Is the word "modern" a fallacy?

Question

For how long is something modern? It is constantly reinventing itself.

Answer 1

I would agree that modern is a moving target. But in most cases it is so slowly moving that true reinvention takes a generation or more. The fact that you need to upgrade your computer every couple of years doesn't, to me, mean that you a getting a more "modern" computer. It is the associated technology that is modern and, I suspect, will remain modern until the next big wave comes through. Modern art lasted for almost 100 years. I guess we are now in the "postmodern" phase. But you can't really have "postmodern" in the absence of a well established "modern." The dictates of consumerism have gotten us all to thinking that anything over a year (month? day?) old is no longer modern. But that's only so we go out and purchase what is new. It is "new" that is constantly changing. Not modern.

Answer 2

Modern, depends on what you're talking about, and your amount of knowledge on a given topic.

Modern hairstyles, and fashions are this year or season.

Modern music could go back to the classics, depending on your knowledge of the subject. People with no historical musical knowledge would not consider Classical music to be modern, and would only consider what they listen to personally as "hip" although they would know that contemporary music (modern) is really anything that currently gets airplay!

Modern architecture is referring to buildings that we live and work in. What if you work in an old converted castle?

An ancient play, which is performed today is done with a modern adaptation with modern styles of performance. We cna never know exactly how it was done in antiquity?

What is modern is that which is current, which is constantly re-inventing itself. Nothing remains the same, people and their interests, and ways of living are always changing.

Blessings,
Rani

Answer 3

I don't think it's that, I think it's exactly what you mentioned; always changing, always reinventing itself. To me, 'modern' means exactly what it is defined as: relating to a recently developed fashion or style; characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture, etc. So with that in mind, I suppose something is modern as long as it is new or current :)

Answer 4

If it becomes permanantly attached to a thing,
it does become deceptive.
Modern is only for a moment, never permanant!
Let's watch a "Modern" film from 1923!!

Answer 5

New doesn't necessarily mean improved. Today's cutting edge is only good for a shredder. There is nothing wrong with turning back the clock if it is connected to a time bomb.

Answer 6

Not fallacy, misnomer.
Modern means "current", although it's cyclical.
It's also dynamic, always changing.

Answer 7

It's a word, a human invention, and like any word, it has only that meaning which we choose to ascribe to it.

Answer 8

modern is an ongoing meaning of new.