The document discusses Ulrich Beck's theory of "Risk Society" which argues that modern society is increasingly preoccupied with future hazards and insecurities caused by modernization itself. Beck asserts that as technology advances, it introduces new risks like viruses or data breaches that require additional technological "solutions" like anti-virus software or privacy measures, thereby perpetuating a cycle of risk creation and mitigation driven by techno-scientific progress. The document provides examples of how everyday life increasingly relies on technology while also facing technological threats, leading to a "culture of warnings" about various risks.

2. introduction
• Contemporary critical has had to negotiate
with the with massive environmental disaster,
industrial disaster, 9/11 and other cataclysmic
events.
• Much contemporary theory examines the role
such events play in culture. One of the most
influential of such theories is that of Risk
society.

3. example
• PC
• NOTICE that both risks and solution are embedded
in the same system.
• Do you see the use of technology as risky, and that
same technology asks you to buy more perfection
to avoid risks???
Risk: ‘ Virus’, “ illegal operation’, ‘corruption of hard disc and so on.
Solution: contact the help centre, download anti- virus, update
your PC etc

4. Risk Society
Risk Society:
towards a
new
Modernity
(1992)
-ULRICH BECK

5. Definition:
A Risks society is a society
increasingly
preoccupied with the
future ( and also with
the safety) which
generates the notion of
Risk.
- Anthony Giddens

6. “A Risk society is a systematic way of dealing with
hazards and insecurities induced and introduced by
modernization itself” – ULRICH BECK

7. Risk Society: towards a new Modernity
(1992)
-ULRICH BECK
As soon as risks became real they become
disaster.
Example: Indian Cricket Batting line up
‘RISKS ARE POTENTIAL DISASTERS’

8. TECHNOCULTURE in everyday life
 We live in increasingly
technolosized world.
 Everyday life Shopping
to Education depends
heavily on technology.
 Communication- mobile
 Online shopping
 Entertainment
 Access of information
 commerce

12. Technological threats
Weapons of mass destruction
9/11 attack, other terrorist attack
These threats are solved using more
technological systems and machines, which
in turn generates more risks.

14. culture of warnings

15. • Risk of releasing confidential informations (
credits cards, residential address etc)
• Moral panics about childrens
• Cyberstalk

16.  Beck begins by ‘suggesting that technoscience in industrial
society has generated numerous dangers.
 Industrial society is based on the production and distribution
of goods which are required to fill the ‘scarcity’ within
society.
 Society is based on scarcity and the removal of scarcity can
handle goods and needs only when they catualize, as
‘visible’.
 Such a system can not handle the risks and hazards of
industrial production and dustribution.
 But as long as risk is secondary to scarcity or needs industrial
society has no problems.