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THEORIES AND METHODS MODERNISM, POSTMODERNISM AND GLOBALISATION - Coggle…
THEORIES AND METHODS MODERNISM, POSTMODERNISM AND GLOBALISATION
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postmodernism
PM argues objectivity and truth of modernity no longer true or real than the picture previous to modernity, critical of modern sociological theories and methods such as func and marxism
no such thing as objective truth, just competing ways of looking at the world- known as relativity. objective analysis of func and marxism do not produce knowledge, just a relative version of society
presenting ideas as objective truth gives those ideas power, during modernity, scientists, professionals and academics would fight to have knowledge accepted by society as the truth- giving power as they formed a grand theory
foucault uses medical profession as an example of truth equating to power, medical profession gained control over task of healing and definition of a healthy body, this knowledge is not objective, just been accepted by society and the medical profession has power to control that knowledge
PM reject meta-narratives pushed by modernist theories that claim to be truth because:
- meta-narratives one version of same reality, none sole truth of society just diff interpretations of social phenomena
- meta-narratives of modernist sociology aim to solve problem of society however as no objective knowledge, no basis for intervention in society
- lyotard argues PM allows marginalised groups to be heard, truths in modernity generated by those of power and status, certain meta-narratives claimed truth that could be imposed by force
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evaluating PM
PM encourages political apathy, by assuming all truths are equal we can say that Nazis did not kill millions of people as it posesses just as much truth if we were to say that they did
logical grounds, if no truth, why should we believe their theory?
ignores power and inequality, for example the idea that media images are unconnected with reality ignores the RC using media as a tool to spread ideology- ISA (Althusser)
class, gender and ethnicity still play key role in people's lives and identities, PM undermines importance
accused of exaggerating extent of recent social change as there has not been a complete break from modernity
late modernity
lade modernity theorists claim:
- society has always changed, it is now just changing more rapidly and has gone into overdrive
- enlightenment project can still be achieved where we can still discover objective knowledge and use it to improve society
giddens- key characteristic of modern society is that it experiences rapid change, due to disembedding and reflexivity
disembedding
- no longer need face to face contact to interact, interaction more impersonal due to the breakdown of geographical barriers- some examples are online uni courses, self checkout machines
reflexivity
- process of constantly reflecting on ideas, beliefs and actions based on experiences and new knowledge, everything up for challenge because culture in late modern societies unstable and subject to change
beck risk society- due to increase in globalisation, pursuit of profit in capitalism and an increased individualism, manufactured risks threaten society
gain knowledge of risks through mass media, which can be exaggerated and be used as scapegoats for alternative events
we must use reflexivity and rationality to evaluate risks wisely and incorporate political actions to overcome them, environmentalist movement in light of climate change
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