Research Methods 7 - Modernity Or Postmodernity Flashcards
Modernity description and sociological theories?
19th - 20th century Western societies with technological, social or political advances.
Structural theories - functionalism (consensus theory) and marxism (conflict theory) and offshoots
Social action theories - look at how society is ‘built up’ from interactions
Postmodernity description and theories?
Started in 70s etc. when structural theories had failed to explain society
Postmodernists state we have a new set of economic and social circumstances based on globalisation which mean the structural theories don’t mean anything. The 4 big changes that contributed to this are:
1. Technological advances - air travel, satellites, communication
2. Economic changes - 24hr electronic transactions, TNCs, international investments
3. Political changes - TNCs and consumers have more power than governments (?)
4. Changes in culture and identity - mass media, migration, cultures not exclusive anymore
Postmodernist contributions?
Challenges whether there’s sure foundations on anything and questions scientific knowledge and if it can help society
Challenges embracing theories and meta-narratives theories e.g. Marxism and religion stating its just a version of reality
Postmodernists demonstrate value of taking a relativist position - Lyotard, knowledge is just a series of different ‘language games’ which empowers those who were in the margins of society
Demonstrate differences in culture and identity between modern society and now including media, changing positions in society, effect of consumption, etc.
Example of postmodernists contributions?
Jean Baudrillard - society based on buying and selling of knowledge and images - reality or not
He is very critical of TV etc. for starting this ‘hyper-reality’ saying because of it we are unable to improve society as we cannot grasp reality
Criticisms of postmodernity?
Marxists - ignores power and inequality e.g. media owned by those who want to enhance capitalism ideology
Poverty will restrict people constructing their own identities
Underestimates peoples ability to be critical of media etc.
It could become valid to deny the morally indefensible e.g. those who deny the Holocaust if there’s no truth
Why is it anymore important than other theories if every theory is relative?
Fails to explain how features of todays society e.g. media and consumption came about
Overly pessimistic about objective knowledge and improving society
Late modernists, any changes just an intensification of modernity features
Late modernity theory?
Defining characteristic of society is rapid change on a global scale
Disembedding - no need for face to face contact communication
Reflexivity - traditions are no longer guides on how we should act and we’re more individualistic
Both factors enable social interactions across the globe
Due to amount of new information, people constantly adapting which means society becomes increasingly unstable
Giddens believes we can intervene to improve things despite more threats e.g. global warming, nuclear war, etc.
Beck (1992) also agrees with Giddens viewpoint
Support for late modernity theory?
Show rational analysis of society remains possible and knowledge can decrease risk
Criticisms of late modernity theory?
Reflexivity implies we are free to shape and reshape our lives however the poor don’t have access to the same amount of resources and might not be able to do that
Technology highlighted as a risk but its wide spread because of capitalism
Movements e.g. environmentalism too fragmented to challenge capitalism and bring around change
Marxist Harvey, we can’t understand postmodernity or late modernity without knowing its relationship to capitalism in the modern era e.g. economic crisis in the 70s
