Postmodernism

Question 1

what are the key features of modernity?

Answer 1

• occured from industrialisation until 1980s
• scientific rationalisation
• gradual secularisation
• bureaucratisation

Question 2

what is bureaucratisation

Answer 2

hierarchal organisations used to organise society

Question 3

what is modernity

Answer 3

era where modern ways of thinking were dominant and life was guided by meta-narratives, social influences

Question 4

what is late modernity- Beck

Answer 4

• where society has changed but not enough to qualify new type of society
• based on 3 elements: risk society, reflective modernity, individualisation

Question 5

3 elements of modernity explained

Answer 5

1. risks: man-made, solvable contrasting hazards beyond control of people
2. reflectivity: ability to reflect upon live + consider ways to act/live. seek ways minimising risks
3. individualisation: seek to protect selves from risk rather than working together to solve issue

Question 6

evaluation of beck

Answer 6

turner- distinction between hazard and risk dubious, always faced risks and sought to minimise it
marxism

Question 7

what does beck describe class as?

Answer 7

zombie category- social class doesnt mean anything bc risks too large in postmodern society

Question 8

what does Lyotard believe?

Answer 8

metanarratives are big stories about how world works + how to improve. believes now beginning to reject meta narratives - marxism + functionalism should be rejected

Question 9

what does postmodernist Baudrillard believe?

Answer 9

• increase in mass media characterises postmodernity.
• less able to distinguish between fact + fiction - hyperreality every truth has mistruth
• no longer experiencing things in real life, experience them through mass media eg muckbank
• simulacrum - signs (words, images) reflect reality but have no reality but themselves. only exist in mass media

Question 10

evaluation of baudrillard

Answer 10

symbolic interaction

Question 11

what does postmodernist Foucault believe?

Answer 11

• discourse is accepted way of thinking/knowing something. form basis of actions
• those with expert knowledge shape the discourse eg doctor tell u if u have obesity
• knowledge is power, those in control can control narrative to suit interests

Question 12

evaluation of postmodernism

Answer 12

• lyotard + Baudrillard base theories on little empirical knowledge
• are we struggling to distinguish reality? vistors at disneyland know not real
• class + gender divisions still remain in society
• are ppl who control discourse just ruling class?- marxism