The Irony of Modern Individualism
Members of the modern industrialized world are typically individualists in the sense of each individual competing for maximum gain with every other and thereby raising overall standards for all.
This competitive ethic born of modernity is so pervasive that even social relations become competition. In this arena, one competes for quantity of popularity and attention. One does so most effectively by making oneself marketable to as many people as possible. This means achieving mastery of all things conventional and widespread.
The ironic result of this modern, material individualism is that a society tends towards massive scale uniformity.
In such an environment there can be no place for eccentricity. The true introvert is compelled to live in hiding.
Zygmunt blogs at Kingdom of Introversion (and elsewhere).
The Irony of Modern Individualism appears here by permission.
[image via Flickr/Creative Commons]
Zygmunt on 05/2/11 in featured, Society | No Comments | Read More
