Theories Flashcards
(6 cards)
What are the main points in Zygmunt Bauman’s chapter : Liquid modernity
Heavy Capitalism (The Old Way)
Imagine big factories, stable jobs, and people working in the same company or town for many years. That was heavy capitalism.
Businesses stayed in one place.
Workers had stable, long-term jobs.
Companies invested in buildings, machines, and communities.
It was slow to change, but more predictable and secure.
🧱 Think of it like a brick building—solid and heavy, not easy to move.
- Light Capitalism (The New Way)
Now, things have become faster, lighter, and more flexible. This is light capitalism.
Companies can move anywhere in the world very quickly.
Jobs are often short-term, part-time, or gig work.
Workers must constantly adapt, re-skill, and stay competitive.
There’s less job security and more pressure to “keep up.”
💨 Think of it like clouds or data—light, mobile, and always shifting.
What’s the Problem?
Bauman says this new, “light” capitalism:
Hurts workers, who are left behind or constantly anxious.
Breaks communities, since companies no longer stay loyal to places.
Gives too much power to business, because they can leave anytime, while workers can’t.
Why it Matters
Bauman is warning us: in a world where capital (money and business) is free to move, and people are not, inequality grows. Light capitalism may be efficient, but it’s also unfair and unstable.
Explain Nancy Fraser Omnivore ( an animal or person that eats a variety of food of both plant and animal origin)
Why we need to expand our conception of capitalism
In the chapter “Omnivore,” Nancy Fraser argues that capitalism is not just an economic system but a greedy, all-consuming force that depends on—and exploits—three key areas: nature, care work, and public institutions. Like an omnivore, it devours these resources to survive but gives nothing back, often damaging them in the process. Capitalism treats nature as limitless, undervalues unpaid care (mainly done by women), and weakens democracy by eroding public power. Fraser insists we must see capitalism as a broad social system, not just a market, in order to fully understand and challenge its harms.
What is sherry lee linkon’s essay “the half-life of industrialisation about?
Deindustrialization causes economic hardship, but also deep psychological and cultural trauma.
Former industrial workers and their families often feel forgotten, disrespected, or powerless.
Literature, music, and other cultural expressions reflect this pain, preserving the memory and meaning of industrial life.
Policymakers often focus only on economic solutions, ignoring these emotional and social dimensions
In “The Half-Life of Deindustrialization,” Sherry Lee Linkon argues that the effects of industrial decline—especially in places like the U.S. Rust Belt—don’t end when the factories close. Instead, they have a long-lasting impact on workers, families, and communities, affecting not just their economic situation but also their sense of identity, memory, and hope. She uses the idea of a “half-life” to show how the cultural and emotional consequences linger for generations. Linkon calls for greater attention to these long-term effects, urging scholars and policymakers to recognize that economic loss is deeply tied to social and psychological tra
WHat is rita felski’s “THe invention of everyday life about?
Everyday life was often overlooked or dismissed as boring or routine.
But modern thinkers (like Marxists, feminists, and phenomenologists) began to see it as a site of meaning, struggle, and potential change.
Feminist writers, in particular, highlighted the importance of daily routines, especially in the home, as part of larger social systems, like patriarchy and capitalism.
The “everyday” is now seen as a space where people navigate norms, make sense of the world, and sometimes resist power—even in small, quiet ways.
Conclusion
Felski argues that thinking about everyday life helps us understand how big structures (like gender, class, and capitalism) shape our daily experiences—and how ordinary moments can be sites of reflection, creativity, or even resistance.
In Chapter Two, Crary explores how 24/7 capitalism—a world of nonstop activity and connectivity—is reshaping human life by eroding sleep, rest, and private time. He argues that modern technologies and global markets have created a culture where time is always available for work, consumption, and surveillance.
Sleep becomes political: Since it resists productivity and can’t be fully monetized, Crary sees sleep as one of the last spaces of human resistance to capitalism.
Time is flattened: The clear distinctions between day and night, work and rest, are disappearing. We live in a constant present, where everything is always “on.”
Technology and attention: Digital devices keep people awake, distracted, and available—changing how we think, focus, and relate to others.
Loss of depth: In this non-stop environment, there’s less room for reflection, memory, and meaningful experience. Instead, life becomes a series of surface-level interactions and endless updates.
Conclusion
Crary warns that 24/7 culture doesn’t just take our time—it reshapes how we live, think, and feel. Defending sleep and slowness, he argues, is essential to preserving our humanity and freedom.
