Postmodernity & Postmodernism Flashcards
postmodernism - bauman
society is constantly changing & unpredictable
postmodernism - liquid modernity
social structures are breaking down due to chaos and uncertainty
postmodernism - effects of globalisation
the world is becoming interconnected so national differences is irrelevant
national cultures are weakened
people draw consumer lifestyles from global culture than traditional sources of identity
postmodernism - disembedding
peoples lives are influenced by the global framework and not embedded in local context
postmodernism - metanarratives
theories explain society as a whole, society is changing constantly so it no longer applies
society is chaotic and fragmented into different groups, interests and lifestyles
postmodernism - myth of truth
no longer as all kinds of knowledge is equally valid
social life is diverse so can’t explain everything from a single perspective
postmodernism - thoughts soon rational thought, science, technology
not seen as means of progress
often causes problems
pollution, antibiotic resistance
postmodernism - individualisation
few social bonds connect individuals
individuals form their lifestyles though individual choice
postmodernism - pick ‘n’ mix
people can customise their identities/lifestyles from the media-saturated consumer culture globally
postmodernism - media-saturated society
postmodern era dominated by media imagery
postmodernism - baudrillard
media images distorts/dominates the way we see the world
postmodernism - simulacra
images that appear to reflect things in the real world but have no basis in reality
postmodernism - hyperreality
view of the world created by the media
ral event images are so distorted they replace reality
- war becoming media-constructed spectacles due to sanitisation
- deirdre barlow
postmodernism - why people pick ‘n’ mix identities?
search for satisfaction of media-created desires to consume
to adopt different identities base don consumer lifestyles to meet diversity in their lives
postmodernism - how is individual identity formed?
information gained by the media rather than structural factors
postmodernism - you are what you buy
batman
life = shopping mall - people try out, construct and change whatever identities they choose
postmodernism - why do people buy goods?
as identity symbols for image/impression rather than usefulness
postmodernism evaluation - strengths
- highlights important cultural change
- emphasises identity being more fluid/complex process, not reduced to social structural factors
- explains contemporary social changes
- encourages sociologists to reflect on their assumptions, research and meaning of social contemporary changes
postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (just criticises)
lacks any vision for improving society
ignores range of social problems
postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (over-emphasises influence of media)
assumes people are passive & easily manipulated
people are able to make judgements on what is/is not real
postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (exaggerates scale of social change)
cultural tastes still strongly influenced by social factors
national cultures still strong
postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (voluntaristic)
assume all individuals are free to act and idk identities
ignores differences in power and social inequality
social structural factors exert major influence
postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (metanarrative)
dismissing themselves as having nothing more valid than any other theory
postmodernism evaluation - giddens (late modernity & reflexivity)
individualisation caused a runaway world and risk society
continuation of modern society in intense form, not a new era
adapted no abandoned traditional sociological theories
postmodernism evaluation - beck (risk society)
risks occur rapidly in social institutions
people, governments, institutions reflect to resolve problems to change society
people have lost trust in government/scientists ability to manage risks so make individualised choices
postmodernism evaluation - harvey & marxism
changes explained by postmodernity can be explained by modernist theories
globalisation, individualisation, consumerism reflect capitalism opening up new markets for profit
distinction between modernity & postmodernity is exaggerates, it is the latest development within modernity
governments still have the power to intervene to improve society
