the term 'modern'

Being modern has been always considered an integral part of city life. What does strike in your mind first when the term ‘modern’ is flashed. Maybe it is the latest set of gadgets – latest trends in fashion – or the upcoming modes of transport. In all of these options, we are thinking about something which is ‘latest’ or ‘changing’. As soon as any new theory comes which is , that becomes modern. So ‘transient character’ can be linked to condition of being modern. This was a general thinking pattern from the second half of 18th century.


There have been other meaning attached to the word in past also. The term modern has been applied as long as back from Middle Ages having the meaning the one which was current. E.g. the present ruling class

A second meaning of the word is ‘new’ as opposed to which is different from the old. Here the term modern was used to describe a present time which could be experienced having certain specific features that distinguishes it from earlier periods. It was in this sense of term which prevailed during the 17th century.

Modernity is nothing but the ‘condition of being modern’ . "The current, new and the transient – all three levels of meaning are important as they are ascribed to the present in the concept of modernity.  It is this condition which gives present a specific quality , makes it different from the past and points the way towards future." ( Hilde Heynen)

modern / modernity / modernism / modernisation

In my previous posts, I have tried showing the link between the idea of modernity and questioning of identity. For people who aren’t much acquainted with this concept, a lot of questions must be popping in their head about the term modernity itself.

The term in itself encompasses a broad spectrum of issues, which led to its generation around 200 yrs back. In all this discussion, I want to emphasize on the fact that we all need to keep in our heads the difference between modern, modernity, modern architecture, and modernisation, Modernism with a big M and modernism with a small m. In the starting of my research even I was very confused but as one goes through facts, it becomes clear. All these words would seem to have a similar stem note.

Let us start with the word modern.

Before starting the seminar, my guide Jaideep Chaterjee ( see figure ) had raised questions – when do we call ourselves modern? Is their any time and place we can locate ourselves in?

After going through number of readings on modernity, philosophy of history, enlightenment etc by Immanuel Kant, Marshall Berman, Anthony Giddens and number of other eminent writers, I was able to answer this question to myself more clearly in dissertation and also with reference to context of Indian architectural history. I will discuss about above mentioned in next post.

NOTIONS OF IDENTITY - TRADITIONAL VS MODERN

- explanation with reference to ideas of douglas kellner - Article - "Popular Culture and Construction of Postmodern Identities"

As already discussed in post 3, in traditional societies or let’s say pre-modern society’s issue of identity was not subjected to so much reflection. It was relatively fixed and subject to limits of thought and behaviour based on traditional system of myths.

Now when does the question of reflection comes? It comes when you have something to compare yourself with. Everyone has the right to choose, but it’s only possible when you have options. The availability of options comes from the fact how broad your horizon is.

With the modern innovations and discoveries (e.g mass media) horizon for an individual really got expanded. In the words of Douglas Kellner, “In modernity, identity becomes more mobile, multiple, personal, self – reflexive, and subject to change and innovation. Yet identity in modernity is also social and Other – related.”

Taking an example, one is a mother, son, Indian, Asian, a professor, a politician a priest – or rather a combination of these social roles and possibilities. So, in the modern condition also, identities are relatively fixed and limited, but boundaries of possible new identities or probable ones are continually expanding. Here comes the difference between premodern/ modern societies.

For the second point, identity being social and other- related, we need to focus on the point that the modern self is undergoing through constant ever changing experiences. Like a traditional society, modern society also has a structure based on norms and customs though in overall it  forms a very complex web.

Now for a person to choose one’s identity from this complex web of possible identities , he/ she needs to appropriate and reproduce it in order to gain recognition This process of mutual recognition is complex as one’s identity is depended on other for recognition after which it undergoes self – validation to assume a stable, recognized identity.

Explanations forming the core of how we look at ourselves and how others look at us tend to be hidden under years and years of our social training and conditioning.

Who's who?

During the 16th and 17th century, decision of the church was taken supreme as well as the knowledge based on experience. With the progress to 18th century, the funda became of combining experience plus experimentation. It became important to break down things to simpler facts with a reason behind every event.
The 18th century came to be known as the age of enlightenment that advocated the use of reason in the re-evaluation of accepted ideas and social institutions. This particular time period is marked as beginning of modernity (condition of being modern) or as Immanuel Kant calls ‘a break from the past’.

The way knowledge was acquired formed an important characteristic for condition of being modern. It puts us in a state of continual analysis of circumstances and fact finding based on pattern of science.

With more and more influx of knowledge, and ability to collect and store every bit of knowledge in form other than written created possibility of higher level of reflexivity.

The concept of reflexivity can be defined as a cyclic process of reflection of thought and action on to each other, for one to justify the other according to Anthony Giddens analysis of modernity. As a result of this, truth of today may not be the truth of tomorrow. Reacting to all this, a modern society experiences change at a very rapid rate which brings in the character of uncertainty/ impermanence.

This change/ uncertainty brought in by modern life makes the issue of identity so important.

Uncertainty, Change and Identity

From where does the question of identity arise? Why the term in itself is so important?

Who are we? There can be innumerable ways to answer this question. In the present scenario of societal framework, there are multiple roles that we play. Comparing ourselves with traditional societies, earlier identity was a function of pre defined social roles. It was uncomplicated, fixed and not open to so much discussion. As the societal contact was limited, question of defining oneself didn’t come so much to the forefront.

It becomes clear from the statement of Douglas Kellner – “In pre-modern society one was born and died a member of one’s clan, a member of fixed kinship system, and a member of one’s tribe or group with one’s life trajectory fixed in advance. Individuals did not undergo identity crises, or radically modify their identity. One was a hunter and a member of tribe and that was that.”

As the social contact began to expand or in other words as the world started on it’s journey of becoming a global village is when questioning of identity began to be so important. With change and uncertainty brought in by modern life, people began to self question about themselves and their position with respect to world and others. There is a definite connection between the characteristics of modern life and questioning of identity. Also how characteristic of uncertainty is related to being modern. I would like to share about this in my next post.