Post Modernism

• What are the Key Ideas?

  • society centred around individualism, choice & fluidity
  • modern structures are fragmented
  • Neophiles
  • culture is a form of consumption NOT production
• What is meant by individualism?


  • social media allows you to express yourself/your identity
  • able to make your own decisions about things based on your algorithms
  • celebrates different identities
• What is meant by Fragmentation?

  • people able to access sites that fit their beliefs
  • people exposed to different opinions online
  • different online communities
  • governments aren't trusted -> conspiracy theories
• What is meant by Choice?

  • access to multiple sites; online shopping
  • entertainment varied
  • social media -> access to different opinions, thoughts
  • choose how you present yourselves to others
  • online vs offline different
• What is meant by fluidity?

  • ability to change on a daily basis
  • fashion / identity can change -> Polhemus
  • increased gender fluidity / acceptance
• What is meant by Global Culture?

  • new culture forces everyone to pick and choose how they want to construct their identities
  • Polhemus -> supermarket of style
  • leads to questioning of traditional lifestyles
• Collins (2005)

  • to understand society, interactions must be studied
  • micro-sociologist approach
  • how we present ourselves on social media is how we want to world to see us
  • online can be different to offline

  A02 -> Catfish TV show
• Case ()

  • adolescents construct 2 identities
  • this is 1st generation to grow up with digital footprint
• Hart ()

  • social media provides new ways for you to construct identity
  • photos, music, videos
  • constantly updating autobiography
• Baudrillard ()

  • we live in Hyper Reality
  • lines between real & online blurred
  • due to media saturation
• Lyotard ()

  • death of meta-narrative
  • no universal truths
  • conspiracy theories
• Foucault ()

  • DFOC good for reducing crime
  • people being observed don't won't be likely to commit crime
• Postman ()

  • childhood is disappearing
  • more exposed to adult content
  • shapes the way we grow up
• Maffesoli

  • Neo-tribes