Abstract The paper begins by discussing Japan's long history of tradition and its structure and composition of society before modernization. The paper studies barriers that impeded the country's entry into the modern world - the role of Japanese women, unawareness of the most important technological advances of the 20th century and arts, entertainment and the geisha culture. Next, the paper examines the Meiji era and Japan's abrupt transformation to modernity. The paper concludes by looking at how Japan has managed to retain its traditions while becoming part of the modern world.
From the Paper "The word "modernize" is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as: to make modern in appearance, style or character; to accept or adopt modern ways, ideas or style. If we utilize this definition to explain modernization, we can assume that the term refers to the application of such an action in a particular instance. At any given point in time, "modern" pertains to the latest developments in the area of discussion.
The modernization of a culture is often a difficult undertaking; the degree of difficulty involved corresponds to the rate at which that culture has developed. One of the most incredible modernization processes in the world's history occurred over less than half a century, in the still-enigmatic country of Japan."
Abstract The paper discusses how "Ulysses" can be seen as a highly significant work of modernism. The paper explains the changing role of technology in the modern age and shows how in "Ulysses" Joyce reconnects the ideas of modernism with Irish tradition. The paper demonstrates in detail how this new form was adequate to the task of embodying Ireland's oral tradition.
From the Paper "Declan Kiberd writes of Ulysses that 'Joyce set his book in the 'centre of paralysis' that was Dublin in 1904, in the conviction that if he could get to the dead heart of that city, he could render the discontents and estrangements of the modern world'. In this comment Kiberd, in fact, sheds as much light on the condition of modernity as he does on Joyce's goals in writing Ulysses. One can read, for example, his use of the word 'discontents' as indicative not only of the condition of a society of discontented citizens, but also as, quite crucially, the condition of a society which has, at its core, the inverse of 'content', in other words, absence. This would, of course, carry a number of repercussions for the age as a whole. Georg Simmel's observation in 'The Metropolis and Mental Life' that 'London has never acted as England's heart, but often as her intellect and [...] moneybag', indicates that in the modern era, it was perceived that a considerable dichotomy had grown between the intellectual and corporeal facets, and that a point had been reached at which the intellectual values of capitalism had actually subsumed corporeal, or human, values."
Abstract This paper examines the existence of the courtly love theme in popular culture. The paper refers to traditional texts, such as Chaucer's "Complaint to his Lady" and John Donne's poem, "The Canonization"; in relation to the contemporary television program, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The paper defines three essential elements of Courtly love poetry: The ennobling force of human love, the elevation of the beloved above the lover and love as ever unsatisfied, ever increasing desire. It describes that modern courtly love are usually adaptations, and that how they adapt the traditional story reflects the values and attitudes of the courtly love convention appropriate to a contemporary audience.
From the Paper "Courtly Love has developed from the later Middle Ages through to modern times as a highly conventionalised code. Examples are evident in popular culture though are usually adaptations - adopting selective aspects. This can be seen through the similar values and attitudes portrayed in the texts."
Abstract Anthony Giddens is a British sociologist and is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in the field of sociology. The author of the paper examines Giddens' view that we have not entered into a so-called post-modern era but that we are still in the late stages of modernism. The paper's author explains Giddens' viewpoint that we are in an era that is not entirely new in terms of thought and reality, as some advocates of postmodern theory would suggest. Rather, in the view of Giddens we are experiencing the ideological, theoretical and experiential aspects that mainly characterize modernism. The paper's author examines in detail Giddens' ideas and theories on this subject.
From the Paper "In conclusion all of these various ascots should be seen in terms of late-modernist period and the movement away from the risk-free stability of traditional societies. Giddens sees the new revolutionary developments in communications as the driving force behind globalization and stresses the way that society has changed and is changing in terms of the interaction between the individual and society. In this regard, globalization is also affecting aspects such as identity and intimacy in society. The aspect of risk is allied to this process in that new technologies are exploring uncertain areas in the further development of future - orientated late-modernist society"
Abstract This paper discusses the effect of modernization on East Asia. The paper discusses whether globalization, modernization and transnationalism have resulted in a loss of identity and tradition in East Asia. It concludes that East Asian cultural ideals have not been compromised and replaced by Western cultural ideals, but rather modified.
