Mod or modernist?

Is it the same or something completely different?

It depends, I guess. Originally mod was just short for modernist, modernism, modern jazz, modern art, modern design etc... So at the roots it's the same.

Of course, words change their meaning. Mod means so many different things now (that is probably since it went "overground" between 1960 and 1964) that it is impossible to define because it's all and nothing...

If we wanted to distinguish we could simply state that modernism was or is a movement in the arts, thus modernists are its practitioners (and/or its supporters or fans ) while mod was simply a youth cult with vague connections to said movement.

By 1964, I believe, the connection was already a distant memory. "Mod" was used to sell Carnaby street fashion and mod was used to describe teenage dance crazes demonstrated by Patrick and Cathy at RSG. Now, it was also scruffy kids fighting with other scruffy kids on the beaches.

Last edited by Russell...Street (2014-02-12 03:35:48)

Now. It's all we have.

There's a lot of myth-building going on - by people who made a living out of all these "youth culture" myths, by people who glorify the time when they had all their hair and teeth, by people who find it helpful for their own agenda...

Personally, I think there should be a time in the process of growing up to let go of all that. What made me to call me a mod actually transcends this specific scene - slim line, natural shoulders, collar roll. Influences from the US East Coast and Italy. A nod to the 60s, my fav decade.  I still like to to see old ads, pics and movies. They are at best inspiration for me, not a guideline.

The past is - the past. Personally,  I neither need a mythical past of SoHo hipsters nor do I need some upper class university fantasies to like my clothes and style today.

Where to get a pair of decent khakis? Decent shirts? Knitwear? These are the questions which keep me busy these days.

Type 'arena bbc cool jazz doc' into Youtube.  Should come up

Thankee, Bop!

I found it but still got a find a way to watch it in this cuntry. Axe, an idea?
I say it again, GEMA sucks!

I'll try that. Thanks, Moose!

Practitioner being the key word; unless you're part of that creative movement (artist, designer, writer, musician, etc) should one be classified as a modernist simply on the basis of philosophical ideals? Movements tend to advance artistic ideas by challenging social conventions, and I would hesitate to imply that current appreciators of modern art, music, clothing and so on, could ever have such impact. I prefer to extol the aesthetic language of modernism, that being concerned with the beauty and appreciation of the works themselves, then to affiliate with the greater movement.

I agree with you, but wouldn't that date you as an appreciative participant observer to the time period of the movement? I consider myself to have modernist ideas and outlooks and it's certainly reflected throughout my environment in art, furniture, records, books. I suppose I could consider myself a modernist advocate by appendage but such designations always strike me as too assertive. It raises an interesting debate as to whether modernism as it exists/persists, is characterized by thoughts/ideas (philosophical movement) or practice?

Last edited by Russell...Street (2014-02-12 15:18:44)