Are We Living in Post-Modernity Society - Essay Example

Are we living in post-modernity Society? Are we living in post-modernity Society? Introduction The question whether we live in a postmodern world has been a major issue of discussion across the globe. In the context sociology, prominence of the contemporary world largely narrows down to the concept of post modernism (Macionis & Plummer, 2011, pp. 11). Arguably, a postmodern world can be defined as a cultural change from modernism with greater emphasis on pluralism and improvement in the society. Certainly, these ideas must be pre-set on the philosophy of concepts as well as dissolution of boundaries, which formally separates the society (Jameson, 1991, pp. 19). In many instances, reality does not reflect in the understanding of new revolutions; however, it is inevitable to recognise the existing questions surrounding daily thought. In this light, the paper takes a deep look at whether we are in a post-modern society. Post-modernism Postmodernism is a change or positive disruption in the 21st century from the late modern world characterised by rapid growth and new institutional ideas. In sociology, the beliefs and practices are not transcribed by special interest groups or defined by a set of categories (Max Horkheimer, 2002, pp. 96). Evidently, post modernism relies on evidence and not ideal theories or abstract ideas. It is also not a factor of moral and religious institutions, which are responsible for shaping the society. In the contemporary UK, there exists no agreement regarding post-modernity; nonetheless, specific evidence points out various factors. In essence, the UK has had significant transformations in the wake of growth and development. Correctly understanding the facets of post modernism plays an imperative role in acknowledging the new invention (Giddens, 1998, pp. 34). In the modernism period, faith replaced human reasoning to induce discovery of truth. In the same line of argument, modernity involved replacement of myths and superstition with science and religious faith to explain different phenomenon. The question, therefore, is have we traversed from the period or still embrace the unlimited progress. Pro post modernism in the contemporary society The statement of living in post-modern acknowledges the importance of culture and resonate the main ideas of growth. Post modernism theory recommends cultural trends and dominant philosophical paradigms. It also fronts special approaches to solid beliefs towards knowledge. With regards to institutional features, access to technology and availability of information plays an inevitable role in determining whether we live in a modern or post-modern world. Arguably, the information revolution currently experienced around the world has transformed United Kingdom into a global village. It has formulated a series of organizations that encourage access to information (Jameson, 1991, pp. 24). Notably, only few places with United Kingdom have no access to the internet. The rest of the places have a sense of plurality in access to basic communication services. In this light, many people can access information within a short time without going through any trouble. In as much as late modernists like Giddens and Harvey presents opposing views in the role of technology in the society, apparently, it remains one of the notable factors in UK. Communication and personal identity methods are core issues given attention in any country. They are either responsible for holding a country together or reducing the size of coverage. It, therefore, is inevitable to escape its importance in initiating performance. Social networking sites like Facebook, Flicker, Whataspp, and Twitter has prevented the impersonal relationships existing in the traditional regimes. As a result, many people can conveniently communicate with each other without going through or passive information through someone else. In the UK over 68% of the British population have access to Facebook according to 2012 Fanalyzer assessment. Conceivably, late modern theorists identify Facebook as one of the presents from postmodernism. Many young people have access to phones, computers, iPhones and other gadgets responsible for taking people into the next era of development. A great emphasis exists in the variation of important communication methods around the world. A comparison of UKs communication system with first world countries such as the United States reveals a number of similarities (Giddens, 1998, pp. 34). These common denominators represent a path in post modernism that the country currently experience. Postmodern theorists believe anxiety to be a major characteristic of any country undergoing post modernism. People in these countries are anxious to innovate and discover new environments (Jameson, 1991, pp. 29). A postmodern society furthermore is characterised by a series of events ranging from immature discoveries to aggressive relationships. People are undecided and uncertain in the postmodern society and are always expecting different things. Bauman theories can easily be attributed to the post modernism status enjoyed by different countries around the world. Evidently, Bauman suggests that a shift that took place in the late 20th century changed the society of producers ending up with consumers (Macionis & Plummer, 2011, pp. 21). Based on Bauman’s perception, the revolution altered Feud’s modern Trade-off limiting aspects such as security