The Drama of Social Life

Essays in Post-modern Social Psychology

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Psychology, Social Psychology
Cover of the book The Drama of Social Life by T. R. Young, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: T. R. Young ISBN: 9781351483391
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: July 12, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: T. R. Young
ISBN: 9781351483391
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: July 12, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

These essays explore the many ways theater and dramaturgy are used to shape the everyday experience of people in mass societies. Young argues that technologies combine with the world of art, music, and cinema to shape consciousness as a commodity and to fragment social relations in the market as well as in religion and politics. He sees the central problem of post-modern society as how to live in a world constructed by human beings without nihilism on the one hand or repressive dogmatism on the other.

Young argues that in advanced monopoly capitalism, dramaturgy has replaced coercion as the management tool of choice for the control of consumers, workers, voters and state functionaries. Young calls this process the "colonization of desire." Desire is colonized by the use of dramaturgy, mass media, and the various forms of art in order to generate consumers, vesting desire in ownership and display rather than in interpersonal relationships with profound consequence for marriage, kinship, friendship and community. While Young focuses his critique on capitalist societies undergoing great changes, he insists that the same developments are to be found in bureaucratically organized socialist societies.

The Drama of Social Life is of interest to those who study theories of moral development, cultural studies, the uses of leisure, politics, or simply the uses of "make believe." It is intended for the informed lay public as much as for social psychologists.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

These essays explore the many ways theater and dramaturgy are used to shape the everyday experience of people in mass societies. Young argues that technologies combine with the world of art, music, and cinema to shape consciousness as a commodity and to fragment social relations in the market as well as in religion and politics. He sees the central problem of post-modern society as how to live in a world constructed by human beings without nihilism on the one hand or repressive dogmatism on the other.

Young argues that in advanced monopoly capitalism, dramaturgy has replaced coercion as the management tool of choice for the control of consumers, workers, voters and state functionaries. Young calls this process the "colonization of desire." Desire is colonized by the use of dramaturgy, mass media, and the various forms of art in order to generate consumers, vesting desire in ownership and display rather than in interpersonal relationships with profound consequence for marriage, kinship, friendship and community. While Young focuses his critique on capitalist societies undergoing great changes, he insists that the same developments are to be found in bureaucratically organized socialist societies.

The Drama of Social Life is of interest to those who study theories of moral development, cultural studies, the uses of leisure, politics, or simply the uses of "make believe." It is intended for the informed lay public as much as for social psychologists.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Time, History and the Religious Imaginary in South Asia by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Open Source Innovation by T. R. Young
Cover of the book From Child Abuse to Foster Care by T. R. Young
Cover of the book The Right to Development in the African Human Rights System by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Beyond Competition: Economics of Mergers and Monopoly Power by T. R. Young
Cover of the book The Eighteenth-Century Theatre in Spain by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Symbol Formation by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Performance in the Twenty-First Century by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Climate Adaptation and Flood Risk in Coastal Cities by T. R. Young
Cover of the book All Change at Work? by T. R. Young
Cover of the book World Heritage Conservation by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Geographical Gerontology by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Psychoanalytic Therapy with Infants and their Parents by T. R. Young
Cover of the book Building Organizational Fitness by T. R. Young
Cover of the book The Future of Mental Health by T. R. Young
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy