Theories - modernity, globalisation & postmodernity

Question 1

Modern society feature 1 - Nation states

Answer 1

political unit in bounded territory ruled by a centralised state - usually share same language and culture

Question 2

Modern society feature- Capitalism & industrialisation

Answer 2

the emergence of capitalism through private ownership of means of production & mass urbanisation

Question 3

Modern society feature - Rationality, science and technology

Answer 3

Scientific ways of thinking dominated over religious explainations & now influence society (age of enlightenment)

Question 4

Globalisation

Answer 4

Process of the world becoming more interconnected and the increase of global society & global culture instead of specific regions

Question 5

ways globalisation has opened up the nation states

Answer 5

Technological changes - satellites allow global communication
Economic changes - 24/7 access to transfering money across the world
Political changes - states now less able to control huge capitalist enterprises
Changes in culture and identity - Westernised values now fuel global culture

Question 6

Postmodernism

Answer 6

No sure foundations to knowledge & nothing can be proved true or false as there’s no criteria & religion and science no longer objective knowledge
Meta-narratives used by oppressive state to impose their version of the truth onto people

Question 7

Baurdrillard (1983)

Answer 7

Knowledge is central in a postmodern society & it’s about buying and selling it in the form of signs and images. Television & media is main source of Simulacra as it creates inabililty to distinguish between image and reality. creates hyper reality (fictional characters are just signs about signs rather than reality)

Question 8

Lyotard (1992)

Answer 8

knowledge is just different language games/how people see the world & people form their own versions of the truth then gravitate towards people to follow these same principles e.g LGBTQ right campaigns

Question 9

Culture identity and politics

Answer 9

Constant stream of everchanging images and versions of the truth meaning culture becomes unstable & no longer shared values by society & this hyper-reality stops us from improving society. Age of enlightment isnt achievable as improving the world through political activity is impossible

Question 10

Postmodernist eval

Answer 10

• Recognises fluidity of identity and how they’re subject to change whenever - not reduced down to broader factors like economic or political
  Marxists criticise saying they ignore power & inequality - overlooks poverty restricting these oppurtunities & classism is still a source of division in society & the media