postmodernism Flashcards
why is postmodernism not a sociological theory, like marxism or functionalism?
because the ideas presented by different postmodernists don’t always AGREE with eachother
modern society dates (approx)
1900 - 1980
postmodern society dates
1980s onwards
features of modernism - family / identity (5)
FIXED identity
STABLE family structure
TRADITIONAL roles in the family
NATIONALITY = important and stable
greater expectation to CONFORM to shared social expectations
features of postmodernism - family / identity (5)
COMPLEX identities
family DIVERSITY
increasingly NEGOTIATED roles within the family
national identity has become LESS IMPORTANT for SOME, very important for others, as global ideas spread around the world and cultural ideas are SHARED
greater INDIVIDUALISATION, more likely to act in your OWN INTERESTS rather than do what you feel like you’re expected to do
features of modernism - technology (3)
LIMITED access to technology
media = LESS developed
work LOCALLY, factory / office / professional
features of postmodernism - technology (3)
huge ADVANCES in IT, including personal computers, smartphones etc
huge ARRAY of media available in different forms
work becomes RELIANT on IT skills, involves working all over the world, virtually or face to face, huge rise in the SERVICE industry and multinational companies
other features of modernism (2)
SCIENCE and RELIGION seen as important, containing ANSWERS to all of life’s questions
social change
other features of postmodernism (2)
SECULARISATION (decline in traditional religious beliefs), while also less faith in science and a range of new forms of religion and ideas
- eg illuminati, jehova’s witness, satanism etc
rapid GLOBAL social change
why do some sociologists believe that modern types of theory are no longer relevant?
recent social change
previous models = no longer relevant
we have entered a new, postmodern world
why can postmodernism not be labelled as structural/agency, micro/macro, conflict/consensus?
because those labels are considered to be LINKED to ideas of MODERNITY
what changes have important sociological consequences according to postmodernists? (3)
sociology has been previously concerned with making GENERALISATIONS and employing key variables, like gender and class
- these factors are still important BUT so are others, like ethnicity
as the world is changing so rapidly, people feel increasingly UNCERTAIN about the modern ‘grand narratives’
- large scale theories, which tend to OVER SIMPLIFY social life
postmodernists argued that sociology is only ONE of many sets of ideas
- we can’t establish which is better than the others
- so, can’t use sociology to change society
strengths of postmodernism (3)
Giddens argues that although there have been a lot of changes, we may not have actually reached a postmodern society YET, but a late modern one instead
Giddens argues that REFLEXIVITY = important
- we should reflect and question knowledge, not simply accept it
- leads to us trying to improve the world - feature of modernity
Beck argues that postmodern society brings greater CHOICE, but also a ‘risk society’
- high levels of uncertainty / anxiety
- eg family instability, environmental issues
weakness of postmodern theories
postmodernists have been criticised for IGNORING INEQUALITIES that exist in society
- may mean that people have LESS CHOICE than postmodernists suggest
how has globalisation led to significant changes in culture - postmodernism (9)
CULTURE - way of life of a group
GLOBAL CULTURE - shared way of life across the globe
GLOBALISATION - compression of time and space, more connected
HYBRID IDENTITY - 2 forms of identity combine to form new identities
INCREASING USE OF IT - even greater inter connectedness, sharing diff. cultures
WESTERN IDEAS SPREADING - secular, liberal, capitalist ideas spreading
NATIONAL BOUNDARIES = LESS SIGNIFICANT - nationalism being replaced by other forms of identity
GLOBAL MEDIA - increasingly homogenous media, generally western perspective
MIGRATION - movement of people, means national boundaries become less significant
