Theories of Modernity and Postmodernity - Bryan S.

This book encapsulates the recent debate on the concepts of modernity and postmodernity. Moving beyond speculative discussion, it explores the idea of postmodernism at two levels: by relating the debate over postmodernity to the nature of modern societies and contemporary politics.;Arguments over modernism and its aftermath are traced to their origins in art, architecture and literature. The authors then focus on the contribution of sociology to this cultural dispute, both through the classical theories of Weber and Simmel and in more recent theory. They examine the version of modernist rationality defended in Habermas's critical theory and contrast it with the theoretical work of Lyotard and Baudrillard. The theme of nostalgia as a response to modernization is explored in terms of the loss of traditional values, the crises of modern society and the rise of sociology.;The discussion concludes with an exploration of the implications of these arguments for politics, citizenship, the status of women and social change. Throughout, "Theories of Modernity and Postmodernity" demonstrates the connections between traditional problems of sociological theory and the contemporary debate around modernity.