When does Modern become Classic?

[K_Dub]

So the other day I was listening to a Classic radio staion when a thought crossed my mind. At what point does Modern music become the new Classic music, and what happens to Classic music? Does the Classic music just go one just being called "Classic" or does it become "Old Classic"? And exactly what would the transition of Modern to Classic music be like? Would it happen quickly over night, or gradually over time?

Then I began wondering the same thing for games. When did Mario become classic? How? There are so many questions and I don't have any of the answers! Help me out people, I'd greatly appreciate it.

P.S. Let's keep the cursing down to a minimum m'kay?

 

[hellthins]

For music, gradually if ever, and it'd take hundreds of years. For games, classics are generally maybe a decade or two old since the gaming industry isn't very old. Classical things are basically just really old things, made way back at the start of any particular brand of artistic endeavor or entertainment.

 

[Blixt]

I belive that something becomes a classic when

1.) Everyone know about it
2.) It is has improved its medium
3.) The idea of that work is wholely its own

 

[santaandy]

I thought it was after 25 years. More of a genric definition than an indication of popularity.

 

[Maet]

It doesn't. Using terms like modern and classic are just titles we designate to a particular era in time. Just because some bands from today sound like the bands from forty years ago does not mean they'll join their ranks after some arbitrary amount of time has passed. The era is locked, and that is it.

Using another example, The Antiquity is over. But during the late Renaissance and Enlightenment which certainly revived the ideas and styles of the Antiquity, they didn't lump all three together. They're all separate and isolated.

In short, Modern never becomes Classic. Classic never becomes Ancient. A never becomes B, 3 never becomes 48.2, etc.

 

[Baby Tea]

I belive that something becomes a classic when

1.) Everyone know about it
2.) It is has improved its medium
3.) The idea of that work is wholely its own

I'm not too sure I agree with the first and third points made here, but the 2nd one I can agree completely too. That's why, in about 30 years or so, no-one is going to remember the crappy bands (Or 'acts' in some cases) that plague the music scene today. Only the ones that actually did anything significant musically...which, from my viewpoint, is VERY FEW of the musicians today. And I mean VERY few (Hence the capitals).

And after thinking about it (While typing the above paragraph), I think I just misunderstood the last (third) point. I'm now assuming you mean that the reason for, and message of, the music is wholly that of the musician(s). To which I would agree. I'm not entirely sure what I thought it meant earlier...but that's not important anymore.

I still don't concede the first point, however. There are plenty of people who don't know fantastic artist/composers that had a great impact on their medium and music as a whole.

 

[Danny Ocean]

You mean, when it's a...

[HEADING=1]New Classic?[/HEADING]

 

[Blixt]

I belive that something becomes a classic when

1.) Everyone know about it
2.) It is has improved its medium
3.) The idea of that work is wholely its own

I'm not too sure I agree with the first and third points made here, but the 2nd one I can agree completely too. That's why, in about 30 years or so, no-one is going to remember the crappy bands (Or 'acts' in some cases) that plague the music scene today. Only the ones that actually did anything significant musically...which, from my viewpoint, is VERY FEW of the musicians today. And I mean VERY few (Hence the capitals).

And after thinking about it (While typing the above paragraph), I think I just misunderstood the last (third) point. I'm now assuming you mean that the reason for, and message of, the music is wholly that of the musician(s). To which I would agree. I'm not entirely sure what I thought it meant earlier...but that's not important anymore.

I still don't concede the first point, however. There are plenty of people who don't know fantastic artist/composers that had a great impact on their medium and music as a whole.

Well I see what you mean about the first point, because think of it like this

1984 - Without a doubt a classic, and will be remembered forever
-but-
Brave New World - It is a calssic too, and can be described as 1984-esque, because EVERYONE knows 1984, but BNW is a relatively unsung hero. I believe that this makes 1984 "classical-er" (I made a word, I can do that) than BNW. But BNW is still a classic, because it is still known.


"But Erik, you cunning devil of the literary word, does this make something popular a classic" No, because it would need to match up with the other points. Gears of War is obviously known, but it doesn't improve games as a culture form, and the game is about a dime a dozen now. (OMG shooting!) Does this make any sense, or am I blowing so much smoke out of my ass that we should evacuate the building?

On a side note- Holy Hell I love 1984

 

[fedpayne]

But you get contemporary composers of classical music.

 

[Molikroth]

Twenty-two point three years.

 

[FireFly90]

normaly 30-50 years i think. 70-90 years and its considered antique

 

[sneakypenguin]

After two generations is my rule of thumb.

Also to spite the OP's request for no swearing, bastard

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

You mean, when it's a...

[HEADING=1]New Classic?[/HEADING]

Huh, somebody say something? Er...

So the other day I was listening to a Classic radio staion when a thought crossed my mind. At what point does Modern music become the new Classic music, and what happens to Classic music? Does the Classic music just go one just being called "Classic" or does it become "Old Classic"? And exactly what would the transition of Modern to Classic music be like? Would it happen quickly over night, or gradually over time?

I think there's a physical date, at least within the recording industry, that defines a song as classic, I'm not absolutely sure. Although most songs that are defined as classic are generally very old. Bach, Beethovan, Patchelbel old.

As far as games, look up Abandonware. So, at this point, I think games have quasi-expiration dates, but some companies prevent some games from becoming abandonware. Like Blizzard and the Starcraft series.

 

[TheBluesader]

I don't think something should be considered a classic until it's had a demonstrable impact on similar media that's come after it. Like, when Mario first came out, it was just a goofy little Nintendo game. But since it jump-started an entire industry and inspired a long-standing genre of games, it's now a classic.

This is probably the only workable definition, because things don't have to be good to be classic. No one would say Plan Nine From Outer Space was a good movie, but it's been inspiring people to make their own sci-fi flicks for years, simply because people think, "Hey, I do better than this crap." It has an impact on cinema and so becomes an important part of the history of the media, so now it's a classic.

You know. Like the Bay City Rollers.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

It doesn't. Using terms like modern and classic are just titles we designate to a particular era in time. Just because some bands from today sound like the bands from forty years ago does not mean they'll join their ranks after some arbitrary amount of time has passed. The era is locked, and that is it.

Using another example, The Antiquity is over. But during the late Renaissance and Enlightenment which certainly revived the ideas and styles of the Antiquity, they didn't lump all three together. They're all separate and isolated.

In short, Modern never becomes Classic. Classic never becomes Ancient. A never becomes B, 3 never becomes 48.2, etc.

This. Particularly in music and literature. We don't refer to things as "modern" anymore, the typical term is "contemporary," while we still refer to stuff from the early 20th century as "modern"