Edward Roscigno

IDC 4001H

Professor Maciuika

2/2/14

The state or quality of being modern is relative. It is relative to time, location, and past experiences. Despite the ambiguity of the term modern it is safe to say that no matter what the stipulations are, what is modern today will not be modern in the future. Modernity is a dynamic idea that is constantly changing. In terms of the three readings, “What Is Globalization?”, paints a picture of the possible perils that our modern capitalistic society produces. In this modernity, the main issue is how risks can be prevented, minimized, or controlled. In our increasingly global world and with an increasing wealth disparity, the prosperous elite are able to minimize their risks as much as possible.

“All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity”, explores the dialectical nature of modern life. We are richer than ever but have tremendous unemployment or individualism is promoted but we are more connected than we have ever been. These paradoxes are alarming particularly because we have never encountered them to this degree before.

“Rocket Science” is a brief article that I believe gives a practical connection between the previous two readings. Rocket Internet is both global in scale and modern in its approach.

Referring to the readings and my title, the magnitude of modernity, I propose that the prevailing idea of the three articles is that the present is always fleeting. Furthermore, as wealth is amassed and global boundaries are crossed, the rate at which what is modern becomes antiquated is increasing. The truth of our world today is that we are more modern and global than ever before. More questions are arising and they are becoming increasingly difficult to answer. The line between what is ethical and what is profitable is getting more diluted. The fact of our modernity is that we are no longer in the past. We must grow and change as our reality grows and changes. It is an idyllic concept to think that history will repeat itself; that would make things easy. However, the future is coming and we can fight it, remain indifferent, or we can embrace the inevitable.