Topic 5- Theory And Methods Flashcards
What are the 4 key features of modernity?
1) the nation state- ruled by a powerful centralised government with the population sharing the same language and culture.
2) capitalism- economic base of all modernist society, based on private ownership. The nation state is regulating organised capitalism.
3) rationality, science and technology- secular ways of thinking dominate and the enchantment of society declines
4) individualism- we experience greater freedom.
Bradley- argued that identity is predictable stable and formed by social structures.
Explain how modernity links to globalisation?
1) technological changes- the internet, satellite communications and tv have created a global village.
2) economic changes- economic activity now takes place across global networks.
3) political changes- globalisation has undermined the power of the nation state.
Ohame argues we live in a borderless world, where transnational corps have more power than governments
4) changes in culture and identity- we live in a global culture, which western culture is exported
What does Foucault say about objective knowledge and modernist thinkers?
Foucault- anti foundationalist view that their is no foundation to knowledge that allows us to prove theories right or wrong.
He is critical of modernist thinkers, all theories are meta narratives to him.
What does lyotard say about objective knowledge and modernist thinkers?
Lyotard- believes PM world knowledge is a view of the world, allows for past marginalised groups to be heard. Meta narratives such as marxism wnd fuctionalism can’t understand the world due to its chaoticness.
Do postmodernists thinks we live in a postmodern era and why?
Post modernists say we do, they argue we live in a fragmented, unstable and media saturated global village, where image and reality is blurred.
Buaman- argues culture and identity in a post modern world is fundamentally different. And media creates a hyper reality.
Hyper reality- media producing an endless stream of ever changing images and versions of the truth, as a result culture is fragmented and unstable. It isno longer as meaningful.
What is the problem with multiple meta narratives?
Lots id different messages and ideas undermine peoples faith which make people believe in more than one meta narrative, parts of each.
PM say we construct our own identity as we only have a few social constraints (gender, class, age). Our identity is shaped by the media- Bauman.
Baudrillard- argues ‘media created hyper reality’ leaves us unable to distinguish between image and reality. We have lost the power to improve society, the central goal of enlightenment is unachievable.
What is a criticism of postmodern views on if we are in PM world?
Phillo and miller- marxist perspective
•pm ignore power and inequality- media images are a tool of the ruling class to subordinate the working class
• ignore structures such as class- poverty can impact one’s ability to invest in their identity in a consumer lifestyle
What are marxist theories to living in a post modern world?
They believe we are.
Harvey- believes we are in post modernity, they see PM as a new stage of capitalism. They believe the enlightenment can still be achieved.
New stage of capitalism- the crisis in 1970 created a new regime of accumulation which is a new way to make profit. Harvey describes post fordist production system as having flexible accumulation.
This means the use of ICT….
What are evaluations of marxists perspective on PM?
By accepting the political opposition to capitalism has fragmented then marxists abandon the possibility of a revolution.
Explain late modernity?
They believe we are in a late modernity and not in a PM.
Giddens- social changes have taken place but this is due to continuation of modernity rather than a PM era. We are more individualistic, so culture and identity becomes unstable.
Giddens also accepts there is a duality of structure
What is risk society?
Beck and giddens- beck agrees with giddens that there can be an enlightenment, believes that late modern society is a risk society. We face manufactured risks from human activity.
