Post-modernism

• Post-modernity is not a theory or perspective but instead describes a stage of modernity in society.
• How society is different:

  • New technology and media.
  • Social/political movements.
  • Individualism replaces community.
  • Risk society
• Lyotard- Argues that the move to a post-modern society started in the late 1950’s.
• Gidden: Post-modern societ is highly pluralistic and diverse, with no grand narrative driving its development.
• Pure relationships: People are now in happy relationships for love, not for money. This is because society doesn’t force marriage on people anymore so no one has to stay in unhappy relationships.
• Stacey: Used term post-modern family to signal the contested, ambivalent and undecided character of our family culture.
• Post-modern Evaluation (strengths):

  • Attempts to explain recent social and cultural developments since the fall of the ’iron curtain’.
  • Explores role played by media.
  • Recognises how individuals constructs their own identity.
• Post-modern Evaluation (limitations):

  • Over-emphasises cultural phenomena and the mass media at the expense of economic factors.
  • Can’t explain constraints of cultural factors.
• Social action theory:

  • Micro theory
  • Believe individuals are in control and shape society.
  • Interested in how individuals negotiate and form their own identity.