Modernity

Jürgen Habermas states and explains his theories of modernity in his piece “Modernity- An Incomplete Project.” In general, Habermas believes that modernity is still ongoing, that it has not ceased to exists, but is still active within or present day culture. In origin, modern means present day, but modernity is a cultural phenomenon, not a specific period of dates. Habermas describes modernity in his piece as going against the normalcy of the present culture. “Modernity revolts against the normalizing functions of tradition; modernity lives on the experience of rebelling against all that is normative” (Habermas, 100). In terms of Habermas’ definition, modernity is an active term. Modernity involves actions against tradition. For something, such as art, to be modern it must go against the confining tradition or rules of the art in present culture. At the forefront of this rebellion is the concept of Avant-garde. Avant-garde people, objects, or concepts explore the unknown and shed light on an unoccupied future. When discussing modernity, the Enlightenment period is often related back to. In the age of Enlightenment, philosophers were going against the traditions of the religious culture and creating academic spheres that were completely knew to the people of that time period. These philosophers were Avant-garde because they invading unknown territory. If a person looks at modernity from this point of view, it is easy to see the debate that it is not dead. As long as people are pushing the envelopes, looking into the future, and exploring the unknown, modernity is still functioning within society. If modernity is defined as a constant process of questioning then modernity is present today. A small scale example of conquering an unknown future can be exemplified in the creation of the internet. The internet has created a completely different universe within our own, something unimaginable to generations of the past. Its creation is product of minds looking forward, shedding light on the unknown, creating a magnitude of possibilities, and in a way going against tradition. Traditionally people talk face to face with one another, now people can communicate around the globe. In some ways, entire new cultures have stemmed off this one creation. The traditional modes of communication, dating, receiving information, and so on have dramatically changed; therefore; the creation of the internet was in some ways an act against tradition. Modernity, in the sense of rebelling against normality, can be witnessed on some scale in our culture today. Does this mean we are in a modern time period? I cannot say for sure, but the reminisce of that time period is most defiantly evident.