Lydia
Lydia Bravo-Taylor
SOC 400
11/28/12
The Problems with Postmodernism Many theorists claim that we are now living in a postmodern society. What does this mean exactly? While theorists try to explain it, it seems that it is still unclear to them as what postmodernism really means. Postmodernism is the idea that our society is distinct from the past, and means “after modern”. Postmodernists aren't concerned with describing the social system, except where it breaks down. They tend to have a more philosophical approach to sociology, and discuss how socialization is fragmented due to more things being virtual and artificial/fake. However, it is increasingly also about individualism and localism. Essentially, postmodernists claim that we broke off from the modern era, and now live in a postmodern era. Many social changes have occurred but none of them warrant a break from modernity. While certain qualitative elements have definitely changed over time, we do not need to have a break off or label this part of history as postmodern. One thing that has changed is the way sociologists, or critical theorists, look at things. The transformation of society has been gradual. While there are more things to measure electronically, like social networks on the internet and how technology has changed our lives, this era does not deserve to be broken off from the modern era. The social change over the past century doesn't constitute a transition from modernity because while there has been great change, there is nothing that makes it, necessarily, 'postmodern', in nature. This is simply a label that has been used to try to explain the rapid social change that is continually happening. Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, the classical theorists discuss the trends that the postmodernist' claim to only be recent, and distinct from the modern era. For example, urbanization, industrialization, and the advancement of capitalism and changes in social solidarity were addressed by the classical
SOC 400
11/28/12
The Problems with Postmodernism Many theorists claim that we are now living in a postmodern society. What does this mean exactly? While theorists try to explain it, it seems that it is still unclear to them as what postmodernism really means. Postmodernism is the idea that our society is distinct from the past, and means “after modern”. Postmodernists aren't concerned with describing the social system, except where it breaks down. They tend to have a more philosophical approach to sociology, and discuss how socialization is fragmented due to more things being virtual and artificial/fake. However, it is increasingly also about individualism and localism. Essentially, postmodernists claim that we broke off from the modern era, and now live in a postmodern era. Many social changes have occurred but none of them warrant a break from modernity. While certain qualitative elements have definitely changed over time, we do not need to have a break off or label this part of history as postmodern. One thing that has changed is the way sociologists, or critical theorists, look at things. The transformation of society has been gradual. While there are more things to measure electronically, like social networks on the internet and how technology has changed our lives, this era does not deserve to be broken off from the modern era. The social change over the past century doesn't constitute a transition from modernity because while there has been great change, there is nothing that makes it, necessarily, 'postmodern', in nature. This is simply a label that has been used to try to explain the rapid social change that is continually happening. Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, the classical theorists discuss the trends that the postmodernist' claim to only be recent, and distinct from the modern era. For example, urbanization, industrialization, and the advancement of capitalism and changes in social solidarity were addressed by the classical