Postmodernism

1
Postmodernism

• 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
• 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 mans 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.

4
Postmodernism 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.

5
Post Modernism 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

6
PoMo Theory of Politics

• Identity politics more important than class and
  ideology
• People have lost faith in old met narratives
  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

7
Baudrillard (1984)

• Old Politics dead
• Politics has since become detached from reality
  all about image rather than substance
• All parties essentially the same not a real
  choice just choice of image
• Politicians and the state have no real power but
  spend enormous amounts of time and effort trying
  persuade us that they do by rehashing and
  repeating old dead ideas that no longer have
  relevance

8
Lyotard (1984)

• Identifies meta narratives or big stories from
  modern period e.g. Socialism. Capitalism,
  communism etc. No one believes in them, no longer
  relevant and none of them are true
• Politics is therefore no longer about principles.
  Instead issues that are local in origin are
  becoming more and more important
• Power comes from knowledge NOT wealth, election
  or class

9
Nancy Fraser (1995)

• The private sphere has become more important than
  the public sphere (state and economy) in politics
  today
• Identify, sexuality, gender and ethnicity have
  become the drivers which form issues in post
  modern politics
• Previously powerless groups such as gay rights,
  ethnic minorities etc. Are becoming more and more
  important in creating the issues debated in
  politics politicians increasingly have to take
  note

10
Foucault (1970s)

• Power is not found in structures like the state
  or class instead it is formed by language
• Foucault identifies discourses ways people
  talk about things. Particular discourses become
  dominant and shape our understanding of morality
  discourses therefore have power over us, and as
  we believe them we become self regulators
• Post modern power is therefore SUBTLE rather than
  the coercive power of the modern age.
• There is no fixed reality. We shape discourses'
  and eventually become out own police force
• Power is also everywhere (variable sum)
  eventually forming a net of embedded beliefs from
  which we find it impossible to break free.
• Foucault in Discipline and Power also
  identified the use of observation in schools,
  mental institution and society generally as a
  means of controlling peoples behaviour. When
  people believe they are always being watched they
  act as though they are always being watched and
  therefore conform

11
Critique

• Structuralists (like Marxists) highlight the
  continued impact of class on life chances and
  social behaviour (think back to education and
  voting behaviour for 2 examples)
• Relativism has been roundly criticised
  relativism can lead to some disturbing outcomes
  holocaust denial, conspiracy theorising.
• Lots of empirical evidence can be cited for the
  continuing importance of wealth, class and gender
  in determining life chances and access to power
• Learn More About Po-Mo!
• http//www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/theory/
  pomo.html