and freedom. Undoubtedly, Bauman also brings into light the fact that post modernity is a factor of consumerism. Apparently, the whole world is slowly transforming into consumers. Bauman’s book Modernity and the Holocaust gives a full account of various dangers associated to modernism. In his argument, the world is enjoying post-modernity considering that it has no pre-modern barbarism or prominent regression manifested in different parts of the world. Arguably, post-modern people develop risks they are afraid to meet. The potential nuclear weapons on the offing have induced fear around the world. Countries and people often report discoveries or plans of using nuclear plants (Marcuse, 2013, pp. 49). The developments have forced people into a panic mode, as others feel happy. In as much as catastrophic fears are not clear and manifested in the UK, it is vital to note that energy development and probes of this nature are in the pipeline. According to post modernism, truth varies with the individual. It, therefore, is important to bring into perspective the practices, values and beliefs that control the new invention. Popular culture is gradually consuming postmodernism (Giddens, 1998, pp. 34). As a result, no single reason exists as to why various field should deny the existence of post modernism. The primary principle of post modernism has a broader scale connecting theory and culture. Late modernist theorists believe expansion of growth has existed in the past; however, its growth in the contemporary world is immeasurable. Freedom of expression, rights and various factors have prevailed putting the whole world into a state of confusion. Apparently, legislative, judiciary and other arms of the government act from the guidance of civil rights. In post modernism, everybody has equal rights from criminals to ordinary people. Compared to modernism and pre-modernism period where people could easily be killed for various reasons, easy ways of death have come up in the post-modern period. Apparently, convicted death sentences do not have to face hanging; however, new drugs have prevailed that allows convicts to dies easily. The previous pre-modern society show a reactionary nostalgia manifesting a new found freedom by people in the post-modern world (Jameson, 1991, pp. 31). In the view of post modernism, freedom is an inhabitants choosing; however, the affirmation of many agencies to control it has resulted into more problems rather than solutions. Certainly, freedom also implies to importance of the consumerist market in accepting or rejecting assistance such as charities. The direct competition to attain allegiance in the post-modern world has introduced a sense of togetherness and collectivisation. Notably, creation of identity is essential for any large amount of freedom. Many convincing processes have taken place that convinces people on the post-modern nature of the world. All these processes traversed from the late modern period characterised by industrialization and service growth. Individualism remains one of this aspect of post modernism that has for many decades remained clear (Marcuse, 2013, pp. 50). It is a stance that attempts to limit the moral growth and development of an individual to a person. The extent of anarchism, existentialism and liberalism in the continent has brought on light various things. For example, in many countries globally, there is no longer a struggle for liberation. Instead, many nations hold their own social groups and political control of their resources (Macionis & Plummer, 2011, pp. 44). External interference characterised by the modernism period has been replaced by self- realization. As a result, many countries have autonomy to make their own decisions that give priority to the citizen’s well-being. Societies can differ in a view to different issues; however, it is apparent that consensus is an inevitable step towards development. It is in this regards that several union organizations have prevailed to ensure countries all over the world do not work on things, which might affect or hinder the development of others. The United Nations, for example, is a body responsible for streamlining the activities of various organizations and countries for peace and development. Rather than discouraging a society minded behaviour, post modernism has an external reference to methodological advantages. Individual autonomy allows for civic liberty, which is a prime characteristic of the present world. Economies are no longer private affairs individual countries as demonstrated in the modernism and pre-modernism era. World stock markets run in different countries, but managed through central bureaus (Giddens, 1998, pp. 41). Individual people in different countries have the ability to buy stocks from diverse countries without having to travel or visit the places. Additionally, they can monitor the growth, exchanges and even make transactions easily. These are only characteristics of the post-modern era where the world appears to a global village free of geographical barriers. Interestingly, news is no longer for single countries but the whole world. News centres like BBC, CNN, and Aljazeera have extensive access to every country reporting all new activities to the world. These new developments have taken away the aspect of information isolation depicted during the modernism and pre-modernism period. The development is clearly important and has elicited improved access to information, by