Tag Archives: giddens

Postmodernism – An Introduction for A-level Sociology Students

Posted on August 5, 2017 by

Postmodernism is an intellectual movement that became popular in the 1980s, and the ideas associated with it can be seen as a response to the social changes occurring with the shift from modernity to postmodernity. Postmodernists claim that the classic … Continue reading →

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What is the Sociological Imagination?

Posted on August 2, 2017 by

A brief summary of, and elaboration on Anthony Giddens’ take on what the sociological imagination involves…  Learning to think sociologically means cultivating the sociological imagination.  Studying sociology cannot be just a routine process of acquiring knowledge.  A sociologist is someone … Continue reading →

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Giddens – What is Sociology?

Posted on August 1, 2017 by

A summary of Giddens’ ‘Sociology’ (2017): The Introduction ‘The world we live in today can feel liberating and exciting but, at the same time confusing and worrying. Global communications and friendships across national boundaries are in many ways easier to … Continue reading →

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Structuration Theory – A Summary

Posted on March 10, 2017 by

From a structurationist perspective, a social theory must explain both social reproduction (social order being reproduced over time by people continuing to act in ways inherited from the past) and social transformation (how social order is changed by people, intentionally … Continue reading →

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Giddens’ Structuration Theory – A Summary

Posted on March 2, 2017 by

  Social Structure is also only ever the outcomes of practices which have previously happened, and it makes practices possible (the duality of structure), and it is not separate from action. Giddens rejects Positivism because of its mistaken search for … Continue reading →

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Chas and Dave on Modern Relationships

Posted on January 2, 2017 by

Chas and Dave may not realise it, but I think many of their songs demonstrate how their (working class male) experience of the shift in gender-relations and the emergence of the pure relationship hasn’t been a comfortable one… ‘London Girls’ … Continue reading →

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Anthony Giddens on Late Modernism – Introductory Questions

Posted on June 19, 2016 by

A few ‘pop’ questions to introduce students to some of Giddens’ core concepts in an easy and accessible manner… Think about Globalisation – is there a ‘political, economic and/ or social structure at the global level, or is the world … Continue reading →

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Giddens: Modernity and Self-Identity – Introduction and Chapter One (A Summary)

Posted on May 27, 2016 by

Anthony Giddens is one of the world’s leading sociologists and one of the main critics of Postmodern thought – and should be taught as part of the second year A level Sociology module in Theory and Methods. Below is a … Continue reading →

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Giddens – Modernity and Self-Identity

Posted on March 28, 2016 by

A brief summary of Anthony Giddens’ work on the relationship between the self and society in late-modern age. Self-identity, history, modernity. Drawing on a therapeutic text – ‘Self-Therapy’ by Janette Rainwater – Giddens selects ten features which are distinctive about … Continue reading →

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Sociological Perspectives on Romance, Love and Modern Relationships

Posted on March 8, 2016 by

If a couple were to discuss honestly how a modern ‘pure relationship’ is likely to pan out then the conversation might go something like this…. Covers concepts such as reflexivity, the pure relationship and confluent love.  

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