Learning on ScreenFrom Modernity to Postmodernity
- Synopsis
- Provides an introduction to postmodern theory which has has identified fundamental cultural and social changes that have transformed the nature of contemporary societies and, at the same time, raised provocative questions about many of sociology’s most cherished concepts and ambitions. The video is divided into four self-standing sections.
1. Modernity and Sociology: The first section examines what sociologists mean by modernity and illustrates how sociology grew out of, and is still influenced by, this ‘modern way of thinking’. But why do some theorists argue that modernity is dissolving and we are moving into a different type of society? What’s changed?
2. From Modernity to Postmodernity? This section explores the idea that ‘modernity’ has given way to a new ‘postmodern condition’. It uses mainly lay interviews and documentary material to compare living in the 60’s with the present day and identifies a contemporary world of greater personal freedom and choice, more fragmentated identities and uncertainty. There is little theoretical discussion at this stage. Rather, the aim of this section is to place these issues into the context of students’ everyday lives and to stimulate discussion.
3. Postmodernity and Sociology: The third part focuses on the postmodern view of the media saturation of contemporary societies and its impact on the way people think about themselves and the world. It then examines the ‘postmodern’ idea that as the institutional order of societies has become increasingly fragmented and diverse, the generalisations sociologists typically make about social institutions and the comparisons they make between different social groups become increasingly difficult to sustain. The final part of the video uses a case study of gender to compare ‘modernist’ and ‘postmodern’ interpretations.
4. Postmodernity and the Enlightenment: The video began by looking at sociology’s origins in modernity and the philosophy of the Enlightenment. The final section returns to these ideas looking at and evaluating the postmodern critique of sociology’s attempt to provide rational and critical understanding of how societies work and change. - Series
- Understanding Sociology, Series
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Year of production
- 1999
- Documentation
- Accompanying study guide with teacher’s notes.
- Uses
- A-level and undergraduate sociology.
- Subjects
- Sociology
- Keywords
- cultural theory; Enlightenment; Modernism; postmodernism; contemporary society
Distribution Formats
- Type
- DVD
- Format
- Region 2 PAL
- Price
- £44.00
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 40 minutes
- Year
- 2008
- Type
- VHS
- Format
- PAL
- Price
- £44.00
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 40 minutes
- Year
- 2008
Distributor
- Name
Halovine Video
- enquiries@onlineclassroom.tv
- Web
- http://www.onlineclassroom.tv/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 0845 505 0664
- Fax
- 0845 505 0664
- Address
- PO Box 104
Hinkley
Leics
LE10 2WW - Notes
- In 2008 Halovine rebranded and became part Online Classroom
- Name
Uniview Worldwide
- sales@uniview.co.uk
- Web
- http://www.uniview.co.uk External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 0151 648 9988
- Address
- PO Box 20
Hoylake
Wirral
CH48 7HY - Notes
- NB. Uniview ceased trading at the end of July 2016. Some of the products previously distributed by them are available from Short Cuts TV: http://www.shortcutstv.com/
Record Stats
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