Theory and Methods- Perspectives (Post Modernism)(6)

Question 1

What is Modernity?

Answer 1

• era characterised by scientific thought (rather than metaphysical or supernatural belief),

-a focus on industrialisation and technical development and a rejection of some traditional values.

Question 2

When did Modernity develop?

Answer 2

• late 18th Century.

Question 3

What are the four characteristics of modern society?

Answer 3

• Nation State.
  -Capitalism.
  -Rationality.
  -Individualism.

Question 4

What did the studies of the world show?

Answer 4

-Science was seen as the answer rather than traditional source } religion.

Question 5

What were the four major transformations of society?

Answer 5

-Industrialism
-Capitalism.
-Urbanism.
-Democracy.

Question 6

Industrialism:

Answer 6

• Industrial revolution- late 18th Century.
  -transformed Britain, from mainly agriculture to mainly manufacturing economies.

Question 7

Capitalism:

Answer 7

• privately owned businesses run for profit in a market economy.
• employed wage labour.

-division of classes: bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Question 8

Urbanism:

Answer 8

• large population movement from rural to urban areas accompanied by development of industry.

Question 9

Democracy:

Answer 9

• overthrow of monarchy in France- 1789 + American war of independence
  } people were demanding a say in the way they were governed.
• lead to the development of political parties.

Question 10

Why do modernist sociological theories study modernist societies?

Answer 10

• investigate the world scientifically.
• explain why societies have evolved/arranged the way they have.

Question 11

What do modernist theories claim?

Answer 11

-monopoly of truth.

Question 12

Late Modernity:

Answer 12

• not entering a new era but a development of modernity.

Question 13

Giddens: late modernity.

Answer 13

• changes to work, consumption and culture are accelerated (fast pace).

Question 14

What are the two features of late modernity?

Answer 14

Reflexivity:
- constantly reflect upon our actions and ourselves and to modify them accordingly.

Disembedding:
-we interact with one another without meeting face to face via email.

Question 15

What state is Late modernity in?

Answer 15

• A state of high risks of war (from conflict), economic collapse or environmental disaster.

-juggernaut:
massive force which we could try to direct but could go out of control.

Question 16

Why do Giddens disagree with postmodernists?

Answer 16

• believes we are capable of rational thinking.
  } make plans and reduce risks.

Question 17

What does Beck believe?

Answer 17

• becoming more individualised
  }becoming more reflexive as we have responsibility to take care of our actions.

-risk consciousness- minimise risk of bad consequences.

-believes society can be improved-> minimise risk on political scale (i.e use less nuclear power)

Question 18

Evaluation of late modernity:

Answer 18

• capitalism cause of risk not tech.
• risk consciousness movements too fragment to bring change.
  -social structures still hold a lot of power

Question 19

Post-Modernism:

Answer 19

• new era of society

Question 20

What is post modernism characterised by?

Answer 20

(Baudrillard + Lyotard):
-Fragmentation
-Choice
-Consumer identity
-Simulacra/ hyper reality.

Question 21

Lyotard (1979):

Answer 21

-there are important consequences for our understanding of language.

-“Language games”- instead of 1 overall language of words+ set meaning.

-meaning of words = the way someone uses it.

Question 22

Baudrillard:

Answer 22

-living in hyper-reality.

-postmodern society -> consumption rather than production.

-signs don’t mean anything -> no agreed definition.

Question 23

Baudrillard critics:

Answer 23

-is negative about society.

-T.V / social media main causes of hyper-reality.
} confuses what’s real with representation of reality.

-if we cannot GRASP reality, we lose the power to improve society.

Question 24

What has society become in work?

Answer 24

-service industry rather than a manufacturing one.

Question 25

What is emphasised in postmodernism?

Answer 25

• consumption of cultural products.

Question 26

What does pluralism of culture/ role mean?

Answer 26

woman = mother, wife, friend, daughter.

Question 27

What does Globalisation mean?

Answer 27

-the increasing interconnection of parts of the world.

Question 28

What is the advantage of globalisation?

Answer 28

• tech. improved communications between countries.
• • global economy w/ many transnational corporations (TNCs).

Question 29

Postmodernism criticised:

Answer 29

• emphasis role of culture + media in creation of identities, norms + values.

-ignores interaction between individuals.
(upsets action theorists).

-ignores inequalities (annoys Marxists)

• HARVEY (1989) - Baudrillard is too pessimistic (see the worst) about our inability to change for the better.

-they contradict themselves
}no one theory can claim the “monopoly of truth”.