The paper starts by explaining what it means to be “an individual” by reflecting the changes that have occurred throughout history as much as the perception of individuality is concerned. It also describes the meaning of consumerism in the present days. More so, by giving examples, it contrasts the role of consumerism in the modern day with the earlier form of society. Finally, it explains in details the meaning of the concept "networked individualism," its opportunities and challenges it has to the lives of people.
1.(a) Your author states that what it means to be "an individual" has changed over the course of history, from one that is prescribed to one that is formed by the individual. Explain what this means
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
It means perception concerning an individual has changed from feudal social relations to a dimension where an individual can determine their personality in the late modernity. In other words, individualism has changed from a feudal social relationship to a reflexive individualism. What it means to be an individual has dramatically changed in today's world compared to the past. For example, how individuals are valued within the community and establishments of their rights is a critical factor that shows a lot of changes have taken place when it comes to the perception of individualism (Wessels, 2014). Therefore, the relationship between an individual and society greatly influences the significance of understanding the meaning of individuality.
The sense of individuality is highly reinforced in the transitions to a globalized, post-imperial and post-industrial world. The way the achievements and fulfillment of individuals are identified in the society is dependent on their constant quest for their new experiences. The dynamics of various dimensions and trends in industrial society has resulted in a highly individualized society. In the late modernity, an individual is reflexive simply because individualism's social relations and structures are less fixed and very open to interpretations ("MTV Decade," 2018). Additionally, in the late modernity, individual constructs their individuality through the process of establishing an identity.
More so, an individual's insight of social relation to individualism has changed in contemporary society. For example, an individual has an opportunity to freely choose a life that is liberated traditional and personal obligations ("Lost 50s - Full Documentary", 2018). However, an excellent liberalized individualism can only be achieved through increasing individual's institutionalization. By liberating an individual from traditional ties makes an individual dependent on market mechanisms (Wessels, 2014). When an individual is in an individuated situation has to participate in several aspects such as consumer cultures to construct his or her individuality.
2. (a) Describe what is the role of consumerism in the modern day. (b) Contrast this with the role of consumerism in an earlier form of society. (c)Provide examples for each.
Consumerism plays several significant roles in modern society. It controls the entire economy of the country and how individual should consume everything each day. Also, consumerism ensures that the marketplace is capable of providing social justice at all time by encouraging fair economic practices. In other words, it regulates studies and controls the whole market. As results, it establishes higher demands for both goods and services. Most importantly, the central role of consumerism is to drive the economic growth of the country.
In the modern society, consumerism plays great and essential roles than in the earlier form of community. For example, currently, consumerism has created mass markets and cultural attitudes (Wessels, 2014). The approach ensures that the available incomes can purchase an ever-growing output in the modern society unlike in the earlier form of the community. Again, in the previous kind of society, consumerism fails to utilize the available resources on shopping for services and goods that are produced far from home. Unlike the earlier form of community, consumerism eliminates bias among the people in the modern day. As a result, it gives people the opportunity to make different choices and become happier at the end of it all.
In the modern day, consumerism controls the new form of taxation unlike in the earlier kind of society. For example, in the modern day, consumerism controls the impositions that are designed to minimize and eradicate destructive consumerist behaviors (Hymel, 2016). Another example is where consumerism establishes high gasoline taxes as a reasonable approach of reducing consumption of low-efficiency cars in the modern world (Hymel, 2016). More so, in the modern day, consumerism touches on the sense of alienation in case individuals participates or fails to participate in consumer society unlike in the earlier form of society. In the modern way of society, consumerism feeds alienation in case the relation between individuals is commoditized and that people are estranged from each other.
3. (a) What is the meaning behind the concept "networked individualism"? (b) Provide an example. (c) What kinds of opportunities and challenges present themselves for personal lives?
The networked individualism is the connection of individuals using modern forms of information and communications technology. In other words, it is an aspect that connects people through the advent of the internet which is fostered by an increased evolution of social media networks. It also means an operating system spanning connection and exchange of information. The concept of networked individualism aims at reshaping the whole aspect of social interaction. The modern world of networked individualism entails a more fragmented network that offers on-demand succor. It is an approach where individuals incorporate internet and mobile phones in their ways of interactions with each other ("5 Crazy Ways Social Media Is Changing Your Brain Right Now", 2018). The person is the one under the focus when it comes to the world of networked individualism and not the family or the social group.
Nowadays, the internet is an integral part of individuals in their everyday life. Therefore, anybody who is not connected to the internet is excluded from the mainstream of the community. For example, according to the recent survey, the statistics show that over 73% of America adults are connected to the internet and social media platforms (Wessels, 2014). As a result, networked individualism is expanding day after the other at quite high levels.
The concept of networked individualism has a lot of opportunities to the personal lives of individuals. Firstly, it allows people to connect with their friends and embed information from different social media ("1920's - What the Future Will Look Like", 2018). The concept also gives individuals an opportunity to know who they are connected to and what exactly their interests are. It also offers individuals a chance to engage themselves in innovation activities.
The concept of networked individualism poses a lot of challenges to the lives of society members. For example, in some cases, it exposes illegal content to individuals ("The Sixties - The Years That Shaped a Generation (TV) [2005]", 2018). Most social media platforms may contain illegal content which individuals can access unintentionally. As a result, it ends up creating immorality in the society. More so, the concept of networked individualism poses significant risks of incitement and harm. For example, some websites usually incite their users to harm themselves ("The Sixties - The Years That Shaped a Generation (TV) [2005]", 2018). Furthermore, the idea contributes highly to the infringement of human rights and defamation.
References
1920's - What The Future Will Look Like. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czr-98yo6RU&feature=youtu.be
5 Crazy Ways Social Media Is Changing Your Brain Right Now. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HffWFd_6bJ0&feature=youtu.be
he Sixties - The Years That Shaped a Generation (TV) [2005]. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUc2eLe-ruI&feature=youtu.be
Hymel, M. L. (2016). Consumerism, Advertising, and the Role of Tax Policy. Va. Tax Rev., 20, 347.
Lost 50s - Full Documentary. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwk9MX9-02c&feature=youtu.be
MTV Decade. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGpjjw_als0&feature=youtu.be
Wessels, B. (2014). Exploring social change: process and context. Macmillan International Higher Education.
