A-Level Sociology:
Modernity = Industry, science, progress, fixed identities.
Postmodernity = Media, globalisation, choice, fluid identities.
From steam engines to selfies — society’s changed, and so has how we study it. 
#Sociology #Modernity #Postmodernity

Modernity vs Postmodernity: Understanding the Shift in Society

A-Level Sociology Blog

Sociology is full of big ideas, and few are bigger than the concept of modernity and its slippery sibling, postmodernity. These terms describe major shifts in how societies are structured and how people think about the world. But what do they actually mean — and why should sociology students care?

Let’s break it down.

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🔧 What Is Modernity?

Modernity refers to a historical period and a way of thinking that emerged during the Enlightenment (18th century) and was shaped by the Industrial Revolution. Think steam engines, factories, mass education, and scientific breakthroughs.

Key Features of Modernity:

• Rational thinking and science replace superstition and religion as the main ways of understanding the world.

• Industrialisation creates urbanisation, with people moving from farms to factories.

• Bureaucracy and the nation-state grow to organise society.

• Social class becomes the key form of inequality.

• Progress and certainty — the belief that human society can improve through knowledge and planning.

Sociologists Associated with Modernity:

• Emile Durkheim – focused on how modern societies maintain social order.

• Karl Marx – saw capitalism as the defining feature of modern society.

• Max Weber – analysed how rationality and bureaucracy shaped modern life.

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🤹 What Is Postmodernity?

Postmodernity describes the cultural and social conditions that emerged in the late 20th century — after (or alongside) modernity. It’s a world of consumerism, global media, and identity fluidity. Some say it's a continuation of modernity with a twist. Others say it's a total break.

Key Features of Postmodernity:

• Globalisation blurs national boundaries and spreads culture instantly.

• Media saturation means reality is shaped by images, advertising, and the internet.

• Identity becomes fluid – no longer fixed by class, gender, or religion.

• Scepticism of truth – postmodern thinkers reject the idea of one "true" narrative.

• Hyper-reality – we often experience a simulated world (think social media filters or reality TV).

Sociologists and Thinkers of Postmodernity:

• Jean Baudrillard – talked about hyperreality and simulations.

• Lyotard – argued there are no universal truths, just competing "narratives."

• Zygmunt Bauman – described the "liquid" nature of modern life and relationships.

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🔍 So What’s the Difference?

Feature	Modernity	Postmodernity
Time Period	18th–20th century	Late 20th century onwards
Key Driver	Science, industry, rationality	Media, globalisation, consumer culture
Truth	Objective, discoverable	Relative, constructed
Identity	Fixed (class, gender, nation)	Fluid and multiple
Social Change	Progress through reason	Unpredictable and fragmented

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🎓 Why It Matters for A-Level Sociology

Understanding the difference between modernity and postmodernity helps you:

• Analyse how society has changed over time.

• Understand how different sociological theories apply to different eras.

• Evaluate whether classical theories (like Marxism or Functionalism) still apply today.

For example, postmodernists argue that grand theories like Marxism are outdated because society is too diverse and fragmented. But modernists claim we still need structure to explain inequality and power.

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🧠 Final Thought

Are we really living in a postmodern world — or is it just modernity with better Wi-Fi and ironic memes? That’s up to you to decide. Either way, grasping this shift is key to tackling those tricky 10-mark and 20-mark essay questions.