Topic
Contemporary society
About: Contemporary society is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3991 publications have been published within this topic receiving 91755 citations.
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08 Feb 1983
TL;DR: In contrast, contrastive symbology as mentioned in this paper is a general theory of signs and symbols, especially the analysis of the nature and relationship of signs in language, usually including three branches, syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics.
Abstract: First I will describe what 1 mean by "comparative symbology" and how, in a broad way, it differs from such disciplines as "semiotics" (or "semiology") and "symbolic anthropology," which are also concerned with the study of such terms as symbols, signs, signals, significations, icons, signifiers, signif ied~, sign-vehicles, and so on. Here, I want to discuss some of the types of sociocultural processes and settings in which new symbols, verbal and nonverbal, tend to be generated. This will lead me into a comparison of "liminal" and "liminoid" phenomena, terms which 1 will consider shortly. According to Josiah Webster's lexicographical progeny, the people who produced the second College edition of Webster's New World Dictionary, "symbology" is "the study or interpretation of symbols"; it is also "representation or expression by means of symbols." The term "comparative" merely means that this branch of study involves comparison as a method, as does, for example, comparative linguistics. Comparative symbology is narrower than "semiotics" or "semiology" (to use Saussure's and Roland Barthes's terms), and wider than "symbolic anthropology" in range and scope of data and problems. "Semiotics" is "a general theory of signs and symbols, especially, the analysis of the nature and relationship of signs in language, usually including three branches, syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics." 1) Syntactics: The formal relationships of signs and symbols to one another apart from their users or external reference; the organization and relationship of groups, phrases, clauses, sentences, and sentence structure. 2)Semantics: The relationship of signs and symbols to the things to which they refer, that is, their referential meaning. 3) Pragmatics: The relations of signs and symbols with their users. In my own analyses of ritual symbols, "syntactics" is roughly similar to what I call "positional meaning"; "semantics" is similar to "exegetical meaning"; and "pragmatics" is similar to "operational meaning." Semiology seems to have rather wider aspirations than semiotics, since it is defined as "the science of signs in general" whereas semiotics restricts itself to signs in language, though Roland Barthes is now taking the position that "lin-
521 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a model of feminist identity development for women is presented based on Cross's theory of Black identity development and is based on the premise that women who live in contemporary society must first acknowledge, then struggle with, and repeatedly work through their feelings about the prejudice and discrimination they experience as women in order to achieve authentic and positive feminist identity.
Abstract: This article presents a model of feminist identity development for women. The model is derived, in part, from Cross's (1971) theory of Black identity development and is based on the premise that women who live in contemporary society must first acknowledge, then struggle with, and repeatedly work through their feelings about the prejudice and discrimination they experience as women in order to achieve authentic and positive feminist identity. The stages in this process include passive acceptance, revelation, embeddedness-emanation, synthesis, and active commitment. Implications of the model are outlined for women, nonsexist and feminist psychotherapies and contemporary society.
512 citations
Book•
18 Oct 2001
TL;DR: The authors argues that there is no longer an outside 'outside' to the global flows of communication and that the critique of information must take place within the information itself, arguing that the operative unit of the information society is the idea.
Abstract: This penetrating book raises questions about how power operates in contemporary society. It explains how the speed of information flows has eroded the separate space needed for critical reflection. It argues that there is no longer an 'outside' to the global flows of communication and that the critique of information must take place within the information itself.
The operative unit of the information society is the idea. With the demise of depth reflection, reflexivity through the idea now operates external to the subject in its circulation through networks of humans and intelligent machines. It is these ideas that make the critique of information possible. This book is a major testament to the prospects of culture, politics and theory in the global information society.
504 citations
TL;DR: This book is altogether unlike any other sociological treatise on the family, but neither is it in any sense a popular, practical manual for the guidance of youth in pursuit of marital bliss.
Abstract: This book is altogether unlike any other sociological treatise on the family. There are two generally recognized types of books on marriage and the family. One, theoretical in nature, deals with the family as a social institution. The other deals with the problems of courtship, marriage and parenthood—more or less as a manual for youths in contemporary society. The book at hand does not structure the family as a social institution, but neither is it in any sense a popular, practical manual for the guidance of youth in pursuit of marital bliss!
501 citations
Book•
31 Oct 2001
TL;DR: Young masculinities as mentioned in this paper is a study in which boys talked openly about these questions and many others, and it will be of interest to researchers in psychology, sociology, gender and youth studies, as well as policy makers and other professionals.
Abstract: How do boys see themselves? Their peers? The adult world? What are their aspirations and fears? 'Young masculinities' centres on a study in which boys talked openly about these questions and many others. It will be of interest to students and researchers in psychology, sociology, gender and youth studies, as well as policy makers and other professionals.
493 citations