SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY - Post-Modernism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the overall key features of a Modern Society? HINT: Name as many as you can; there are 5 here!

A
  • Urbanisation and Industry
  • Capitalism
  • Rationality
  • Secularisation
  • Bureaucratisation
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2
Q

What sociologist also studied Modernity?

A

Weber

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3
Q

What 3 features of a Modern Society did Weber identify?

A
  • Rationality
  • Secularisation
  • Bureacratisation
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4
Q

(WEBER) What did he identify in terms of Rationality being a key feature of a Modern Society?

A

Society decides on its aims and it finds the most efficient and effective way to achieve these aims; a move away from spirituality!

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5
Q

(WEBER) What did he identify in terms of Secularisation being a key feature of a Modern Society?

A

A decline in religious beliefs, but a belief that morality still exists!

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6
Q

(WEBER) What did he identify in terms of Bureaucratisation being a key feature of a Modern Society?

A

Large organisations, such as the NHS and the education system, which are increasingly used to contribute to society!

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7
Q

(WEBER) Give an example of a large organisations that contributes to Society (BUREAUCRATISATION AND MODERNITY). HINT: Name as many examples as you can; there are 2 here!

A
  • The Education System
  • The NHS
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8
Q

What 2 sociologists study Modernity?

A

Bell and Newby

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9
Q

What are the 2 key features of Modernity that Bell and Newby identified?

A
  • Urbanisation and Industry
  • Capitalism
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10
Q

(BELL + NEWBY) What did they identify in terms of Urbanisation and Industry being a key feature of a Modern Society?

A

The growth of urban areas and the movement away from agriculture to the manufacturing industry!

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11
Q

(BELL + NEWBY) What did they identify in terms of Capitalism being a key feature of a Modern Society?

A

Capitalism has allowed for the creation of additional social classes, such as the middle class (LINKS TO MARXISM)

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12
Q

What are the 3 Criticisms of Modernist Views?

A
  • The Decline in the Trust of Metanarratives
  • Questioning the Determinism of Class, Gender and Ethnicity
  • Crises of Capitalism
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13
Q

Give an Example of how the ‘Decline in the Trust of Metanarratives’ is a Criticism of Modernity / Modernist Views.

A

Are individuals influenced by advice that is given to them by institutions, such as the government and the education system? Can people really trust the media? –> This means that people may have to find other resources in order to get their information that isn’t from structural institutions, due to the lack of trust that have!

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14
Q

Give an Example of how the ‘Crises of Capitalism’ is a Criticism of Modernity / Modernist Views.

A

An example of this would be the 2008 Economic / Financial Crash –> People have their own choices and people are capable of reacting against capitalist ideologies.

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15
Q

Give an Example of how the ‘Questioning the Determinism of Class, Gender and Ethnicity’ is a Criticism of Modernity / Modernist Views.

A

Are social structures, such as Class, Gender and Ethnicity, as relevant in contemporary society, due to individualism, choice and changes regarding identity?

Does Social Solidarity (FUNCTIONALISM) even exist in relation to individualism and diversity?

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16
Q

What are the overall key features of a Late Modern Society? HINT: Name as many as you can; there are 7 here!

A
  • Individualism
  • Disembedding
  • Reflexivity
  • Insecurity of Employment
  • Increased Media Usage
  • Changing Relationships
  • Increased Risk from Science
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17
Q

Give an Example of Insecurity of Employment (in terms of the ‘Risk Society’ and in being a key feature of Late Modernity)

A

Self-employment and zero-hour contracts!

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18
Q

Explain and give an Example of Increased Media Usage (in terms of being a key feature of Late Modernity).

A

Impersonal interactions online –> Use of Zoom and technology during Covid!

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19
Q

Explain and give and Example of Changing Relationships (in terms of being a key feature of Late Modernity).

A

Changing family structures and increased divorce rates, due to the Divorce Reform Act 1969!

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20
Q

Explain and give and Example of Increased Risk from Science (in terms of being a key feature of Late Modernity).