people globally. The greater diversity and freedom has documented a high-level media development linked to postmodernity. The feeling passes through security and trade where the world is slowly moving into a trade unit. Pre-dominant theories suggest that the world has settled into trade blocks and responsible for controlling trade across different countries (Marcuse, 2013, pp. 51). This has resulted in the formulation of UK trade unions, African trading blocks and trans-Atlantic as well as transpacific trade routes. Previously all these could not be possible as there were no modern ships or air cargo systems to carry good. For example, United Kingdom currently receives a lot of flowers from African countries while it delivers most of its finished goods to the same destinations. Western union is a current money transfer system that has significantly made it easy to send and receive money from different parts in the world. In the post-modern world, money transfer is no longer an issue but rather access to money (Giddens, 1998, pp. 62). Conceivably, this is a clear sign of the large route from the modernism phase where people relied on hard cash for any transaction. The situation is the same for security issues where countries have a joined effort to ensure stability of countries across the globe. Arguments against post modernism in the current society On the other hand, it is impossible to associate the current society to post modernism. According to the World Bank, many people in Europe, Africa and Asia live in dire poverty and still relies on assistance from donors. Post modernity markers a change in economic and social well-being (Macionis & Plummer, 2011, pp. 59). Certainly, the adamant face of the society makes it difficult to ascertain whether people re in the pre-modern or modern world. Nevertheless, the high rate of poverty and reliance on donor funding cannot warrant the existence of a post-modern society. Apparently, the world relies on different sources of power to generate electricity. Among the notable ones include hydroelectric, nuclear and geothermal. Despite the attempts to provide adequate power solutions, many people have no access to the vital structures apart from other basic commodities that play a significant role in promoting growth. From this perspective, post modernism is a hoax and joke by few rich people who have the interest of changing their own picture while others suffer. Notably, security issues remain a problem around the world. Regions have been divided along economic, faith and social lines a factor that has attracted different opinions. Despite efforts by the United Nations Security Council, it is still clear that an end is not in sight (Smith, 1999, pp. 45). There are various regions regarded as flight risks while other are painted black spots. In this light, various questions arise. For example, what changes are considered when categorising a society as post-modern and to what extent does any society suffer to be ignored? Is it possible that a society can be post-modern only through communication gadgets? If this is true does communication constitute part of the important human wants? Most importantly, it is work looking at the relationship between economic development and welfare of people. Therefore, post modernity essential but requires certain important qualities (Jean-Franois, 1984, pp. 28). Conclusion In conclusion, appreciating and embracing post modernism creates a sense of pride by recognizing the different achievement the society has undergone to the present time. if asked whether we live in a post-modern society, a would say yes with a second thought. Arguably, we live in a post-modern society because of the innovations existing in the contemporary world. For example, technological development has seen the development of communications systems and internet. Evidently, this has improved access to information and other essential products. It has also made life easy through transport systems and important appliances such as remote access services. There has also been an iadvancement in access in hospitals, schools, industries and other avenues. Currently, industries do not require human capital but rather rely on programs to maintain and complete production. Despite these achievements, many people still live in poverty and information. Therefore, alluding post modernism when many people do not enjoy it is far from the truth. Bibliography Cottrell S., 1999, The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Giddens A., 1998, Conversations with Anthony Giddens: Making Sense of Modernity, Cambridge: Polity Press Jameson, F., 1991, Postmodernism, Or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Post-contemporary interventions, Publisher Duke University Press Jean-Franois, L., 1984, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Volume 10 of Theory and history of literature, Publisher University of Minnesota Press Macionis JJ & Plummer K., 2011, Sociology: A Global Introduction5th edn, Harlow: Pearson Prentice Hall Marcuse H., 2013, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society, Routledge Classics, Publisher Routledge Max Horkheimer, W., 2002, Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments Cultural memory in the present, Publisher Stanford University Press Redman, P., 2005, Good Essay Writing: A Social Science Guide, 3rd Ed. London: Sage. Smith D., 1999, Zygmunt Bauman: Prophet of Postmodernity, Cambridge: Polity Press. Read More