"Modernity- An Incomplete Project"

The reading, Modernity- An Incomplete Project, a specific quote really struck me. I wanted to discuss the quote by Daniel Bell, in his book called The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism. Bell argues that “The crises of the developed societies of the West are to be traced back to a spilt between culture and society… Modernist culture has come to penetrate the values of everyday life; the life-world is infected by modernism… Because of the forces of modernism, the principle of unlimited self-realization, the demand for authentic self experience and the subjectivism of a hyper stimulated sensitivity have come to be dominant”. I agree with him when he says modernist culture has come to penetrate the values of everyday life because everything modern does affect the values of everyday life. Just look at society so materialistic and striving for bigger, faster, and more while incorporating pornography into everything in the media. And, also our culture strives to attain the so called American dream, the notion that working hard guarantees success and with that comes large sums of dollars and prestige. Everything modern especially all the technology has sunk its ways in the values of some Americans. Watch TV and you’ll see distorted values in every TV show. Everything is focused on money, privilege, and sex. Plus, all of our media focuses on wealth and pornography as well. Sex sells and people strive for the American dream. The desire to be wealthy is so extreme in our society and sex grabs everyone's attention. So its no wonder why these two themes are incorporated into our media and have penetrated the values of everyday life.

I also wanted to note on the concept hyper stimulated. Our culture is hyper stimulated. There’s always so much to do, and so much going on. Sometimes I find it difficult to just relax in the day or take a minute to unwind. There are millions upon millions of distractions. All forms of entertainment plus all the stresses of daily life. In European cities people have two to three hour lunch breaks. They sit and enjoy time with family and friends while enjoying elaborate delicious meals accompanied with tasty wine. Whereas in America, most people get an hour lunch break in an entire work day. Modernity ways of living and thinking have become dominant in our culture and have penetrated into the values of everyday life.