Modernity - Friend or Foe?

The wonderful world of technology, progress, education, evolution, fashion… associations with modernization. But the arrival of modernity, has it brought about the golden era of convenience to the human race, set about medical and technological advances and bountifully handed culture and grace to humanity…or has it sharpened the edge of human evolution, making us ever more competitive and driving us further into a more oblivious set of values, dampened the human spirit of trust and honesty and sparingly making way for greater conspiracy. Modernity, with all its advantages, has definitely brought with it her cons, magnifying the human sin.

The purpose of questioning the arrival of modernity, is not to place a condemnation on her head, or crowning it in glory, but rather to find that balance. Anyway, we can’t prevent progress, if that’s what modernity is about. Personally, I feel there’s a need for a balance of present day need for human convenience, and daily dosage of human compassion. All that we are, we were given. So, modernization will be allowed to serve its purpose, but let’s look further into the question that divides the answers…modernity, friend or foe?

Throughout the ages, modernization, at each passing phase of time will be seen by the inhabitants in each reign to be most modern. But they probably had other issues to worry about, less they cared about fashion and science. There were eras of freedom, of religion, of slavery, of hope, of despair… and each era brought about somewhat, a lesson to be learned, and it progressed with each passing phase. How warfare had changed throughout history is visibly clear, and how communications had improved through the eras could not be more obvious... how each lesson in history paced the cycle of politics…changed the systems of government, and as the world constantly changes, so are her children.

There is no doubt technology has changed the face of everything. From the way we meet people, to the way we learn, to the way we do math, even in athletics(the athletes, especially runners, should just compete naked…I mean look, with all the help of new advanced suits and stuff…no wonder records are being broken, I dun think that’s being fair to past athletes…but, as usual, it’s all about economics.) and to a certain extent, geography (Hasn’t the world grown smaller with technology?...everyone seems to be going everywhere!! If u had to walk or swim to your destinations, I bet everyone’s gonna stay at home.) …and more… and because of technology, if ever a war breaks out, more will parish. Take WWII for example, the use of atom bombs. How many did it kill??...just two of them, compared to Napoleon’s feat at any battle field. There is no doubt, that the advancement of technology in warfare is a serious candidate for destruction, whatever the reason. No matter how specific a bullet or bomb or missile can hit, its still death to one party. And there is no need for fighting.

For one thing modernization has brought about, it is education to the people. Let’s take a look at relationships for example: In more stringent times, matchmaking by parents of two families was definitely the ‘In thing’. No one would argue with the arrangements, it was probably the only way a man was ever going to find a bride, taking into account the conservative state of mind of this ancient past. And it was like a gamble, for both bride and groom (actually, personally, even today with all our ability to pick and choose, it’s still a gamble). Even child marriages were acceptable. And imagine you being 10 and married. you could tell all your friends how much u love your husband or wife then, don’t you? So, the evolution begins. Education arrives, and changes the cultures and believes of these so called backward forms of tradition. Today, we have people on speed dates, internet dating, blind dating, clubbing, pubbing…etc... all kinds of ways to meet the opposite sex. Even the women are different, women want power, control, career, independence…and children want a say at things (Using a 12 year old for an election campaign…what is the USA coming to???). Education has changed humanity and the way things used to be. Slavery has been reduced to a milder form in maids and butlers…and even animals have rights, now that humanity has developed compassion.

Education of the masses, an opportunity for propaganda, a revolution of the frame of mind, the tuning of brain frequency... But yet, its purpose is so intricate. To pass on knowledge and wisdom. Education in schools, is not necessarily the place where the child learn most. The child will probably remember fragments of what they were thought in school… some more, some less. But it is a place where the masses gather, and a place where the child will receive influence. And education IS influence. And looking at it, its where a ruling party can teach what a child needs to learn… loyalty and believes. And its possibly where terrorism gained a footing. They have their own schools, own thoughts and believes…and it definitely had had influence. Be it religious schools, primary schools, secondary schools, institutions, universities…. There will be opportunities of influence, and that’s where those with the opportunity of having gone to school will find that we have been shaped to be of a certain mold. Obedient and Abiding.

Fashion statements are peel offs when modernity travels. Whenever time progress, new fashions will arrive and old ones set aside… only to see them returning to prosperity when the cycle of colors and trends make another turn. But is fashion of little value in evaluating weather it is of at least some form of a minute importance to the world of modernity causing havoc or giving serenity? Fashion, in time, for as long as there was documented prove of civilization, there is fashion. Just that some fashions don’t quite fit into certain eras. And it is a good way to judge the time period of a civilization, through fashion. For anything that can be told with a glance, it is fashion. It speaks volumes of the rulers of their time, our senses through the ages and agrees on the vanity of our species. It cannot escape, it will never die.

Rulers of the past have shown their power through appearance, symbols of power, through what they wear. Chinese emperors were the only ones allowed to wear the color of yellow and the Greeks of ancient Greece wanted to dress up like the Gods, which would put them on equal stature…Till today, it still happens. But in another form, branding. The more expensive the brand, the more power you possessed, that’s today’s world. This form of worship has been passed down through the ages, so little surprise its essence lives on. The fruition of fashion has no doubt given the masses a sense of identity, a period they call their own, but has at the same time, segregated the community, to what I call, a layered society (could be why the communist made everyone wear the same thing??).

So, has modernity brought about more progress?? or has it diluted our traditions and values? Modernity, through education, had given birth to new ideas, new systems of governments, ended monarchy (not so sure about individual families though…), and gave rise to technology… evolution and revolution….this is modernity. But has our values devalued through time?...with convenience, also comes reliance. And it is a fact I truly believe, that we are too reliant on machines and workers, too engulfed within our own circle of comfort. No more are we excited over little things like TV, colour TV, the stories on radio, simple cartoons ( not computer generated, 65,000 colored digitized animation…rather the old ones…hand drawn and coloured…with simple story lines…like smurf!!...), chicken on our plates ( In the past, it was a luxury to have meat on the dinner table..), a full meal...well…things we take for granted and never really appreciate.

Well, modernity definitely has brought about better living standards, but the age of invention (believed to be the 60s) is now past, and we now live a period of possibility, that is, anything is possible. But we have also dug our own grave, in that we have relied too much on the modernization of the world, and we live in a comfort zone we’ll never leave. Today, I think it’s important to find that balance of convenience and tradition, of reliance and ability, because, if modernity should one day turn its back on us, that’s when we’ll realize, it’s too late.