Modernity is a topic that has been discussed quite frequently in my university courses over the past several weeks. It has been brought up in my Modern Canadian Literature course, and I actually took a course last year titled Modernism that examined the numerous sectors and themes that exist within the topic.
Modernity, in my own words, can be recognized as the changes that occurred throughout the world beginning in the nineteenth century. It is often categorized as industrialism, likely because it refers to the technological changes that took place throughout society.
There are three perspectives of modernism that exist. There are anti-modernists, who may be distinguished as persons who reject and fear the change that occurred during modernism; there are modernists, who may be distinguished as persons who do not totally reject the change that occurred during modernism, but do not embrace it either; there are avant-gardists, who may be distinguished as persons who embrace and celebrate change that occurred throughout modernism. There is also a fourth perspective that is affiliated with modernism, such perspective being futurists. Futurists are a more extreme version of avant-gardists, as they totally reject all things of the past and are willing to destroy remnants of past innovations. All of these positions may be categorized as reactions to modernity, with the overall title of the reaction to modernity being modernism.
I think it is significant to generate awareness of what modernity and modernism address considering we live in an age of technological innovation. Modernity is becoming a more prevalent force within various aspects of society today, and it is interesting to consider what perspective a specific individual may adapt in regards to modernity. I personally categorize myself as a modernist, because while I do appreciate technological advances, I simultaneously am wary of such advances. I believe persons of older generations are anti-modernists because they are more likely to reject change than younger generations.
What would you consider yourself to be? It is an interesting categorization to consider, and I recommend giving it some thought.
ontheedgeofeverything 