Modernity and Sociological Theory
This is the first part of a two-part series looking at the relationship between modernity, postmodernity and the development of sociological theory. In Part 1 (Modernity) the focus is on: Part 2 (Postmodernity) is available here. Sociology and Modernity “Sociology”, according to Taylor (2000), “is a product of modernity”; its origins as an academic discipline […]
Sociology ShortCuts: Reflexive Modernisation
In this ShortCut Professor Brian Wynne (Lancaster University) extends his introduction to Beck’s concept of Risk Society by developing the idea of reflexive modernisation. While this film will be a bit more “difficult” for a-level students the ideas Wynne discusses can be made more-accessible by relating them to various contemporary real-world examples – these range […]
Amoral Panics: Part 3
While the two previous posts looked at moral panics from two different perspectives (“from below” in the case of interpretivist approaches and “from above” in the case of hegemonic neo-Marxist positions) a different way of looking at the concept, developed by Waiton (2008), is to consider contemporary forms of panic in the context of a […]
Modernity and Postmodernity
Don’t know your Foundationalism from your Anti-Essentialism? Your agile corporation from your Post-Fordist or, indeed your simulacra from your elbow? If reality causes you confusion (but you’ve got a sneaking suspicion “The Truth” is out there, somewhere) then this free book chapter (taken from A2 Sociology for AQA), is probably just what you need to start […]
Using Analogies in A-level Sociology
Analogies are a useful teaching tool in sociology for a number of reasons: They can help students to understand something complex and unfamiliar by using ideas that are relatively simple and familiar. They can be used to engage students in collaborative work, the outcome of which is an expansion of their knowledge and understanding through […]