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 18th and 20th
centuries, people moved to cities to find better jobs and income opportunities. Cultural
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
Knowledge is derived from scientific and rational thinking rather than religious faith,
magic or superstition. People 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 mass 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.
Advanced 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. Mechanical 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. There 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 distrust 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
Globalization 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
Metanarratives 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, functionalism 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, postmodernism 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.

15. Thank You