Modernity and Post-Modernity

What are Modernity and Modernism?

Modernity began around 1700 with the onset of industrialisation, marking a shift in how societies functioned.

Modernism is linked to traditional sociological theories like Marxism, Functionalism, and Feminism, all of which describe how society has evolved.

• Modernist views suggest that life is predictable and improving over time. There is a focus on one-way mass media (where companies promote their brands to the public) and an optimistic belief that society is progressively getting better.

Key Features of Modernity and Modernist Views:

• Industrialisation: Mass production of standardised goods for a large market.
• Social Division: Work and social class are the main forms of social identity.
• Order and Stability: Life is orderly and predictable, with people having a clear sense of their social position.
• Nation-States: Societies are based on independent nation-states with national economies and identities.
• Mass Media: One-way mass media reflects social reality.
• Optimism in Science: A belief that science and rational thought can improve the natural world and society.
• Sociological Insight: The belief that sociological theories can explain and improve the social world.

Transition to Postmodernism

• Postmodernism began in the 1980s, challenging the relevance of modern theories. Key changes include:
  • New Media: Rise of interactive media, social media, and online streaming that distort reality.
  • Technological Change: Rapid advancements, including nuclear weapons. This contributes to social change.
  • Globalisation and Consumer Culture: Traditional sources of identity (class, gender, ethnicity) are becoming less relevant.
  • Disintegration of Social Structures: Institutions like the family and nation-state are breaking down (e.g., high divorce rates).
  • Shift in Politics: Focus moves from traditional political parties to new social movements centred on culture, identity, and lifestyle.
  • Insecurity and Unpredictability: Lives are becoming more uncertain, with a decline in faith in science as a means of progress.

Comparison of Modernity and Postmodernity

• Industrialisation vs. Rapid Change: Modernity focuses on mass production, while postmodernity is characterised by the rapid introduction of new goods, more job changes, and a shift to a service economy.
• Stable Identities vs. Fluid Identities: In modernity, social class was a key identity source, whereas in postmodernity, identity is more fluid, influenced by media consumption.
• Culture and Politics: Modern culture was linked to class and nationality, with a focus on mass culture versus high culture. In postmodernity, culture is diverse and fragmented, and politics is more personalised, reflecting consumer choices.

Chaos, Uncertainty, and the Collapse of Social Structures

• Bauman's Liquid Modernity: Society is in constant flux, leading to chaos and uncertainty. Traditional social structures like the nation-state and family are breaking down.
• Postmodern View on Family: Postmodernists argue that it no longer makes sense to talk about "the family" as a single institution, as people now live in diverse and ever-changing personal relationships.

The Main Components of Postmodernism

1. Globalisation:

• The nation-state and national differences are becoming less significant as the world becomes more interconnected.

• Lives are influenced by global frameworks, not confined to local contexts. This is seen in the rise of global media, multinational corporations, and the dilution of national cultures. Synoptic Links:

• Education: Increasing global influence, such as PISA rankings.

• Families: More diverse due to ease of migration.

• Crime: Globalisation leads to issues like terrorism. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• Globalisation was not a feature of modern society, which was more locally rooted and less interconnected.

2. Metanarratives (Critique of Them):

• Lyotard argues that in a postmodern society, people no longer believe in grand, all-encompassing theories (metanarratives) that explain society.

• Society is too fragmented for such theories to be applicable. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• Traditional theories like Functionalism and Marxism no longer explain the chaotic and fluid nature of contemporary society.

3. Choice, Identity, and Consumption:

• Postmodern societies are marked by individualism, where people form identities through personal choices and consumer goods rather than traditional social bonds. Synoptic Links:

• Family: Pure relationships, family diversity.

• Media and Crime: People "consume" crime, reflecting their identities. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• In modern society, choices were limited, and identities were more stable and collective.

4. Pick 'n' Mix Identities:

• People now form identities by picking and mixing from a range of global cultural elements, including fashion, music, and lifestyle choices. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• In modern society, identities were more fixed, often tied to class, gender, and nationality.

5. You Are What You Buy:

• Bauman compares life in postmodern society to a shopping mall where people construct and change their identities based on the consumer goods they buy. Synoptic Links:

• Crime and Deviance: People consume crime to shape their identities. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• In modern society, consumer choices were less varied, and identity was less tied to consumer goods.

6. Media Saturated Society:

• Baudrillard argues that we live in a media-saturated world where media images replace reality, leading to a distorted view of the world. Synoptic Links:

• Media and Reality: The line between news and entertainment is blurred. Postmodern Society Indicator:

• In modern society, media was more reflective of reality rather than distorting it.

Evaluation of Postmodernist Theory

Strengths:

• Highlights significant cultural changes, especially in media, culture, and identity.

• Emphasises the fluid and complex nature of identity in contemporary society.

• Provides insight into contemporary social changes like globalisation and the growing influence of media.

• Challenges traditional theories, prompting reflection on their relevance today. Weaknesses:

• Lacks a vision for improving society, focusing on criticism rather than solutions.

• Overemphasises the role of media, suggesting people are more passive than they are.

• Exaggerates cultural change, ignoring the persistence of traditional structures like the nuclear family.

• Ignores the role of power and social inequalities.

• Ironically, postmodernism itself can be seen as a metanarrative.

Are We Living in Late Modernity Rather Than Postmodernity?

Critiques of Postmodernism:

7. Giddens - Late Modernity and Reflexivity:

• Giddens argues that while society has changed, these changes are an intensified form of modernity, not a new era of postmodernity. He calls this "late modernity" and suggests we should adapt, not abandon traditional sociological theories.

8. Giddens on Reflexivity:

• Late modernity is characterised by social reflexivity, where individuals and institutions face greater uncertainty and must think more critically about their choices.

9. Beck - Risk Society and Reflexive Modernity:

• Beck suggests we live in a "risk society" where man-made risks (like climate change) dominate. He agrees with Giddens that reflexivity is key to managing these risks.

10. Harvey - Marxism:

• Harvey argues that many postmodern changes can be explained by Marxist theories, suggesting that postmodernism is not a new era but rather a continuation of modernity. Overall Arguments:

• Critics like Giddens, Beck, and Harvey argue that what is called postmodernism is actually modernity evolving. The changes we see can still be explained by adapting or developing traditional sociological theories.