Overview

We are not yet at a moment that could be called postmodernity, and may never be, says sociologist Ben Agger in this study. Modernity is still our history, our framework. Nevertheless, Agger shows how postmodern theory can enhance understanding of the self, everyday life, and culture in the early 21st century. Changes in culture, commerce and communications, such as the Internet, require ""postmodern"" modes of knowing. Agger borrows from French postmodern theory and from the Frankfurt School's critical theory in addressing the utility and shortcomings of postmodern theory for understanding identity, culture, race, gender and power. He explains postmodern theory, borrowing from postmodernism in order to theorise about daily life and social structures heavily reliant on information technologies like the Internet and the Web.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ben Agger
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.445kg
ISBN:  

9780742519190

ISBN 10:   0742519198
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   27 August 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

Part 1 I. Authoring Sociological Practices Chapter 2 1. Sociological Selves Write Science Fiction Chapter 3 2. What Did We Know before Sociology? Chapter 4 3. Are Authors Authored? Cultural Politics and Literary Agency in the Era of the Internet Part 5 II. Knowing Selves Chapter 6 4.The Virtual Self Chapter 7 5. Feminist Selves and the Public Sphere Chapter 8 6. Black Like Me: Racial Selves in Sociology and Social Theory Part 9 III. Postmodernities Chapter 10 7. Politics in Postmodernity: The Diaspora of Politics and the Homelessness of Political and Social Theory Chapter 11 8. Between France and Germany is Theory Chapter 12 9. Postponing the Postmodern Chapter 13 10. September 11th, 2001: After Postmodernity, the Premodern?

Reviews

Ben Agger presents a compelling narrative of why sociology must interrogate the experiences and constructions of individual selves to illuminate the contemporary moment. Suggesting new ways of seeing and doing social theory, as well as presenting synoptic overviews of a wide range of theories, Agger invites his reader to undertake new sociological adventures to betterunderstand and reconstruct self and society.--Kellner, Douglas

Author Information

Ben Agger (1952–2015) was professor of sociology and humanities, University of Texas at Arlington.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions