A Brief S tudy of Modernism & Modernity

1. A Brief Study of Modernism & Modernity By Sonan Kempadoo-Smith

2. What is it? • For its adherents Modernity represents a stage in the development of knowledge, and is normatively linked to a positive image of progress. Specifically in 'modern' theorising emphasis is placed on the historical development of scientific rationality, and the freedom of the individual. It also implies a commitment to the new.[1]

3. When did it come from? • “The roots of modernism lie much deeper in history than the middle of the 19th century. For historians the modern period actually begins in the sixteenth century, initiating what is called the Early Modern Period, which extends up to the 18th century. The intellectual underpinnings of modernism emerge during the Renaissance period when, through the study of the art, poetry, philosophy, and science of ancient Greece and Rome, humanists revived the notion that man, rather than God, is the measure of all things, and promoted through education ideas of citizenship and civic consciousness. The period also gave rise to ‘utopian’ visions of a more perfect society, beginning with Sir Thomas More'sUtopia, written in 1516, in which is described a fictional island community with seemingly perfect social, political, legal customs.” [2]

4. Social Modernism • Modern societies have a typical structure (organisation): • industrial capitalist economies, • democratic political organisation, division into economic classes, • secular culture • This contrasts with the typical structure of pre-modern societies; • agricultural economy, • aristocratic/monarchical rule, • family/clan based divisions, • religious culture. • Sociology developed out of the direct experience of how these far-reaching changes in social structure affected everyday life[3]

5. What is Enlightenment? • “Enlightenment thinking pictured the human race as striving towards universal moral and intellectual self-realization. It was believed that reason allowed access to truth, and knowledge of the truth would better humankind. The vision that began to take shape in the 18th century was of a new world, a better world. In 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his Inquiry into the Nature of the Social Contract, proposed a new social system should rest on ‘an equality that is moral and legitimate, and that men, who may be unequal in strength or intelligence, become every one equal by convention and legal right.’ By joining together into civil society through the social contract, individuals could both preserve themselves and attain freedom. These tenets were fundamental to the notion of modernism.”[4]

6. How does it affect me? • Essentially it is the act of being a modern citizen in London like the many people you see around you. In most 1st World countries across the World people have been following and creating this change in perception. That science explains more about the World around us than religion. That through education we can empower the masses to think for themselves. This has led to the creation of such a diverse plethora of specialized professions and jobs for people to learn to and create products to help society as a way of life. This has taken societies away from the inefficiencies of traditionalism. “To believe that through science and research we can and will make our lives better by curing disease, building efficient housing schemes and create a better World for mankind”. Thoughts like these would probably be considered blasphemy at the start of the 17th century but would have been considered as modern “Enlightenment” by the start of the 18th century. But I think it would be considered now as a rather utopian view of the future of science and the future in contrast to the problems we face in the World today caused by science ad modernism. Such as pollution, the risk factors involved in globalization, war, famine, degradation and depletion of natural resources etc.

7. Modern Occupations: Professions [5] • Professionsare middle class, knowledge-based occupational groups e.g. doctors, lawyers, architects. • The number of professions is constantly expanding • Typically, professionals claim expertise the right to practise in particular areas that are barred to the laity, non-experts. • Professions are established by powerful institutions, e.g. the state. This confers on professionals the right to define public reality in areas of their expertise

8. The Modern Self: the ‘Individual’[6] • The extended division of labour and fragmentation of experience tends to encourage the sense that people are distinctive persons: individuals • Individualism encourages the separation between private and public life. Perhaps even more important it tends to hide social reality from us. • This supports the plausibility of Individualism: beliefs that celebrate the autonomy of the individual human being in social action and affairs

9. How it relates to Parks • If you have read this far and your still interested I will explain the connections I found so far. Going backward from my last page up • Parks are one of the best places in the city of London for individuals to go to relax and just think. • They provide a place to go on our lunch break or days off to relax away from modern life and our jobs/roles. • Primrose Hill was appropriated in 1842 just after the era of Enlightenment. This is why I said it was created as a utopian view of nature in my sound script. • The way that people use the park space and interact with one another Modern societies have a typical structure (organisation). If you look at how parks are designed there is a theme and structure to them to increase their efficiency and usability e.g. All parks have walking paths, areas to relax in, areas for sport, sections for music etc. They're organized but they are designed or groomed into a more aesthetic & natural fashion than most other modern constructs or recreation areas. • The great thing is the era that the park was made public was rife with social change in the UK as the views and ideas of modernism and modern thought changed society. Hence Primrose hill has a relevant link to the roots of modernity in the past.

10. End • Referencing and source documents: • [1] http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~sysdt/sociology%20of%20modernity.htm Some Definitions of Modernity. Author Unknown I used this quote because I agreed with it and I like how it sounds as a definition of modernity. Referenced 20/03/11 • [2] (http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/roots.html) Referenced 20/03/11 • [3] Student Activity and Lifestyle Study at Aberdeen, Author unknown, Page 3 Referenced 20/03/11 • [4] http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/roots.htmlReferenced 20/03/11 • [5] Student Activity and Lifestyle Study at Aberdeen, Author unknown, Page 5 Referenced 20/03/11 • [6]Student Activity and Lifestyle Study at Aberdeen, Author unknown, Page 7 Referenced 20/03/11 • Pictures 7 & 8 are Equinox_by_alexiuss & thru_and_thru_by_foureyes both are from my collection of deviantart.com prints. The rest is my own photography. • This picture too • P.S I hope this helps you guys understand modernism and my ideas.