Modernity & its consequences

Giddens rejects the idea of that we are now in an era of post-modernity in society, instead he argues that we are now at a stage of late or high modernity. His argument suggests that although major social institutions (such as media) are developing, creating rapid changes on a global scale, it does not indicate that we have entered a new era of post-modernity. In Giddens book, ‘The Consequences of Modernity’ he outlines these consequences, stating how modernity is globalising to form a universe of events which involve both risk and hazard (pg177). In this high modern societal state, we are now receptive to influences and relations from an international scale. We no longer need to have meet people to communicate. This opens up to us a high number of risks and consequences. Society is unstable and therefore our identities are too.

Giddens refers to the lifting of social interactions from a local to a global context as disembedding. (1) Information and ideas from social institutions such as the media do not simply reflect society, but contribute to its formation. This idea is central to Giddens idea of reflexivity. It is concepts such as these which apply to the field of media studies.