As malls open in a town, some residents say its weekly fair will vanish; others say it will never change. A sociologist rejects both claims. Which idea explains her view?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Culture cannot be seen as an unchanging, fixed entity
Option (1) Cultural consumption now shapes the growth of cities — Incorrect. This is a true point about how cities grow today. It explains the rise of malls, yet it gives no view on whether the weekly fair will vanish or stay the same.
Option (2) Globalisation is often used as a bogey by defenders of tradition — Incorrect. Globalisation is used as a bogey to defend unjust practices against women in the name of tradition. That idea belongs to gender and culture, and gives no ground to reject the two claims about the fair.
Option (3) Advertisements promote a culture where spending is important — Incorrect. Advertisements and the media promote a culture where spending is important. This explains why people shop more, but it leaves open whether the fair will vanish or stay frozen.
Option (4) Culture cannot be seen as an unchanging, fixed entity — Correct. Culture is not an unchanging, fixed entity that must either collapse or remain the same under social change. So the fair is likely to adapt, which is why the sociologist rejects both the claim that it will vanish and the claim that it will never change.
NCERT (2026-27): “Homogenisation Versus localisation of Culture … |