Postmodernism

Question 1

AO1: Lyotard (1979)

Answer 1

• Social class, gender, and other categories are outdated modern ideas.
• Society is now fragmented with no shared norms or values.
• Lyotard calls this postmodern society.
• Capitalism and consumerism since the 1970s drive this change.
• Media and consumer goods create feelings of inequality through comparison.

Question 2

AO3: Lyotard (1979)

Answer 2

Strengths
* Reflects today’s fragmented, media-driven society.
* Shows how consumerism creates inequality.
Weaknesses
* Overlooks real impacts of class and gender.
* Lacks clear solutions.

Question 3

AO1: Beck and Giddens (1980s)

Answer 3

Beck and Giddens call modern life a “risk society”—people feel unsafe due to constant change.
Postmodernists say social change is:
* Inevitable
* Unplanned
* Fear-inducing
* Unequal in impact
Understanding postmodern society means examining rapid change and its effects.
These changes increase inequality in wealth and power.

Question 4

AO3: Beck and Giddens (1980s)

Answer 4

Strengths
* Explains fear from rapid social change.
* Highlights rising inequality.
Weaknesses
* Vague and hard to test.
* Lacks practical solutions.

Question 5

AO1: Baudrillard (2001)

Answer 5

Says society is fragmented, with no shared values or group identities, and selfishness is not a problem.

Question 6

AO3: Baudrillard (2001)

Answer 6

Strengths
* Highlights social fragmentation.
Weaknesses
* Ignores social cohesion and harms of selfishness.

Question 7

AO1: Pakulski (1996)

Answer 7

Argues class no longer exists; society is now divided by status, reflecting Weber’s influence on postmodernism.

Question 8

AO3: Pakulski (1996)

Answer 8

Strengths:
* Highlights shift from economic class to status in modern society.
Weaknesses:
* May underestimate continuing importance of class and economic inequality.

Question 9

AO3: Overall evaluation of Postmodernism

Answer 9

Strengths:
* Explains social fragmentation and identity diversity.
* Highlights media, consumerism, and rapid change.
* Challenges old categories like class and gender.
Weaknesses:
* Vague and hard to apply.
* Downplays real inequalities and social cohesion.
* Lacks clear solutions.