When do things become "recognizably modern" to you?

Started by Queequeg, August 28, 2013, 05:40:19 PM

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Siege

Reaganomics marks the beginning to the most prosperous age in American history, therefore the modern times. Obamacare marks the beginning of the end.


"All men are created equal, then some become infantry."

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't."

"Laissez faire et laissez passer, le monde va de lui même!"


Valmy

Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 12:51:05 PM
Reaganomics marks the beginning to the most prosperous age in American history, therefore the modern times. Obamacare marks the beginning of the end.

So modern times are coming to an end?  Bummer.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

lustindarkness

Yesterday's tomorrow is no longer what it used to be.
Grand Duke of Lurkdom

Queequeg

Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 12:51:05 PM
Reaganomics marks the beginning to the most prosperous age in American history, therefore the modern times. Obamacare marks the beginning of the end.
:lmfao:
Quote from: PDH on April 25, 2009, 05:58:55 PM
"Dysthymia?  Did they get some student from the University of Chicago with a hard-on for ancient Bactrian cities to name this?  I feel cheated."

alfred russel

If we get away from movies, where the technological change skews perceptions, I think Mark Twain has a quite modern outlook.

Pre WWII (and even more so WWI) continental european politics seem quite alien.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

There's a fine line between salvation and drinking poison in the jungle.

I'm embarrassed. I've been making the mistake of associating with you. It won't happen again. :)
-garbon, February 23, 2014

Savonarola

Quote from: alfred russel on August 30, 2013, 01:30:49 PM
If we get away from movies, where the technological change skews perceptions, I think Mark Twain has a quite modern outlook.

Pre WWII (and even more so WWI) continental european politics seem quite alien.

To me the 17th century as the age where the modern world begins to become recognizable.  Writers before it, like Shakespeare or Bacon clearly have a very different mindset; while say Voltaire or Alexander Pope have a recognizable outlook.  Seventeenth century thinkers, like Newton, Milton or Descartes are largely creators of what I view as the modern world, but in a large part they belong to the previous age.
In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace—and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock

Malthus

Quote from: Savonarola on August 30, 2013, 01:45:00 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 30, 2013, 01:30:49 PM
If we get away from movies, where the technological change skews perceptions, I think Mark Twain has a quite modern outlook.

Pre WWII (and even more so WWI) continental european politics seem quite alien.

To me the 17th century as the age where the modern world begins to become recognizable.  Writers before it, like Shakespeare or Bacon clearly have a very different mindset; while say Voltaire or Alexander Pope have a recognizable outlook.  Seventeenth century thinkers, like Newton, Milton or Descartes are largely creators of what I view as the modern world, but in a large part they belong to the previous age.

Newton is a great example: half modern scientist, half medieval alchemist.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane—Marcus Aurelius

Razgovory

Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 12:51:05 PM
Reaganomics marks the beginning to the most prosperous age in American history, therefore the modern times. Obamacare marks the beginning of the end.

Man, you really are drinking that kool-aid.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

The Brain

I have yet to see a half-decent 17th century SF movie.
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Admiral Yi

The modern age began when coal miners, street peddlers, and janitors took off their suit jackets and started wearing jeans and tshirts.  So some time in the 40's or 50's.

alfred russel

Quote from: Savonarola on August 30, 2013, 01:45:00 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 30, 2013, 01:30:49 PM
If we get away from movies, where the technological change skews perceptions, I think Mark Twain has a quite modern outlook.

Pre WWII (and even more so WWI) continental european politics seem quite alien.

To me the 17th century as the age where the modern world begins to become recognizable.  Writers before it, like Shakespeare or Bacon clearly have a very different mindset; while say Voltaire or Alexander Pope have a recognizable outlook.  Seventeenth century thinkers, like Newton, Milton or Descartes are largely creators of what I view as the modern world, but in a large part they belong to the previous age.

As with so much else, it comes down to how we define the terms...I'd think of modern as a person with a mindset that could relatively easily adopt to the trends of today. I think a Mark Twain could. A Theodore Roosevelt could. I suspect a lot of the political mindset in Europe from 100 years ago could not. I suspect the typical person from the segregated US south could not.


I think the modern capitalistic with elements of democratic socialist / secular / post colonial / largely post nationalistic world would be rather jarring for someone from the 18th century, but I'm really just applying my own definitions.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

There's a fine line between salvation and drinking poison in the jungle.

I'm embarrassed. I've been making the mistake of associating with you. It won't happen again. :)
-garbon, February 23, 2014

Siege

Quote from: Razgovory on August 30, 2013, 01:51:54 PM
Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 12:51:05 PM
Reaganomics marks the beginning to the most prosperous age in American history, therefore the modern times. Obamacare marks the beginning of the end.

Man, you really are drinking that kool-aid.

You have been drinking it your whole life, the wrong-wing's Kool-Aid.


"All men are created equal, then some become infantry."

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't."

"Laissez faire et laissez passer, le monde va de lui même!"


Jacob

Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 02:22:06 PMYou have been drinking it your whole life, the wrong-wing's Kool-Aid.

Only you and a few others see the real truth.

Razgovory

Quote from: Jacob on August 30, 2013, 06:46:58 PM
Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 02:22:06 PMYou have been drinking it your whole life, the wrong-wing's Kool-Aid.

Only you and a few others see the real truth.

That the moon landing was a hoax and that black people are evil.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

dps

Quote from: Razgovory on August 30, 2013, 06:59:10 PM
Quote from: Jacob on August 30, 2013, 06:46:58 PM
Quote from: Siege on August 30, 2013, 02:22:06 PMYou have been drinking it your whole life, the wrong-wing's Kool-Aid.

Only you and a few others see the real truth.

That the moon landing was a hoax and that black people are evil.

Of course they are--they're human beings.