sociology theory and methods - modernity to post modernity.

How is the enlightenment period linked to mdoernity?

Modernity emerged in the 18th century during the enlightenment period, this thinking suggested human society did not have to be based on religion, and instead we could turn to science. We could study society scientifically to progress society and improve it. During this period theories such as feminism, marxism, functionalism emerged.

What are the three key features of modernity?

1. Nation state

2. Capitalism

3. Science and technology.

→ industrialisation is also linked to modernity.

Explain the nation state.

A powerful central government and administration known as bureaucratic state. Lead to the creation of compulsory education, public housing and the welfare state.

What do functionalists believe about the nation state?

1. It becomes a source of our identity e.g Britishness.

2. Social policies to take a piecemeal approach

   1. A part of the organic analogy.

What do marxists believe about the nation state?

Part of the superstructure

1. ISA - institutions that control our way of thinking, means of mental production.

2. RSA - repressive state apparatus. Controls our body, armed bodies of men

   1. Smokescreen - caring face of capitalism.

What do feminists believe about the nation state

1. It is patriarchal - run by men for men

2. Social polices help men.

What do marxists believe about capitalism?

1. It is the infastructure - economic base of society, and controls everything

2. Fordism - created unskilled workers dumbed down

3. Class polarisation - exploitation of the proletariat, “wage slaves”

What do feminists believe about capitalism?

1. Women are exploited by capitalism by absorbing men’s anger, “takers of shit”

   1. Creates next generation of workers, only reason family was created.

What do functionalists believe about capitalism?

It created a system of meritocracy, the belief that those who work hardest are the most successful.

What do functionalists believe about science and technology?

1. We can study society just like the natural world. (factual, objective reality.)

2. We can establish social facts about human behaviour.

   1. We can make predictions about human behaviour.

What do feminists believe about science and technology?

1. Science should be avoided, since it is male dominated

   1. Scientific research creates a research hierarchy, participants are used and discarded just like women in everyday society.

What do marxists believe about science and technology?

1. We can use science to make society better, scientific socialism.

2. Science will help bring about communism.

How could it be argued that these three functions are losing their importance in society?

1. Nation state - we now have global identities, the EU and the united nations. TNcs produce global products that transcend national boundaries, weakening the power of the nation-state.

2. Science and technology - loss of faith in rational thought of modernism. More risk, doubt and uncertainty. Science can create problems and not always solve them. E.g nuclear weapons and climate change.

   1. Capitalism - jobs have completely changed. Lots more service economy jobs, decline in manufacturing and manual work. Flexible working and working more then one job in your life.

How did globalisation change society?

Society was seen as stable and fixed before globalisation.

→ We then entered a global village. Giddens, our lives are no longer shaped by just our nation state they’re also shaped globally. Now have a global identity not a national one.

—> Globalisation caused four changes

1. Economic - world wide change, e-commerce, 24h access to money, electronic global economy.

2. Technological - can create and consume, paticipatory culture, caused global risk (Becker - risk society)

3. Political - boarderless world, nation states have weaker power/control, more collective power (EU, UN)

   1. Cultural. - hybrid culture consume from all over the world increased choice to shape identity.

Where does post modernism come from?

Due to all of the changes in society some people believe it can no longer be described as modern, so instead a new theory is needed —> post modernism.

What are the key features of post modern society?

1. Choice, identity and consumption

2. Simulacra

3. Media saturation.

How does post modernism link to globalisation?

1. Nation states and national differences are becoming less important to peoples lives as societies become more interconnected.

2. Technological changes e.g TV, internet and other new media mean we time-space compression.

3. People now form identities based on consumer goods produced by TNCs and a global culture through the media (same tv shows, movies, music)

   1. The world is too complicated, interconnected and fast changing to be explained by one concept (decline in metanarratives).

Explain the post modern idea of choice, identity and consumption.

Bauman - you are what you buy.

• Life in post modern society is like a shopping centre, you can try on and change any identities they like and consume whatever they want.

• Pik’n’mix - not defined by traditional identites like class or gender but now individuals can use media, consumerism and culture to create whatever identities they wish

• People buy goods to show their identity and project the impression they want other people to have about who they are.

• Accodring to post modernists women aren’t just expected to become housewifes and mothers just because they’re women anymore, they have more choice.

Explain the post modern idea of media saturation.

Baudrillard

• Society is now so dominated by media imagery that we have had the death of the social and mainly experience life and events through the media.

• Media can distort the way that we see the world.

• Simulacra - images or reproductions that appear to reflect the world around us or an event but are not based in reality

  • e.g a real person being injured may not be shown but a reconstruction may be made to represent this.

Explain the post modern idea of a media saturated society.

Baudrillard

• Hyperreality - a distorted view of the world created and defined by the media, media seems more real than reality itself.

  • ‘Free the weahterfield one’ campaign to free Deirdre Barlow, a character on corrie in prison on the show.

What are post modernists beliefs about the after life?

Say no theory has found the truth, it is just their version of reality, true to those who believe and not to those who don’t#.\.

What do post modernists believe about metanarratives?

Believe we can’t prove things are true in a fractured, rapidly changing society. These meta narratives are big stories and just one version of reality. Not truth.

What is an evaluation of the post modernist view of metanarratives?

• It is a large contradiction, post modernism is also a meta narrative that dismisses the validity of other metanarratives. So it also useless in explaining society

What is a theory that suggests we may not be fully post modern?

Giddens - late modernity.

• Society has changed since the modern era, but we haven’t changed enough to be in a new era.

• We live in a late modern era that is a continuation of the modern era with three main features.

  1. Individualisation - a focus on individual goals not collective ones.

  2. Increased risk - risk society (Becker), rising divorce rates, instability in all areas of life.

     1. Reflexivity - n a risk society we have to constantly reflect on our lives and look back on what we’re doing and the choices we’re making.

—> modernist theorys are still useful they just have to adapt to reflect the era we’re living in (reflexivity).

What are some evaluations of post modernism?

• It is largely criticisms of other theories and does not offer a way to improve.

• It ignores the impact that structural factors have e.g poverty

• It exaggerates the impact of social changes e.g do we really only have a global culture or do we still have some forms of local cultures?

• Too volunteeristic - assumes we all pick and choose our identities as we wish, people are still constrained by economic factors which influence the amount of choice we have.