Postmodernism Flashcards
What is modernity?
1700s- marx,func,fem could not explain changing society
What is postmodernity?
1980s- new media, rapid tech, insecure, unpredicatble
What are the 3 Key features of PM society?
1- globalisation
2- Technological changes
3- Changed in culture and identity
1) What is Globalisation?
The growing interconnectedness of societies across the world, with the spread of the same culture, consumer good and economic interests
2) Feature of globalisations
- TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES
We can now cross countries in a matter of hours, or exchange information across the globe with the click of a mouse.
3) Feature of globalisation
- CHANGES IN CULTURE AND IDENTITY
Harder for cultures to exist in isolation
We now live in a global culture
E.G. Nike sell the same consumer goods in many countries which help to promote similar tastes
What are the other 2 key features of PM spciety?
1- Disembedding
2- Chaos and uncertainty
1) DISEMBEDDING- GIDDENS
- no longer embedded into local contexts, but are influenced by the global frameworks
Shop on the internet regardless of time or location
What is the definition of disembedding?
The way social relations are lifted out of context and no longer confined by space or time
2) CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY- BAUDRILLARD
- Society is in a state of liquid modernity
- structures such as the family and SC are breaking down
- to call the family an institution is nonsense
- all means we no longer have a ‘typical family’
What is a metanarrative?
Big theories like Marxism which seek to explain society as a whole. According to PM, these no longer apply because society has become fragmented
What does LYOTARD think about metanarratives?
Described PM as an ‘incredulity to metanarratives’ and argues people no longer believe in the ‘myth of the truth’
What does growing individualism mean?
Mass of individuals with few social bonds connecting them, form their identities through individuals choices on health, lifestyle etc
- pick n mix out identities
What is a media saturated society?
Life is dominated through media imagery and it distorts the way we see the world
What does BAURILLARD mean by simulacra and how it leads to hyper-reality?
S- images/reproductions which appear to reflect the real world but have no reality
H- view of the world that is created and defined by media, image of event is more real than what is depicted
What does it mean by ‘you are what you buy’?
BAUMAN
- PM society resembles a shopping mall
- by goods as identity symbols
- impression they wish to project
- build themselves- choice of leisure activities and consumer goods
What are the 4 key words to Mcdonalidization?
1- efficiency
2- predictability
3- control and replacement of humans by non-human technology
4- calculability
What does RITZER mean by Mcdonaldization?
- process and principles of fast food dominate
-chain mentality - Weber’s rationalization
- R uses Mcdonalds as an analogy
- practicality and convenience
Evaluation
GIDDENS: Late modernity and reflexivity
- accepts changed such as globalisation but argues that these changes are a contribution of modern society in an intensified form, not a new era of post modernity but late/high modernity
- Late modernity is characterised by reflexivity meaning the knowledge we gain from society can affect the way we act on it
Evaluation
BECK: ‘Risk Society’
Argues we are in ‘second modernity’ known as reflexive modernity
- high levels of uncertainty and risk
- risks can be seen in the family such as high divorce rates
Evaluation
HARVEY n Marxism
Suggests many of these changes discussed by PM can be explained by Marxism. Fore example, globalisation reflects capitalism opening up new sources of profits
General strengths of PM
- highlights the importance of cultural changes
- emphasises the construction of identity
- challenges sociological metanarratives, causing sociologists to reflect on their assumptions
General weaknesses of PM
X Assumes people are passive and easily influenced by the media
X Exaggerates the scale pf social change- cultural tastes are still strongly influenced by class, gender etc
