Characteristics of Modernity and Modern Society in Australia

Week 3 Tutorial questions
1. What is modernity? What is modernisation? It is used to describe complex range of phenomena associated with changes that separated contemporary society from earliar societies. Modernisation is processes that lead to modernity. It is the key characteristics of modernity there are ten dimensions of modernity, five associated with structures and five that reflect changing relationships. Characteristic 1: the rise of rationality Characteristic 2: a belief in science Characteristic 3: the nation-state Characteristic 4: the emergence of class structures Characteristic 5: the belief in progress. Characteristic 6: the rise of the indivdual and choice. Characteristic 7: self expression and identity. Characteristic 8: changing forms of power.
Characteristic 9: control
Characteristic 10: the private sphere
2. Respond to the statement ''Australia is a modern society" ? Explain your answer by reflecting on the way Australia society is both modern and traditional simutaneously.
Australia today is I would say a moden society because back when hundreds and thousands of people arrived in Australia after the First World War they were greatly influenced on Australia becoming a modern society. The people that migrated into Australia bought their skills, commitment to family, education and their own cultural values. The years between the First and Second World Wars saw the emegence of cultural diversity in Australian society that was characterised by a expanded migration of people, especially men from southern Europe, the Adriatic and the Mediterrean.
Australia is both modern and traditional because the people living in this country all come from multi cultural backgrounds. Their traditional backgrounds influence people which therefore creates Australia to be a traditional country. All over the country we see multi culturalism everywhere, this can be from the food we eat e.g. Australia has a variety of different types of restaurants that offer traditional foods. Australia is also a modern society because of our living standards. In this country everyone has the freedom of speech and everyone has their own independance.
3. Briefly outline the two keys ways of studying power.
One key way of studying power would be the modern day philosopher Alessandra Tanesini (1999) points out that this type of power revolves around the ability of a sovereign government to coerce you. That is, to pressure or intimidate you into doing something that may well be against your wishes.
The process of unmasking power in a more sophisticated way, is Antonio Gramsci and Italian theorist and activist who wrote his most influential work in the 1930s. Gramsci's insights have much to offer us in terms of understanding power, the world and how to change.
The step in uncovering how power operates in our contemporary society is looking at how enters our bodies, our relationships and our minds. French philosopher Michael Foucault (1926-84). Foucalt's project was to write a critique of our historical era, problematising modern forms of knowledge, rationality, social institutions and subjectivity. Though these aspects of our life seem 'natural' or 'true', they are socially constructed by power.
4. The third aspect of power that Foaucalt discussed was 'biopower' and it refers to the way we personally 'embody' power relations in our society. Reflect on two ways that you personally have embodied some power relations (think about your family relations, grooming habits and so on).