Enlightenment are unachievable as all the ideas that return are meta-narratives.
What does anti-foundationalism mean (all knowledge is relative, postmodernism)?
Meaning there is no way of proving a theory correct or wrong
How are postmodernists critical of Karl Marx (all knowledge is relative)?
Marx claimed to be a scientist who uncovered the best way to organise society. However, his ideas led to complete misery in the 20th century. Shows that no one can uncover the truth and all knowledge is therefore relative.
No one theory is more superior to the other, all views should be seen as to having equal validitiy.
According to Lyotard, why is it better to see the world from different perspecitves (all knowledge is relative, postmodernism)?
People will be better equipped to make critical opinions of the world and will give greater power to groups who were previously oppressed.
Evaluation of the first postmodern theory of the idea that all knowledge is relative?
Creates a grey area between freedom of expression and discrimination. Increase in hate speech against minority groups in recent years.
Some views are given more of a platform than others. For example, wealthy and poor
According to Postmodernist Baudrillard, how is society media saturated?
In a postmodern world, people are incapable of distinguishing between what is real and what is fake. Social media has meant that the boundaries are now blurred between fact and fiction.
Media is now a consumed good which people pay for. Society is therefore media saturated as media a major source of human consumption. People are therefore left feeling manipulated.
According to Baudrillard, what is simulacra?
Where media audiences are exposed to information which isn’t factual, but an artificial representation of something else.
