The term "contemporary" has two main related meanings:
- Belonging to the same time period : It describes people, events, or things that exist or happen at the same time. For example, two historical figures who lived during the same era are contemporaries, and an account written during the time an event occurred is a contemporary account
- Existing or occurring in the present or recent times : It refers to something modern, current, or up-to-date. For example, contemporary music, art, or fashion means styles or works that are characteristic of the present day or recent years
In the arts, "contemporary" specifically refers to art produced from around the 1970s onward, often characterized by diversity in materials, methods, and themes, reflecting current cultural and social issues. This contrasts with "modern art," which typically refers to an earlier period from the mid-19th to mid-20th century
. In summary, contemporary means either "of the same time" or "belonging to the present time," depending on context. It can describe people, events, styles, or ideas that coexist in time or are current and modern
