modernity and late modernity Flashcards
what is late modernity?
- an era of rapid social and economic change
- ‘risk society’- death of old certainties and birth of insecurity and risk- Beck
- liquid modernity- era of fluidity, flexibility and change (Bauman)
key concepts of late modernity
-Individualisation- focus more on individual goals, needs and aspirations at the expense of collectivist ideas
- Insecurity rises- relationships, employment, environment, science
-Reflexivity- individuals reflect on their position in society due to increasing changes
-Interconnectedness- often impersonal, and greater surveillance
some evidence of late modernity…
- individualisation- focus on individual goals, needs and aspirations at the expense of collectivism
- serial monogamy
- media usage- impersonal interactions on social media
- increased risk from science- COVID and environment
- insecurity in employment- 0 hour contracts and self employment
criticisms of late modernity
- society is not infact very fluid- polarising views on social debates exist
- is late modernity global or is it just cultural imperialism?
- elliot is critical of media usage outside of west
- is risk and insecurity due to capitalism not social change?
- social structures still hold a lot of power
- Rustin- capitalism is the cause of risk not technology
- Hirst- risk conscious movements are too fragmented to actually bring change
Giddens features of late modern society
disembedding, reflexivity
- disembedding: social relations are not restricted by time and space
- reflexivity: reflect and take action as a result
- risks, uncertainties
- individualism increases
- continuation of modern society in an intensified form, not a new era
- instability and rapid social change
- people constantly have to reflect on their actions and the world around them
key concepts of modernity
- industrialisation
- urbanisation
- mass manufacturing
- one way mass media reflect social reality
- countries are independent nation states
- secularisation
- bureaucratisation
- work and social class are the main forms of social division
- orderly and predictable life, people know where their life is heading
- rational thought, science and tech can control and improve the natural world
Beck
reflexivity and risk society
- risks occur in rapidly changing everyday life in social institutions
- they are also seen in the shortcomings of scientific progress that has a high risk of spinning out of control since they are building, and not in the control of individual nation states
- people have lost trust in governments and scientists to manage risks so therefore make more individualised choices taking into account the risks themselves
Max Weber (modernity)
- modernity= a period of enlightenment
- secularisation-> metanarratives break down
- bureaucratisation -> bureaucracy= more order and systems
- rationality -> using science to understand
ways in which modernity has continued vs the changes into late modernity
modernity has continued
- plan rationally to change and improve the world
- science has the capacity to make things better, control/ reduce these new risks
- improve lives of individuals
changes
- greater risks
- social reflexivity
- personal goals- ‘life projects’
- individualised decision making- less faith in the social structures
arguments for and against late modernity/postmodernity
FOR
- the theory has become more sophisticated but adapting existing theories is still adequate!
AGAINST
- distinction between modernity and postmodernism is exaggerated
- changes due to late stage widespread capitalism instead?
- you can still develop general theories of the social world that can improve it
- govs still have the power to change and improve society
- people have more awareness and critical thinking about the media than postmodernists suggest
- national and cultural identities are still strong
- ignore factors that restrict consumption and identity
- postmodernism in itself is a metanarrative??
