When individualism worked

I’m reading more of Hartmut Rosa’s narrative of Social Acceleration. Paraphrasing: It made sense to have a stable, personal identity when the pace of social change meshed with the change of generations; this is a marker of classical modernity (like, 1800-1970). Before that, and in traditional societies with slower rates of social change, people find themselves defined by pre-existing, enduring structures–an intergenerational identity. After that, in a super-fast-changing society like late modernity (now) pushes us toward a flexible identity, away from continuity. These days, [People] must either conceive themselves from the very beginning as open, flexible, and eager to change This describes me, and I considered it a virtue. Now I consider it advantageous. A small identity and willingness to shift occupations as the occasion offers, and take pride in new things every few years–useful. Rosa goes on to describe the alternative: suffering permanent frustration when their projected…