The Time of the Tribes: The Decline of Individualism in Mass Society (Published in association with Theory Culture & Society)

About this book

Do individuals construct their own identities in contemporary consumer culture? In this volume one of the worlds leading sociologists questions the idea that individualism is a defining feature of modernity. The Time of Tribes presents a new truly sociological theory of modern identity. Author Michel Maffesoli contends that the insistence on the end of collective ideals conceals a complex state of affairs. He brilliantly demonstrates that while the old determinants of identity such as class have indeed faded there are new tribal determinants. He shows how contemporary identities are now composed of a multiplicity of experiences representations and everyday emotions. Sexual political or professional identities are being replaced by processes of identification with groups with sentiments and with fashions. He shows how tribal groupings--musical sporting or touristic--emerge in the midst of mass society and goes on to explore the possible reasons for this new social dynamic from the rise of new communication technologies to the resurgence of older values such as religious identification. This unique book is essential reading for advanced students in social theory culture studies and sociology.