In an effort to try to comprehend and understand culture better, I have taking on the task of attempting to read through several secular sociology books. I think these books provide a profitable aspect of where people are today. Although at times discerning the argument and thought of the author may be difficult the benefits gleaned are greatly applicable. The author Zygmunt Bauman begins the introductory chapter with these words, "'Liquid life' and 'liquid modernity' are intimately connected. 'Liquid life' is a kind of life that tends to be lived in a liquid modern society. 'Liquid modern' is a society in which the conditions under which its members act change faster than it takes the ways of acting to consolidate into habits and routines. Liquidity of life and that of society feed and reinvigorate each other. Liquid life, just life liquid modern society, cannot keep its shape or stay on course for long." Very simply 'liquid life' is simply a life that lived in constant uncertainty because society has become a 'liquid society,' a society in constant change.The book is an attempt to try and provide the reader with an awareness of the conditions that have created a life of liquidity because of the liquid society in which each individual lives and exists. The book is filled with great quotes that provide a foundational understanding of how society influences and impacts the lives of individuals.
"Flattened into a perpetual present and filled to the brim with survival-and-gratification concerns (it is gratification to survive, the purpose of survival being more gratification), the world inhabited by 'spiritual lumpenproletarians' leaves no room for worries about anything other than what can be, at least in principle, consumed and relished on the spot, here and now" (p.7)
"'Individuality' stand today, first and foremost, for the person's autonomy, which in turn is perceived as simultaneously the person's right and duty" (p.19)
"Unable to slow down the mind-boggling pace of change, let alone to predict and control its direction, we focus on things we can, or believe we can, or are assured that we can, influence: we try to calculate and minimize the risk that we personally, or those currently nearest and dearest to us, may fall victim to the uncountable and indefinable dangers which the opaque world and its uncertain future hold in store" (p.68-69)
"Consumer society rests its case on the promise to satisfy human desires in a way no other society in the past could do or dream of doing. The promise of satisfaction remains seductive, however, only so long as the desire stays ungratified; more importantly, so long as there is a suspicion that the desire has not bee truly and fully gratified" (p.80)
"Consumer markets feed on the anxiety of prospective consumers which they themselves arouse and do their best to intensify" (p.92)
"Flattened into a perpetual present and filled to the brim with survival-and-gratification concerns (it is gratification to survive, the purpose of survival being more gratification), the world inhabited by 'spiritual lumpenproletarians' leaves no room for worries about anything other than what can be, at least in principle, consumed and relished on the spot, here and now" (p.7)
"'Individuality' stand today, first and foremost, for the person's autonomy, which in turn is perceived as simultaneously the person's right and duty" (p.19)
"Unable to slow down the mind-boggling pace of change, let alone to predict and control its direction, we focus on things we can, or believe we can, or are assured that we can, influence: we try to calculate and minimize the risk that we personally, or those currently nearest and dearest to us, may fall victim to the uncountable and indefinable dangers which the opaque world and its uncertain future hold in store" (p.68-69)
"Consumer society rests its case on the promise to satisfy human desires in a way no other society in the past could do or dream of doing. The promise of satisfaction remains seductive, however, only so long as the desire stays ungratified; more importantly, so long as there is a suspicion that the desire has not bee truly and fully gratified" (p.80)
"Consumer markets feed on the anxiety of prospective consumers which they themselves arouse and do their best to intensify" (p.92)
If your interested in getting a cultural perspective from a well-known sociologist, I would highly recommend this book by Zygmunt Bauman.
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