post modernism

• what is a post modern era characterised by ?

  • choice
  • diversity
  • globalisation
  • consumption
• identity in post modernism

  people have greater choice over their identity and how they present themselves

  • who we are isn't fixed as it changes based on experiences and who we interact with
  • unique individuals who make their own choices
• identity in a modern era

  • limited to only one social characteristics eg class/gender/ethnicity
  • roles were often well defined and structured which helps maintain order and sense of shared understanding
  • however emphasis on structure limits individual expression
• increased diversity due to greater tolerance of others, those with different lifestyle to our own

  • changes in the structure of families
  • variation of cultures
  • autonomy over personal identity such as sexuality
• increased hybridity is the merging of cultures that merge existing cultures together to form a new culture
• how is society fragmented in post modern era

  individuals are less connected to traditional norms and values due to emphasis on individualism
• what is consumer culture

  people tend to present themselves through what they buy

  • however may not be fully able to express yourself without money suggesting capitalism still exists
• Lyotard


  grand theories can no longer explain society ( incredulity towards meta narratives)

  • different people can have different equally valid views
• cons of Lyotard


  can lead to extreme relativism

  • lack of accountability: claiming their beliefs justify their behaviour
  • may diminish authority of experts and erode trust in established knowledge
  • his theory is self defeating - why believe a theory that says there is no true theory
• Bauman


  liquid modernity- society is always changing
• Foucault

  analysed power relations in society and how power and knowledge are interconnected
• globalisation

  process in which the world is becoming more interconnected
• media saturation (BAUDRILLARD)

  we live in a world filled with media, making it hard to tell what's real and what is a fake version of reality.

  • hyperreality: experiencing life through images rather through real life experiences
• insecurity


  PM does not see choice and diversity as being entirely positive

  • crisis of masculinity- the stereotypical gender roles no longer exist as there is no comparable role that only men can perform
  • afraid to lose job due to technology
  • global warming due to technology ( greenhouse gases)
  • cultural changes lead people to feel isolated from their roots
• beliefs and scepticism


  modernity: dominant religions/ ideologies

  postmodernity: many different beliefs and truths (pluralism) and people more sceptical of grand narratives
• individualism over collectivism


  modernity- stronger emphasis on community, tradition and conforming to social norms

  PM- people are encourages to define their own identities even if they clash with traditional ones
• urbanisation and globalisation


  modernity- people moving from countryside to cities where factories were

  PM - people migrating to other countries to search for work
• work

  modernity- heavy industries/ manufacturing

  PM- working in service sector
• what is meta narrative

  broad theories that explain social phenomas (behaviours)