Modernity + Postmodernity

Modernity

up to 1980s an era characterised by science and individualism + industrialisation. Fucnt,marx+fem are modernist ideas. There is a debate wether modernity has ended, we are in a postmodern era, wether we are in an era of late modernity.

Postmodernism

idea that theories are just metanarrative, 1990s onwards

-metanarratives are the big ideas that explain society. In a post-mod society there is no absolute truth and ppl can pick + mix ideas + the world is interconnected.

plurality + diversity (feature of postmodernity)

pluralism is the idea that there is now a range of diff cultures. Because there is no longer a value consensus that needs to be taught, religion, education. family + media loose their importance in doing this and as a result society = more diverse.

choice (Feature of postmodernism)

ppl now have choice to pick their own identity and there is little restriction in terms of class, gender + ethnicity.

Relativism (feature of postmodernism)

idea that there is no absolute truth. ppl now question science + politicians + media enables us to pursue a range of ideas.

Globalisation (feature of postmodernism)

globalisation = interconnectedness of the world through tech and transport has changed society politically, culturally + economically.

Is postmodernism a good thing?

they dont always think change is positive.

-crisis in masculinity in boys in uk + increase in fundamentalism in religion can all be linked to globalisation.

postmodernity eval

-if all theories are metanarrative then so is postmodernism

-social change has always occurred so they’re just identifying it as an ongoing pattern.

-Marxist argue that they are covering up emergence of global capitalism.

Late modernity

argue post modernism hasn’t happened and we are in this particular phase of the modern era called late modernity.

reflexivity + disembedding (feature of late modernity)

ppl reflect on themselves + behaviour and then make adjustments in light of these reflections which leads to change. new media allows us to take part in a global community = constant change.

individualism (late modernity)

more emphasis on individualism + individual choice. there is a lessening of collective responsibility + push for self awareness + self fulfilment.

risk consciousness(late modernity)

Beck - global risk society - due to globalisation there is a higher risk of disaster due to climate change, wars, terrorism. However she says humans do attempt to reduce these disasters.

late modernity eval

does allow for society to have some structure but it is still very similar to postmodernism.