marxist theories of postmodernity

• Like Beck and Giddens, Marxists believe in the Enlightenment project of what?

• For example, Marx claimed that his theory showed how a w____-c____ r____ could o____ capitalism and bring an end to e____.

• However, unlike Beck and Giddens, some Marxists such as J_____ (1984) and Harvey (1989) believe that today's society has indeed moved from m____ to p___.

• They agree with postmodernists that there have been m____ c____ in society, and they describe p____ c____ in similar terms, emphasising the importance of m____ i____, d_____ and i____.

• Like Beck and Giddens, Marxists believe in the Enlightenment project of achieving objective knowledge and using it to improve society.

• For example, Marx claimed that his theory showed how a working-class revolution could overthrow capitalism and bring an end to exploitation.

• However, unlike Beck and Giddens, some Marxists such as Jameson (1984) and Harvey (1989) believe that today's society has indeed moved from modernity to postmodernity.

• They agree with postmodernists that there have been major changes in society, and they describe postmodern culture in similar terms, emphasising the importance of media images, diversity and instability.

• However, Marxists offer a very different analysis of postmodernity to L____ or Baudrillard. Rather than seeing postmodernity as a f____ b____ with the p____, Marxists regard it as merely the product of the m____ r____ stage of capitalism.

• To understand postmodernity, therefore, we must examine its r____ to c___.

• For H____, capitalism is a d____ system, c____ d____ n____ t___ and ways of o____ p___ to make profits.

• However, capitalism is prone to p____ c____ of p_____, and these produce m___ a___.

• how did Postmodernity arise?

• However, Marxists offer a very different analysis of postmodernity to Lyotard or Baudrillard. Rather than seeing postmodernity as a fundamental break with the past, Marxists regard it as merely the product of the most recent stage of capitalism.

• To understand postmodernity, therefore, we must examine its relationship to capitalism.

• For Harvey, capitalism is a dynamic system, constantly developing new technologies and ways of organising production to make profits.

• However, capitalism is prone to periodic crises of profitability, and these produce major changes.

• Postmodernity arose out of the capitalist crisis of the 1970s, which saw the end of the long economic boom that had lasted since 1945.

Flexible accumulation

• This crisis gave rise to a new regime of accumulation - a new way of achieving p_____, which H____ describes as 'f____ a____' or p____-F___.

• This replaced the more rigid pre-1970s Fordist mass production system. which included what.

• Flexible accumulation involves the use of i____ t____, an e____ s____ and f____ s____, j___ i____ and the requirement for workers to be what?

• It permits the production of c___ products for s___, 'n____' m___ instead of s_____ products for m____ markets, and easy switching from p____ one p____ to p____ another.

• Because there is constant changes in society and technology workers have to be what?

Flexible accumulation

• This crisis gave rise to a new regime of accumulation - a new way of achieving profitability, which Harvey describes as 'flexible accumulation' or post-Fordism.

• This replaced the more rigid pre-1970s Fordist mass production system. which included :

• Just the same factory work, producing the same of everything with very little variation

• Jobs were stable

• Workers had fixed roles (same task every day)

• Long-term employment

• Flexible accumulation involves the use of information technology, an expanded service and finance sector, job insecurity and the requirement for workers to be 'flexible' to fit their employers' needs.

• It permits the production of customised products for small, 'niche' markets instead of standardised products for mass markets, and easy switching from producing one product to producing another.

• Because there is constant changes in society and technology workers HAVE to be flexible all the time

Flexible accumulation

Cultural effects of Flexible accumulation (postmodernism):

1. D___ and i____/c____ c____

   • More v____ of products → more l_____ and i_____

   • Everyone can c____ d___ styles (fashion, music, etc.)

   • Consumers have lots of n____ options instead of one “s____” product

   • Trends change quickly - why?

   • Nothing stays f____ (j____, i___, f___)

Flexible accumulation

Cultural effects of Flexible accumulation (postmodernism):

1. Diversity and instability/constant change

   • More variety of products → more lifestyles and identities

   • Everyone can choose different styles (fashion, music, etc.)

