Eras in America

[JohnFKennedy]

2001-Present: Modern Era

Why is it that everyone always thinks that they live in the 'modern era'? How are you defining 'moderen' here? I'm assuming this periodization begins with 9/11 but what marks the years since then as being 'modern' while the years prior to that are not? Have we not yet reached the postmodern era?

[JohnFKennedy]

2001-present: Modern

Same questions apply.

[JohnFKennedy]

2001-present: Modern

Same questions apply.

Because its the era we're in.

What makes this era so much more modern than previous ones? Surely when the next era begins, this will no longer be the present era so it can no longer be the 'modern era'; in which case, what does it become?

Also, don't you think taking modern to mean the years since 2001 makes the whole canon of modernist art, literature etc slightly problematic?

[JohnFKennedy]

2001-present: Modern

Same questions apply.

Because its the era we're in.

What makes this era so much more modern than previous ones? Surely when the next era begins, this will no longer be the present era so it can no longer be the 'modern era'; in which case, what does it become?

Also, don't you think taking modern to mean the years since 2001 makes the whole canon of modernist art, literature etc slightly problematic?

It can be assigned a new name in the future.

Is that not somewhat farcical/confusing?

[JohnFKennedy]

Inner-directed and outer-directed? Sounds a bit like somebody has bastardised David Riesman.