From the Paper "Globalization, modernization, transnationalism. Each of these words evokes a wide spectrum of emotion in persons across the world ranging from extreme fear for loss of identity and tradition, to optimism regarding the future of the world, to indifference--a feeling that such concepts will not likely affect life in a meaningful way. Despite various sentiments concerning these concepts, one thing remains constant: "global culture," (if such a thing exists), is highly diverse. As culture spreads from one nation to another, the effect of this unique constant seems to be assimilation rather than substitution. Two films, The Japanese Version and Eat, Drink, Man, Woman as well as one compilation of essays collectively entitled Golden Arches East: McDonald's in East Asia suggest that modernization has not replaced tradition; instead, it has initiated a series of welcomed modifications in East Asian culture, enhancing the preexisting traditional culture. These works reveal how Western influence has changed family dynamics, gender roles, and how Asians interrelate. The works examine two sides to foreign influence; they evaluate ideals that were consciously imported by Asians as well as ideals that have infiltrated Asian culture by way of American economic interest or other similar processes. Regardless of how these influences arrived in Asia, their impact is irrefutably significant and will likely shape the future of not only East Asian culture, but also global relations, particularly between the previously divided East and West."
This paper discusses the philosophy of post-modernism, a complicated set of ideas, which are a reaction against failed modern thought without a clear goal for future direction.
Abstract This paper explains that post-modern sociology and culture has arisen from the after-effects of modern thought; just as values clarification and situational ethics were watch words of the 1980s, post-modernism has become the self-identification moniker of the 21st century. The author believes that the individual is now defined in terms that are important to the individual, rather than in terms of his relationship to the surrounding culture. The paper points out that the term 'post-modernism' has its origins in architecture and art; the post-modern artist grew tired of the traditional means and, in the case of the extreme post-modern artists, accepted the premise that life itself was meaningless.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Post-Modern Definition
Post-Modern Sociology and the Resulting Contradictions
The Self as Social Construction in the Post-Modern World
Post-Modern Individualism as Products of Self-Construction
Power and the Post-Modern Self
Post-Modernism and Responsibility
Conclusion
From the Paper "Previous generations have sought to bring order and organization to the understanding of self, individualism and personal identify. The postmodernist revels in disorder, and a lack of consistent structure. The postmodern thought system has tired of looking for consistency and meaning in everyday life. Through disappointments with society, and with self, postmodern critical thinkers look to self for guidelines for life. No longer is the goal of a unified culture held as a workable or even desirable goal. Because too many people groups have varied desires and experiences of that same culture, the idea of a homogeneous self identify within the larger social order has been disguarded. The upper middle class business person can never have the same experiences of life as the inner city child growing up on welfare."
An analysis of traditional and modern societies during the European expansion, through a review of ?European Expansion and the Civilization of Modernity? written by S. N. Elsenstadt.
Abstract This paper examines modernism in Europe and the rise of socialism in non-Western societies. The paper reviews S. N. Elsenstadt's ?European Expansion and the Civilization of Modernity? and discusses Elsenstadt's arguments regarding the changes in the European expansion in non-Western societies, from being modernist to socialist, even traditionalist, societies. The paper argues that the retardation of modernism in non-Western societies is not exactly the abrupt stoppage of the European expansion.
From the Paper ""European expansion and the civilization of modernity" by S. N. Elsenstadt provides a through discussion and analysis of the dynamics concerning the European expansion, centering in particular on its effects in non-Western or Asian societies. Tracing the history of the European expansion from the emergence of industrialization to the development of capitalism in Western societies, the author seeks to determine what caused the seemingly contradicting development of the so-called "expansionist" movement of modernization in Europe. That is, instead of spreading modernization and capitalism in Asian societies, what occurred was the rise of socialism, which is a new form of society that overturns the basic premises of capitalism-in effect, modernization."
Suggests that the modern concept of power in today's organizations has been transformed from a traditional superior-subordinate relationship to one that is more loose and informal.
Abstract This paper examines how the modern concept of power in organizations has changed the role of the manager and the role of employees. The paper goes on to suggest that in today's workplace, a manager is no longer one who exercises absolute authority. The manager's role is now that of a facilitator and catalyst. As a result of this change in the concept of power, the controlling function of leadership has evolved. Today's employees enjoy a greater degree of control and power that was unheard of ten years ago.
From the Paper "In today's society, human beings are exposed to and strongly influenced by many types of power. As a result of globalization and innovative technology, managers and employees alike are seeing rapid changes in their workplaces. The changes affect millions of people personally, as they have to deal with company downsizing and learning new skills."
Abstract This paper discusses the theories of Anthony Giddens who poses a framework for sociological theory in modernity. The paper discusses his beliefs in the area of globalization, communication, the traditions of the family unit and how they have changed, and the changes in industrial society, politics, and the world. He theorizes that there is evidence that our social structure has changed and draws conclusions about the solutions. This paper discusses those concepts in depth.
