postmodernism Flashcards
rejection of metanarratives
argue against structuralist approaches
Foucault - society no longer understood in terms of grand theories
range of different competing theories - not one dominant theory - relativity of knowledge - ideologies such as socialism discredited with collapse of communism so truth is unattainable - stress relativity of knowledge rather than fact
do not believe there are social constraints on people - individuals as consumers make own choices in education, health, family ect
evaluation of rejection of metanarratives
proves new way of understanding contemporary society that moves away from scientific truth as a form of truth
emphasises importance of freedom of choice
marxism and functionalism - argue against - one truth adn understanding society should be using scientific methods
fluidity, change, instability, increased risk
society changing and structures in society ceasing to exist
eg in modern society - clear divisions between social groups
- now free from constraints of social class, gender, ethnicity
Pakulski and Waters - society changing rapidly and threat on uncertainty and risk
society is fragmenting into a mass of individuals and groups - mass growth of diversity - increased globalisation eg rise in terrorism 0 marriage no longer lifelong commitment
fluidity eval
functionalists - individuals are governed by structure, namely the value consensus and our actions are guided by norms and values established through agents of socialisation - individuality, fluidity and change is exaggerated
marxists - choices governed by social class and income you have
identity - diversity, consumerism, choice
we live in a classless society - no longer an important source of identity - now based on consumerism
pakulski and waters - class is dead - lifestyle of consumption more important - class identity fragmented into numerous separate identities - consumer culture has replaced class culture eg media
pakulski and waters - saturated by consumer culture - pick n mix identities and lifestyles
strinati - identities influenced by mainstream popular culture - celebrates diversity and choice
- society dominated by media - boundaries between reality and media images become unclear - more emphasis on style over substance - art and popular culture coming together eg pop art - social life speeding up - tech and globalisatin
taylor - society transformed into something resembling an endless shopping mall
identity - diversity evals
devine - reviewed research and concluded class identity much strong than identity based on consumption and leisure
marxists - social class still important - main form of social inequality - choices influenced by social class
neo-marxist - bourdieu - cultural capital important - influences consumption choices - implies tast is blacc-based
changes in agents of socialisation
family - rise in diversity - less governed by nuclear family - increase choice - views functionalism as outdated
children’s commissioner family review study - 44% of those born at start of century didnt live with both biological parents - 21% in 1970
work - no longer dominated by manufacturing - characterised by service sector - no longer think about job for life - portfolio worker
religion - rise in secularisation - fewer attend religious gatherings and no longer learn key values
media - baudrillard - media-saturated society — influential agent of socialisation - media-literate and actively interpret images
evolution of religion
evidence many people continue to identify themselves as religious even though they no longer attend church
still influential in socialisation of many ethnic minority communities
resurgence of fundamentalist religions eg america and middle east
evaluation of media
marxists - role of media is to pass down dominant ideology to w/c - miliband - media new opium of masses
functionalists and marxists - audience not active - passively consuming ideology
globalisation
time and space have been compressed - can skype someone across world in seconds and hear about events instantly
rise of transnational corporations - spread cultural forms through cinema and music - results in symbols that are recognised around the world - challenging nationalism
eval of globalisation
marxists - globalisation led to greater exploitation of poorer nations - exploitation of third world labour and growth of wealth of ruling class who can sell products globally
rise of globalisation - deteriorated significance of national identities