A

We are more aware of illnesses, diseases, due to scientific and technological advancements –> Covid-19 and Climate Change

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21
Q

What sociologist studied Late Modernity and identified the ‘Risk Society’?

A

Beck

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22
Q

What are the 3 key features of Beck’s ‘Late Modern’ Society?

A
  • Individualism
  • Disembedding
  • Reflexivity
23
Q

(BECK) Explain what Individualism means.

A

A focus on individuals goals, needs and aspirations at the expense of more collectivist ideas (RISKS SOCIAL SOLIDARITY FROM TAKING PLACE)

24
Q

(BECK) Explain what Disembedding means.

A

This means we are no longer constricted or confined by time and space; we are no longer structure in one place (such as our bed).

25
Q

(BECK) Give an example of Disembedding.

A

Working online for an American company whilst living in the UK! This was exacerbated by Covid-19!

26
Q

(BECK + GIDDENS) Explain what Reflexivity means.

A

Someone looking back on something and changing one’s behaviour.

We learn from our mistakes; we look back on our behaviour, we realise that we are in the wrong and then we change and adapt our behaviour.

27
Q

(BECK) Explain what the ‘Risk Society’ is.

A

Old societies are dead, and insecurity and risk is created in society; there is uncertainty regarding the future!

28
Q

What did Beck look into when looking at his ‘Risk Society’?

A

Family Roles and Relationships.

29
Q

What did Beck identify when studying Family Roles and Relationships as a part of his ‘Risk Society’?

A

‘Family roles have been redefined and changed, which has created some insecurity’.

Beck looks at relationships and how, in late modern societies, there is a move away from traditional family roles; new, unique family roles and structures are created, such as same-sex families!

Can men, in late modern societies, still define themselves by their job role? –> Men feel more secure by defining themselves as a ‘father’, due to increased job security / chaos in late modern societies!

30
Q

Who else studied Late Modernity and came to the conclusion that Late Modernity is an ‘era of rapid social and economic change’?

A

Giddens

31
Q

What did Giddens study, in terms if looking into Late Modernity being an ‘era of rapid economic and social change’?

A

Relationships and love, and how these have changed, including how we define our relationships.

32
Q

Give a summary of Giddens’ study into how love and relationships change in a Late Modern Society?

A

We begin to focus on the personal aspects of love, more so than the collective aspects / ideas.

We are no longer guided into love by collective morality (such as the Church); love and relationships become more based on individual preferences (an increased in individualism).

33
Q

What does Bauman (another Late Modern sociologist) identify?

A

He identifies ‘Liquid Modernity’!

34
Q

(BAUMAN) What is ‘Liquid Modernity’?

A

This means that, because there is so much change in society, social structures, such as the family, cannot deal with the uncertainty in society, which causes them to BREAK DOWN!

Society is in an era of fluidity, flexibility and change!

This links to Beck’s ‘Risk Society’!

35
Q

(BAUMAN) What does Bauman say has catalysed Chaos and Uncertainty in Society?

A

Gloablisation

36
Q

(BAUMAN) What did Bauman study, in terms of understanding ‘Liquid Modernity’?

A

He studied and looked at beliefs and crime in society, and how these links to fluidity and the changing nature of identities and individualism in society today.

37
Q

What are the 4 Criticisms of Late Modernity?

A
  • Criticisms of Elliot
  • Has Society become ‘Liquid’ as Bauman says?
  • Is Late Modernity just a Western Society Phenomenon?
  • Impact of Capitalism
38
Q

Give an Example of how the ‘Criticisms of Elliot’ is a Criticism of Late Modernity / Late Modernist Views.

A

Elliot is critical of the impact of MEDIA USAGE outside of Western society in being Evidence and a Feature of Late Modernity, as many Non-Western countries have a lack of advanced digital technologies.

39
Q

Give an Example of how ‘Has Society become ‘Liquid’ as Bauman says’ is a Criticism of Late Modernity / Late Modernist Views.

