"It is only the modern that ever becomes old-fashioned"
About this Quote
Oscar Wilde’s observation reflects on the transient nature of modernity and the peculiar way in which what is considered innovative and cutting-edge at one time inevitably transforms into something dated or passé. The essence of the statement lies in the paradox that what strives to break from tradition and set itself apart, what is deemed "modern", is uniquely susceptible to becoming outmoded. Classical works, styles, or ideas retain an aura of timelessness precisely because they belong to a tradition; they are insulated from the vagaries of changing tastes. Innovation, however, is fated for eventual obsolescence.
When something is hailed as modern, its identity is defined by a particular moment, its newness, originality, and difference from the old. As the cultural landscape shifts, that newness ages. The sharp lines of contemporary fashion, explosive artistic movements, and cutting-edge technologies are quickly overtaken by newer iterations, and what was once the apex of modernity suddenly looks like a relic. Unlike the classical or the traditional, which are anchored by their supposed universality or rootedness in history, the modern is always at risk. Its claim to importance is always predicated on the now, which, by definition, is fleeting.
This observation can be seen most clearly in areas like design and art, where trends once considered bold or futuristic rapidly acquire a retro air: the optimism of mid-century modern furniture, the radicalism of early electronic music, or even last year’s smartphone. As soon as cultural attention moves on, the recently modern stands exposed as a product of its time, unmasked by the relentless march of progress.
Wilde’s remark, therefore, is not a critique but a subtle act of recognition. It captures the bittersweet fate of the avant-garde, the way every ambition to be "of today" is preordained to age and, paradoxically, to be marked ever more clearly by yesterday.
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