   • Consumers have lots of niche options instead of one “standard” product

   • Trends change quickly because production can switch easily

   • Nothing stays fixed (jobs, identities, fashion)

Flexible accumulation

• Flexible accumulation also brought changes in c____.

• It turned leisure, culture and identity into what?

• Cultural products such as f____, m____, s___ and c____ g___ have become an important source of profit.

• As J____ argues, postmodernity represents a more developed form of capitalism why?

• H___ argues that this more developed form of capitalism also leads to another feature of postmodernity - the c___ of t___ and s___.

• The c____ of culture (for example, foreign h____), the creation of w____ f____ m____, and new information and c____ technologies, all serve to shrink the g___.

Flexible accumulation

• Flexible accumulation also brought changes in consumption.

• It turned leisure, culture and identity into commodities

• Cultural products such as fashion, music, sports and computer games have become an important source of profit.

• As Jameson argues, postmodernity represents a more developed form of capitalism because it commodifies virtually all aspects of life, including our identities.

• Harvey argues that this more developed form of capitalism also leads to another feature of postmodernity - the compression of time and space.

• The commodification of culture (for example, foreign holidays), the creation of worldwide financial markets, and new information and communications technologies, all serve to shrink the globe.

in summary, draw up flexible accumulation as an explanation for postmodernism in a flowchart

in summary, flexible accumulation as an explanation for postmodernism in a flowchart

Capitalism wants more profit

• Old system (Fordism) = mass-producing the same products

• This stopped being as profitable

⇓

So capitalism adapts → flexible accumulation

• Produces small, customised, niche products

• Uses technology to change production quickly

• Makes workers more flexible and insecure

⇓

This changes culture (postmodernism)

• More choice and diversity (lots of niche products)

• Constant change and trends (fast switching production)

• More fragmented identities (people pick and mix lifestyles)

Politics and progress

• Harvey and Jameson argue that flexible accumulation has also brought p____ c____ characteristic of postmodernity.

• in particular, it has weakened the what? movements.

• In their place, a variety what oppositional movements have emerged?

• In terms of race and gender campaigning, how would flexible accumulation help?

• H___ and J____ are hopeful that these new social movements can form a r___ a___ to bring about c____.

• Thus, Marxist theorists of postmodernity agree with p____ that we have moved from m____ to postmodernity.

However, as Best and Kellner note, they differ from postmodernists in two ways:

1. They retain a f___ in M____ theory as a means of e____ these c____.

2. They argue that the goal of the E____ project - to change society for the better - can still be achieved.

Politics and progress

• Harvey and Jameson argue that flexible accumulation has also brought political changes characteristic of postmodernity.

• in particular, it has weakened the working-class and socialist movements.

• In their place, a variety of oppositional movements have emerged, such as environmentalism, women's liberation, anti-racism and so on.

• In terms of race and gender campaigning, flexible accumulation creates more diverse identities and, and has expanded media and communication, enabling movements like women’s liberation and anti-racism to emerge and organise more effectively.

• Harvey and Jameson are hopeful that these new social movements can form a rainbow alliance to bring about change.

• Thus, Marxist theorists of postmodernity agree with postmodernists that we have moved from modernity to postmodernity.

However, as Best and Kellner note, they differ from postmodernists in two ways:

1. They retain a faith in Marxist theory as a means of explaining these changes.

2. They argue that the goal of the Enlightenment project - to change society for the better - can still be achieved.

Evaluation of the Marxist explanation of postmodernity

✓-what is the strength of these theories?

✘- However, Marx's original view of the Enlightenment project was that it would be achieved by the working class leading a revolution to overthrow capitalism and create a better society. how does Marxist theories of postmodernity appear to abandon this possibility?

Evaluation of the Marxist explanation of postmodernity

✓- the strength of these theories is that by relating the recent changes in society to the nature of capitalism, they are able to offer a sociological explanation of them - something that postmodernists fail to do.

✘- However, Marx's original view of the Enlightenment project was that it would be achieved by the working class leading a revolution to overthrow capitalism and create a better society. By contrast, by accepting that political opposition to capitalism has fragmented into many different social movements such as feminism and environmentalism, Marxist theories of postmodernity appear to abandon this possibility.