week 5 - post-modernism Flashcards
what is discourse?
what are the key points, arena or process, normative, faces of power?
process approach, relativism, 3rd and 4th face of power, blur between structure and agency, normative, power socially constructed through discourse, looks beyond the state, processes of power that are encountered in everyday life
what is the definition of discourse?
defined as language, system of signs and symbols that are in everyday life
transmits meanings to human
meaning are limited in the thing that they signify
what is the relation between discourse and identity?
only understand the world through discourse
discource provides identity to everything that exists, but identities are socially constructed
identities are binary, excludes other identities and one identity is seen to have more value than the other
how is discourse related to power?
power is not objectively grounded by class or social relationship
power is something made through discourse
power is not static, fluid
power is ubiquitous, not owned
seen to be productive
what is the politics of discourse?
social world consists of rival political projects
projects creates identities of people and groups
several projects have emerged successful, black civil right movements and feminism
what are some problems with discourse?
power is not shaped objectively, but socially constructed
power should not be seen as fixed, but power relations can be shaped or reshaped through changes to discursive practices
constrast to Marx’s , power can be reshaped through changes in the discourses which defined subjectives
what is post-modernism?
power is seen to be eveywhere, no group owns it, interested in how power works to ‘condition’ or ‘produce’ certain behaviour
power is fluid and socially constructed
plurality of power since it is seen to be fluid
how is post-modernism and modernity linked?
theory that has moved beyond modernity, modernity linked to the Enlightenment period
questions the idea that modernity is about progress, 20th century is seen to be the most progressive scientifically and politically
reason is a myth and many assumptions about the world is assumed to be rational.
what is post-modernism suspicious about?
suspicious about modern political projects which make truth claims (meta narratives)
WW1, WW2, genocide, holocause, nuclear weapon development, rise of fascism
post-modernists are worried and want to be sceptical about the idea of truth and reality should be questioned
dominant ideas are socially constructed and historically contigent
what are the problems of identity according to post-modernism?
they are concerned with the issue of identity
certain identities and behaviours are seen to be normalised and others are seen to be deviant
naturalises identities
want identities to be seen as more complex that what they have been seen as
what is a post-modern state?
ideas of modernity are being surpassed, destabilised by new truths, moving into a new phase
world becoming more complex, fragmented and pluralised
ideas of universalised truth is being undermined as the world becomes more diversified
happening politically
losing authority over citizens
multi-level government
erosion of authority of traditional state
authority is destablised
what is the basis of queer theory?
informed by post-modernism and discourse theory, concerned with the identity around sexuality
what is etymology in queer theory?
word about direction, not straightforward
people who are regarded in acting socially inappropriate ways
used as a derogatory term for gay males with feminine characteristics
1990s LGBT activists try to make it into a positive meaning, reclaiming the world politically
shows the word being fluid
what are the key ideas around queer theory?
theorists reject that identities destabilise identities and genders
not stable fixed biological identitiy in relation to sex, gender and sexuality
not something we are born with but socially constructed
anti-assimilationist - against gay marriages as they fell this form of assimilation is seen to be the same as straight married couples
reject hetersexual norms
heteronormativity - sexuality is orgniased to privilege monogamous, structure of hierarchy of sexuality
queer is not the same as gay
what are the criticisms of queer theory?
focused too much on sexuality
taken work from feminists used it for themselves
based on individualistic and western experiences
elitist pov rooted in privilege as sexual expression is seen to be luxury of the few not the many
some trans theorist reject queer theory, as trans believe in stable gender identities
reject identity, but sets up a new form of identity