A

Definitions of what social classes are / what they may contain may have changed, but the polarisation of views in society still today demonstrates the impact of structural forces in
society, such as the forces regarding gender and social class (and the government, which sometimes has policies that reinforce the divide - Such as privatisation and the move over from the Manufacturing to the Service Industries in Thatcher’s government in the 80s)

40
Q

Give an Example of how ‘Is Late Modernity just a Western Society Phenomenon’ is a Criticism of Late Modernity / Late Modernist Views.

A

There are questions regarding the reach of Late Modernity; is it a globalised event or is it just localised within the UK? Have some societies rejected Western ideas regarding Modernity and created their own definitions for societies!

41
Q

Give an Example of how the ‘Impact of Capitalism’ is a Criticism of Late Modernity / Late Modernist Views.

A

There are questions regarding the validity of ‘Risk Societies’ being created due to social change –> Are these insecure societies just created due to worries over capitalism and the economy rather than social change?

42
Q

What are the overall key features of a post modern society? HINT: Name as many as you can; there are 6 here!

A
  • Individualism
  • Uncertainty
  • Chaos
  • Globalisation
  • Hyper-realism
  • Consumer Identity
  • Fragmentation
43
Q

What sociologist/s studied Post Modernism?

A

Baudrillard and Lyotard

44
Q

What characteristics of a Post Modern Society did Baudrillard and Lyotard identify?

A
  • Fragmentation
  • Choice
  • Consumer Identity
  • Hyper-realism
45
Q

(BAUDRILLARD + LYOTARD) What did they identify in terms of Fragmentation being a key feature of a Postmodern Society?

A

Due to GLOBALISATION and the formation of CONSUMER IDENTITIES, people become fragmented (they break away from society); individuals break away from their traditional identity and they begin to modernise and change!

46
Q

(BAUDRILLARD + LYOTARD) What did they identify in terms of Choice being a key feature of a Postmodern Society?

A

People have increased agency and free will, which can lead to more uncertainty and increased fragmentation; people have increased CHOICE over their identity and over every aspect of their life!

47
Q

(BAUDRILLARD + LYOTARD) What did they identify in terms of Consumer Identity being a key feature of a Postmodern Society?

A

Identities become more ‘pick and mix’ in a post-modern society; identities are more fluid and individualistic. This means that people can adopt CONSUMER IDENTITIES (with the help of SUPRANATIONAL BODIES).

SUPRANATIONAL BODIES have undermined and overpowered state power, which allows people to develop their ideas and identities freely; people can base their identities off consumerism, which has been impacted heavily by globalisation and the spread of global corporations, such as Apple and McDonald’s.

48
Q

(BAUDRILLARD + LYOTARD) What did they identify in terms of Hyper-realism being a key feature of a Postmodern Society?

A

Due to GLOBALISATION, the world is becoming increasingly interconnected –> This leads to DISEMBEDDING (which was increased heavily by Covid-19).

We now have a HYPER-REALISTIC view on society which is based on people’s CONSUMER IDENTITIES and experiences; people begin to define themselves off SUPRANATIONAL BODIES (like Apple and other mega companies) instead of their government / religion (a METANARRATIVE).

49
Q

What is a Metanarrative?

A

A ‘Big Story’; something that people base their beliefs on / base themselves around, such as religion!

50
Q

Who are the Sociologists who criticise post modernism? HINT: There are 2 sets of 2; so 4 in total!

A
  • Best & Kellner
  • Philo & Miller (2 criticisms)
51
Q

What is Philo & Miller’s 1st critique of Post Modernism? HINT: Social Structures!

A

They say that postmodernism ignores the limitations that are placed on individuals by social structures, such as the government, which still exist today!

52
Q

What is Philo & Miller’s 2nd critique of Post Modernism? HINT: Power Inequality!

A

They say that postmodernism ignores power inequality that still exists in society today, such as the patriarchy and gender inequality; also, the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie in capitalist (MARXIST) societies / via that perspective!

53
Q

What is Best & Kellner critique of Post Modernism?

A

They say that postmodernism is a descriptive theory, rather than being an explanatory theory!