Postmodernity & Postmodernism

Question 1

postmodernism - bauman

Answer 1

society is constantly changing & unpredictable

Question 2

postmodernism - liquid modernity

Answer 2

social structures are breaking down due to chaos and uncertainty

Question 3

postmodernism - effects of globalisation

Answer 3

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

Question 4

postmodernism - disembedding

Answer 4

peoples lives are influenced by the global framework and not embedded in local context

Question 5

postmodernism - metanarratives

Answer 5

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

Question 6

postmodernism - myth of truth

Answer 6

no longer as all kinds of knowledge is equally valid

social life is diverse so can’t explain everything from a single perspective

Question 7

postmodernism - thoughts soon rational thought, science, technology

Answer 7

not seen as means of progress
often causes problems
pollution, antibiotic resistance

Question 8

postmodernism - individualisation

Answer 8

few social bonds connect individuals

individuals form their lifestyles though individual choice

Question 9

postmodernism - pick ‘n’ mix

Answer 9

people can customise their identities/lifestyles from the media-saturated consumer culture globally

Question 10

postmodernism - media-saturated society

Answer 10

postmodern era dominated by media imagery

Question 11

postmodernism - baudrillard

Answer 11

media images distorts/dominates the way we see the world

Question 12

postmodernism - simulacra

Answer 12

images that appear to reflect things in the real world but have no basis in reality

Question 13

postmodernism - hyperreality

Answer 13

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

Question 14

postmodernism - why people pick ‘n’ mix identities?

Answer 14

search for satisfaction of media-created desires to consume

to adopt different identities base don consumer lifestyles to meet diversity in their lives

Question 15

postmodernism - how is individual identity formed?

Answer 15

information gained by the media rather than structural factors

Question 16

postmodernism - you are what you buy

Answer 16

batman

life = shopping mall - people try out, construct and change whatever identities they choose

Question 17

postmodernism - why do people buy goods?

Answer 17

as identity symbols for image/impression rather than usefulness

Question 18

postmodernism evaluation - strengths

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (just criticises)

Answer 19

lacks any vision for improving society

ignores range of social problems

Question 20

postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (over-emphasises influence of media)

Answer 20

assumes people are passive & easily manipulated

people are able to make judgements on what is/is not real

Question 21

postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (exaggerates scale of social change)

Answer 21

cultural tastes still strongly influenced by social factors

national cultures still strong

Question 22

postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (voluntaristic)

Answer 22

assume all individuals are free to act and idk identities
ignores differences in power and social inequality
social structural factors exert major influence

Question 23

postmodernism evaluation - criticisms (metanarrative)

Answer 23

dismissing themselves as having nothing more valid than any other theory

Question 24

postmodernism evaluation - giddens (late modernity & reflexivity)

Answer 24

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

Question 25

postmodernism evaluation - beck (risk society)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

postmodernism evaluation - harvey & marxism

Answer 26

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