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I would like to define the concept of modernity or modernization as a continuous change in the mindset (and life style) of a person, with regard to its social, legal, economic, political and technological environments. A person or a group of people (a society) to be modern refers to a process of development (or becoming mature/organized) enabled through mass media. Where one turns from its traditional ways of thinking and doing things to a more advanced/more developed or in other words modern way of thinking and doing things. Thus, modernity is a product of development. And development is made possible through effective mass media. The development of communication & the concept of modernity strongly came about during World War II. With World War II came dozens of new, very poor, countries, left by their former colonial overseers with little infrastructure, education, or political stability. It was widely accepted that mass media could bring education, essential skills, social unity, and a desire to "modernize." Daniel Lerner, Walt Rostow, Everett Hagen & David McClelland are some of the representatives of the Modernization school. Daniel Lerner's study, "The Passing OF Traditional Society" (1958) refers to modernization. The study was conducted in Middle East after the World War II. To him, the society was of two parts, traditional & modern. According to Lerner what makes one part traditional and another modern depended on how much they were willing to accept information on development and how far they made use of it. Thus under-development to him was a ‘people-problem’ and not merely fatalism or lack of alternatives! Lerner, identifies a modern person as a person with a ‘mobile personality’. Mobility in identifying & understanding changing environments, participating in those changes positively and rationally. And such people were called to be ‘empathetic’ persons. Lerner suggested that exposure to Western media would create "empathy" for modern culture, and a desire to move from traditional to modern ways.
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