presentation on modernism &postmodernism

modernism and postmodernism

1. Modernism and Post-Modernism

2. What is modernity Modernity is the term used by sociologists to describe the “modern” period which began in Europe around the year 1650 and ended in around 1950. This period was defined by scientific, technological, and socioeconomic changes that started in Europe.

3. Key features of modern societies  Industrialization and the rise of capitalist society It encompasses economic production , with social class as the main form of social division.  Social classes are based on people’s social and economic position. Marx viewed that in industrial society people were divided into two main classes, those who owned businesses and those who sold their labor to them ( bourgeoisie and proletariats ). Urbanisation Owing to the development of industries and mass production between the 18 th and 20 th centuries, people moved to cities to find better jobs and income opportunities. C ultural exchange and diversity was seen , as people from different backgrounds come into contact and interact within the urban environment. Cities served as centres for globalization, where global cultural trends, ideas, and practices converge.

4. Science and rationality K nowledge is derived from scientific and rational thinking rather than religious faith, magic or superstition.  P eople have looked to science and logical reasoning to explain the world. E.g., natural disasters such as earthquakes, have tended to be explained scientifically rather than as an “act of god”. Technology and m ass media development With the proliferation of mass media through radio, TV, and print media, people started knowing about worldly affairs, started getting influenced by the Western culture and ways of living and adopted Western lifestyles. A dvanced technological infrastructure, including transportation networks, communication systems, and utilities became observable. These infrastructures shape patterns of mobility, access to information, and social interactions.

5. Social structural changes The belief in development and progress, forward-looking attitude, the dependence on rationality and reason have led to a lot of social structural changes. Thus, routine behaviour on a day-to-day basis altered and changed as science and technology developed. This is because technological innovations and inventions since the Enlightenment altered the entire fabric of the world, restricting itself to large well-developed towns, cities, and metropolitans.

6. On a personal level, people became more individualistic and self-centered. M echanical solidarity has given way to organic solidarity to use the terms coined by Durkheim. Weber’s concept of rationalization has pervaded the modern world and given rise to a precise type of thinking. Further urbanism saw large-scale migrations. Discipline, secularity, alienation, anomie and the iron cage of bureaucracy are all parts of the organic structure of bureaucratic organization in the modern world.

7. Emergence of Postmodernism Postmodernism emerged as a reaction to and critique of modernism, which dominated intellectual and cultural discourse throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries. The main difference between modernism and postmodernism is that postmodernism is a reaction against the belief in objective truth that was characteristic of modernism. Postmodernists believe that there is no such thing as objective reality, and that all knowledge is  socially constructed . Postmodernism emphasizes that people construct knowledge and truth through discourse and lived experiences.  T here can be no definite truth in science, only a large number of “narratives” and “perspectives.”

8. It is in contrast to most other sociological theories in that it rejects the Enlightenment project of seeking to understand and control society through the application of rational thought. To a postmodernist thinker, society cannot be understood in a rational way, because they are subject to constant change. It is characterized by extreme subjectivism, broad cynicism, hostility toward reason, and a propensity to attribute cultural norms to the ideologies of elites.

9. Postmodernism denies modernism’s trust in technology and science as vital instruments of human advancement. They even hold that logic and reason are inherently oppressive and destructive because evil individuals have such faculties to oppress and destroy others. The horrors of World War II, including the use of atomic bombs, shattered faith in the rationality and moral superiority of modern civilization. This led to skepticism about grand narratives and the idea of human progress. The Chornobyl disaster , which occurred in 1986, had profound socio-cultural impacts that contributed to the rise of postmodernist thought. While the disaster itself was a result of a combination of technical failures and human errors within the Soviet nuclear power system, its aftermath revealed deeper societal and ideological implications that resonated with postmodernist critiques. It created d istrust in Authority and Expertise.

10. The above incident in history highlighted the role of media in shaping public perceptions and constructing reality. Western media coverage of the disaster differed significantly from the Soviet government's official narrative, leading to conflicting accounts of the event. This discrepancy underscored the subjective nature of truth reflecting postmodernist concerns about the instability of meaning and the plurality of interpretations. Modernism had held that logic and reason were universally valid, and that they could be applied to any domain of knowledge. Postmodernists however, view even logic and reason as merely conceptual constructs applicable only within their respective intellectual traditions.

11. Key features of postmodernist era Globalization G lobalization  encompasses the interconnectedness of society due to the development of telecommunication networks. It has brought people closer together transcending geographical barriers and time zones. It changed the way individuals interact all over the world, both in professional and social settings. E.g., International travel, remote work options, online collaborations, trade According to sociologist  Ulrich Beck , due to globalising systems, we are in an information society; however, we are also in a  risk society . Beck claimed that globalisation's ability to bring people closer together presents many man-made risks, most notably the increased threat of terrorism, cybercrime, surveillance, and environmental damage. Consumerism Postmodernists argue that today's society is consumerist. They assert that we can construct our own lives and identities through the same processes that are used when we go shopping. We can 'pick and mix ' parts of our identities according to what we like and want. Individuals are accustomed to a multitude of choices and opportunities for what they want to do in life.

12. E.g., At 22, an individual graduates with a marketing degree may work in a marketing department in a big company. After a year, they may decide to move to sales instead and progress to the management level in that department. Alongside this role, the individual is a fashion enthusiast looking to create sustainable clothing brands by working beyond working hours. This exemplifies the fundamental differences between modern and postmodern societies. We can make choices that suit our interests, preferences, and curiosities, rather than what is simply functional/traditional. This leads to fragmentation. Fragmentation  refers to the breaking down of shared norms and values, leading to individuals adopting more personalised and complex identities and lifestyles. An English-speaking British citizen travels to Italy for a job opportunity, learns Italian, and adopts Italian culture. He marries an English and Malay-speaking Singaporean national who is also working in Italy. After a few years, the couple moves to Singapore and has kids who grow up speaking English, Malay and Italian, and practicing traditions from each culture. This leads to cultural diversity.

13. Decreasing relevance of metanarratives M etanarratives   are broad ideas and generalizations about how society works. It is about the skepticism and critique directed towards grand, overarching narratives that claim to explain the entirety of human experience, history, or knowledge. Examples of metanarratives are  functionalism ,  Marxism ,  feminism . For instance , f unctionalism posits that society is composed of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and equilibrium. It suggests that social institutions such as family, education, and health serve specific functions that contribute to the overall functioning of society. However, this may not be true in present scenario. E.g., commercialization and corruption in medical sector, gender discrimination between male and female child amidst family. Hence, p ostmodernism questions the validity and authority of meta-narratives, arguing that they often serve the interests of dominant groups or ideologies.

14. Criticisms of postmodernism Some sociologists claim we are not in a postmodern era but simply in an extension of modernity.  Anthony Giddens  in particular states that we are in a period of late modernity and that the main social structures and forces that existed in modernist society continue to shape current society. The only caveat is that certain ‘issues’, such as geographical barriers, have less prominence than before. Ulrich Beck   argued we are in a period of second modernity, not postmodernity. He argues that modernity was an industrial society, and that second modernity has replaced this with an 'information society’. Postmodernist claim that social structures do not dictate our life choices may not be universally correct ; many people are still constrained by socioeconomic status, gender, and race. People are not as free to construct their own identities as postmodern theorists believe.

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