From the Paper "After World War II, society began to change. Industrial America functioned toward the individual and in the manner that the individual incorporated industrial America into their lives. As these later views began to emerge theorists started to believe that the structured elements of modernism would not be sufficient to plot the way that society would function in the decades to come. Everything about society was changing so rapidly that it was impossible to place old ideas on current events as they unfolded. Therefore, postmodernists began to analyze what modern thinkers had concluded and found that it was vital for modernists to understand that their concepts of society had not vanished; they had just evolved into a broader form. It was also important to note that modernism had been adopted with the concept of recurring change incorporated into its theoretical image."
Abstract This paper describes how modern art appropriated images from so called "primitive" cultures and describes the social changes that prompted this attraction to primitive art forms. The paper also discusses some of Picasso's works and notes how these works were influenced by African culture and art.
From the Paper "A central facet of modernist art was the questioning of and dissatisfaction with the traditional views of life and art, and the concomitant rejection of established standards in the search for the new and different. Social factors such as the First World War also lent impetus to this search for alternative views of reality that was expressed in modernist art. In their search for alternative styles and means of expression, artists were attracted to the unusual and exotic. African art was one of the areas that supplied images and artistic energy that inspired many artists of the time. Artists like Picasso and Gauguin found formal ideas and images in the so-called primitive societies that resonated with energy and a new artistic rhythm."
Abstract This paper explains that, although modern Italy is changing, today it is still a country not only separated by customs and even regional dialects between South (i.e. South of Rome) and North, (i.e. Piedmont, Tuscany, etc.) but also the life styles in the many small and even remote villages and the large metropolitan areas are very different. The author points out that the country mice from Italy's small towns and villages have become more competitive and yet they still are far from becoming the so-called "sophisticates" of the big cities. The paper relates that the country mouse in today's Italy want to go to towns because, in the last two decades, Italy's economy has shifted sharply to industrial and services, which are located in the towns where more jobs are found.
From the Paper " Of course, what the Town mouse didn't mention about the advantages of the city was, in case that city was Milan, the mice could be outfitted in the most stylish fashions by some of the world's most respected designers. Milan has overtaken Paris for much of both the high-priced end, Versacci, Armani, Gucci, but in Northern Italy is the world's most successful low- and mid-priced firm, Bennetton. Perhaps both mice could become a sort of "gray" example of the Colors of Bennetton, an advertising campaign that, if not everyone agrees with it, certainly has people talking. And, the country mouse can brag that Bennetton started, and is still located in a small town not too far from Venice."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that for Alistair MacLeod, oral tradition helps in finding identity and finding meaning in lost roots. The writer points out that in King's stories, oral tradition creates a link with the next generation and is the main way to keep the Native culture alive. The writer notes that the kind of knowledge that comes from oral tradition is precious. Once it is gone it cannot be replaced. Further, the writer claims that oral tradition is more than history because it creates bonds with the past that keeps people human.
From the Paper "Oral tradition is simple but it is very rich because of the information it contains. Oral history is "a field as ancient and richly varied as humanity. Its living roots lie in the oral traditions of aboriginal peoples, which bear not only their histories, but also their ways of understanding the world and their place in it". Oral tradition gave more than knowledge about the world. It offered a way of living."
Abstract This paper discusses whether traditional healers and their practices can be reconciled with the mainstream bio-medical health care community. The author points out that the bio-medical establishment has always been critical of alternative medicines and treatments. The paper relates that recent studies indicate that the future expansion or decline of traditional healing will ultimately be determined by public acceptance or rejection on a global scale, not by local doctors or traditional healers.
From the Paper "In examining whether traditional healers and their practices can be reconciled with the biomedical health care community, it is evident that the mainstream biomedical establishment has always been critical of alternative medicines and treatments. But it is also evident from recent studies that the future expansion or decline of traditional healing will ultimately be determined by public acceptance or rejection on a global scale, not by local doctors or traditional healers (Vitebsky 276-279)."
Abstract This is a biographical paper on Niel Gow, a famed Scottish fiddler of the 18th century. Drawing on books and articles, the paper paints a picture of this historical figure and his immense influence on both Scottish traditional music and folk music in the Scotch-Irish tradition.
This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts
2,650 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 97.95
Abstract This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts. Referring to the post-colonial and feminist theory, the author of this paper analyzes women's writing as a reflection of traditions with story-telling, women's "voice," and histories that are particular to women and Caribbean culture.
