SOCIOL 2LL3 - Group 5

SOCIOL 2LL3 · Group 5 · Activity #3

Written by iisabellafedina@gmail.com in Uncategorized

Phenomenology, Poststructuralism & Postmodernism

▼  Group Members 

• Abdulmajid Abdulmajid

• Isabella Fedina

• Laura Henry

• Lucy LeDonne 

• Sara Petkovic

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The first video, “What Would Foucault Say About Fake News?”, highlights his theories of archaeology and genealogy. Archaeology is described as exposing the evolution or history of human understanding, while genealogy traces the historical development of discourses and how power shapes their evolution (p. 397). These theories 'speak to’ Lyotard’s concept of metanarratives which are described as grand overarching narratives, that “are paradigmatic systems of knowledge that contain established and credible worldviews and describe a total picture of society” (p. 505). Put simply, the big story on which countless stories are stacked. Lyotard argues that metanarratives are losing legitimacy as fragmented narratives, which are “commercialized and sold piecemeal” (p505).  

Overall, it’s clear that both multi-media sources coincide with one another through the idea that in today's society, truth can be seen in a way that resembles a business model. To explain, Foucault would argue through genealogy that historically certain higher up people have been responsible for producing and twisting the truth in order to gain a political following or economic advantage. As a result, Lyotard's theory of metanarratives ties perfectly into this, in the sense that society as a whole has caught onto the understanding that in many cases the higher ups will use information against the public for personal or profitable gain. Therefore, there are less people in society that will simply believe one story or understanding of what is happening. Instead, many individuals find themselves believing multiple different explanations and thus, creating their own understanding of the situation at hand. 

– – – – CONNECTION TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – – – –

The theories and videos both connect to the contemporary issue of information and misinformation online. The mercantilization of knowledge, driven by algorithms and the monetization of engagement, prioritizes reach and profit over accuracy and truth. Additionally, AI adds complexity to online interactions through tracking, surveillance, and content curation, forcing users to discern whether the information they encounter is real or AI-generated. 

Much like the panopticon, users are often aware they are being surveilled but lack control, as they do not have transparency and autonomy. They are trapped by algorithms that dictate the information and content available to them. By segmenting users, they are drawn into specific algorithmic echo chambers that amplify misleading and fragmented narratives, often contradicting established knowledge frameworks. An example of this occurred during the 2020 pandemic, when legitimate medical researchers and doctors shared information on the importance of distancing, masking, and vaccination, while fragmented narratives circulated within echo chambers, promoting contradictory information. 

Therefore, to relate back to the theorists, Foucault would argue that the legitimate medical research and information shared with/by doctors is largely used to serve economic and political agendas. In short, he would argue that these institutions do not discover knowledge but rather that they produce and influence information to be more appealing to the eyes of society. On the other hand, Lyotard would underline not how society produces information to benefit the public but how society has caught onto the notion of not believing in only one single explanation. 

References

Appelrouth, S., & Edles, L. D. (2015). Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era: Text and Readings. SAGE Publications. 

BBC Ideas. (2018, November 12). YouTube. https://youtu.be/4JG_O0Iav18

Gerlach, E. (2013, November 27). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEpZJ0NpxH8