Evaluate the postmodernist contribution to our understanding of society today

1. Evaluate the postmodernist contribution to our understanding of society today www.educationforum.co.uk

2. What is Modernism • The modern period is characterised as western society since the industrial revolution. • Modernity brought with it urbanisation, class stratification, ideology, growth of the nation state and bureaucracy. • It also saw the birth of sociology as an academic discipline with rational structural theories to explain how society works – positivism, functionalism, Marxism, interactionism • Modernity saw attempts to explain society, human behaviour, politics and sexuality with all embracing theories – postmodernists call such theories “grand narratives” or master narratives. Post Modernism rejects ‘master narratives’.

3. What is Postmodernism • Postmodernists like Lyotard and Bauldrillard claim that society has moved on since the modern period. This movement has been caused by: • Globalisation reducing the power of the nation state. • Economic changes fragmenting social classes and diffusing their values. • Relativism – a way of looking at the world which rejects the so called objective truth of ‘grand narratives’ one man’s truth is seen as just as valid as another's! • The rise in importance of ‘identity’. Rather than identifying with particular social classes post modernists suggest people construct their own identities like consumers in a market place, ‘picking and mixing’ as they see fit. Identity therefore becomes crucial to a person’s politics, sexuality, adopted family structure etc. • Postmodern society is therefore characterised by diversity and choice

4. Postmodernist Views of the Family • Pomos emphasises the extent to which family diversity is intensifying – decline of nuclear families, growth of single parent families, cohabitation, gay marriage, reconstituted families, increasing ethnic diversity. • This they say is the result of a ‘post modern’ era – a time of great change, fluidity and uncertainty. There is no longer any fix family ‘norm’ which everyone aspires to

5. Egs Pomo and the Family • Anthony Giddens – writes about ‘late modernity’ rather than post modernity but the effect is much the same! • In ‘late modernity’ people have far greater choice and freedom over their identity and lifestyle - decline of tradition, religion. • Relationships are based on confluent love (emotional intimacy) and expectations are if this love fails people are far more likely to move on rather than stick with an unsatisfactory relationship

6. Judith Stacey ‘contemporary family arrangements are diverse, fluid and unresolved’ Stacey welcomes the diversity of the postmodern era looking forward to the possibility of more equal and democratic relationships ‘with no script to follow’ compared to the more rigid patriarchical ones of the modern period

7. Pomo and Social Class • Social class and its influence is seen to be in ‘terminal decline’ • Society is far more diverse than it was 50 years ago – class divisions are less distinct, and the impact of class on the individual felt less keenly. • Identity constructed by the individual is more important in understanding society

8. Pomo and Politics • Pomos identify the decline of OSMs (modernist movements based on class and ideology) and celebrate the rise of NSMs based on diversity, identity and choice – environmentalism, gay rights, feminism, animal rights, civil rights • The post modernist Baudrilliard has spoken of the ‘death of politics’ – meaning the death of old politics

9. Post Modernist Theory of Politics • Identity politics more important than class and ideology • People have lost faith in old ‘metanarratives’ – big modernist theories which seek to explain society or politics – Marxism, functionalism, socialism, Conservatism etc. • Politics and economics have become globalised – NSMs therefore tend to operate globally in response • Protest, demonstration and other forms of direct action are the preferred methods of NSMs and the ‘new politics’ Revise NSMs here http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/nsms.htm

10. Evaluation • Structuralisms (like Marxists) highlight the continued impact of class on life chances and social behaviour (think back to education and voting behaviour for 2 examples) • Some NSMs (the anti global capitalist ones) seem to be following a Marxist ‘metanarrative’ • The research sample of Pomos like Judith Stacey has been criticised for not being representative of wider society • Relativism has been roundly criticised philosophically – relativism can lead to some disturbing outcomes – holocaust denial, conspiracy theorising.