Topic 9 - Globalisation, Modernity & Postmodernity

Question 1

What are aspects of modernity? [7]

Answer 1

• Social class
• Traditional families
• Belief in science to aid human kind
• Role of education
• Mass production
• Community life
• Nationhood

Question 2

What are aspects of postmodernity? [7]

Answer 2

• Diversity of religions
• Globalisation
• Impact of ICT
• Lack of labels
• Fragmentation of community
• Consumerism
• Pick & Mix religion

Question 3

What is modernity?

Answer 3

An era of history characterised by scientific thought, unity, focus on industrialisation & rejection of some traditional values

Question 4

What is Postmodernity? [3]

Answer 4

Society has taken a fundamental break from modernity

• With globalisation & rise of new media, individuals are more free to construct their identities
• Traditional metanarratives no longer provide reasonable explanation for postmodern life. Lyotard

Question 5

What is Late Modernity? [3]

Answer 5

A state between modernity & postmodernity

• Giddens: we are no longer restricted by tradition & are more individualistic, people seek personal fulfillment & create their own identities, ‘reflexivity’
• Beck: we live in a ‘risk society’ where we constantly have to weigh up the risks of actions we take

Question 6

How has Postmodern capitalism weakened the working-class? [2]

Answer 6

1) Social justice movements are not united in a shared sense of injustice - e.g. feminism, environmentalism, social-justice
2) With improving living standards, people are “taken in” by the notion capitalism is the best system 70% of UK people own their own homes