Modernization

I'm currently taking a class entitled "Geography, Modernization, and Globalization II."  And I completely and utterly whole-heartedly disagree with the presented definition of "modernization."  I know that I am just a silly undergraduate who has no right to take umbrage at concepts debated, discussed, and decided by scholars better than she; but since this is my blog, however, I can write whatever I want.

I was told by the TA in my first discussion section that modernization refers to a specific point in history -- somewhere around the 19th century, I believe.  My problem lies with the fundamental idea of something modern.  Modern implies newness; it's about things being different than in the past.  I believe therefore that modernization should refer to any large changes in history.  For example, the change from hunter-gatherer societies to "civilization" as we describe is modernization, in my opinion.  If processes such as this make "modernization" a general term, then the easy solution is to name the 19th century something more descriptive.  I think that would just help history students anyway.

In that vein, I think "post-modern" is meaningless.  It's not possible for humans to be in a post-modern era because we are continuously changing and modernizing still.  There you have it.  I think we should change the English language.  Thank you for listening to my rant.