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Look up mundane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

In subcultural and fictional uses, a mundane is a person who does not belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary.[1] The term first came into use in science fiction fandom to refer, sometimes deprecatingly, to non-fans; this use of the term antedates 1955.[2]

Etymology

[edit]

Mundane came originally from the Latin mundus, meaning ordinary and worldly as opposed to spiritual, and has been in use in English since the 15th century.[3]

[edit]

Some Western cultural examples include:

  • In Cassandra Clare's book series The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, humans who were not Shadowhunters nor Downworlders were referred to as "mundanes".
  • In fantasy literature the term is sometimes used to apply to non-magical people or the non-magical society. It is used in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels and Bill Willingham's comic book series Fables (often shortened to "mundies" in the latter).
  • In furry fandom, it is used to describe non-furries, or "humans".[4]
  • In historical reenactment groups such as the Society for Creative Anachronism (which originated in science fiction fandom):
    • 'Mundanes', sometimes shortened to just "'danes" (not to be confused with people of Danish descent), is also a term for normal everyday clothes, as opposed to those dressed in historical garb.[5]
    • Similarly, one's "mundane" name is the legal name one goes by in the outside world.
    • Some participants classify all non-participants as "mundanes".
  • In science fiction fandom, some fans classify all non-fans as "mundanes."[6]
  • In text-based online role-playing games, the term is commonly used to refer to the player as opposed to their character, typically shortened to "mun".
  • In the science fiction television series Babylon 5, telepathic humans (especially Psi Corps members) classify all non-telepathic humans as "mundanes". The classification is employed mainly, but not solely, by telepathic characters who have telepath-supremacist ideologies (such ideologies being one of the issues dealt with by the series), and was deliberately chosen to mirror the classification in science fiction fandom.[7]
  • In the scope of the software communities of free and open-source software some proponents [citation needed] of the respective movements classify those that do not know enough about their views as "mundanes".
  • In the vampire lifestyle circles the word "mundane" means "non-sanguinarian", although some consider it derogatory.
  • Mundane science fiction is science fiction that does not make use of interstellar travel or other common tropes of the genre.[8]

See also

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References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mundane

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from Grokipedia
Mundane is an meaning ordinary, commonplace, or relating to the practicalities of , as opposed to spiritual, intellectual, or fantastical matters. Derived from the Latin mundus ("world"), it originally denoted things of the earthly in contrast to the divine or heavenly. The term appears in various contexts, including , , , , and , as explored in this article. In science fiction, (MSF) is a literary movement that emerged in the early , advocating for stories set in plausible near-future worlds constrained by known physical laws and focused on human experiences on or within the solar system, explicitly rejecting speculative tropes like travel, alien encounters, and alternate dimensions to promote more realistic explorations of societal and technological change. The movement originated from a workshop at Clarion West, where author Geoff Ryman and participants drafted the Mundane Manifesto, a set of guidelines calling for to center on humanity's potential and Earth's resources amid pressing real-world issues like and technological limits, rather than escapist fantasies. This manifesto outlined key restrictions, such as prohibiting or travel, elements, and non-human perspectives unless grounded in plausible biology, aiming to foster narratives that critically engage with contemporary crises and ethical dilemmas. Notable works aligned with mundane principles include classics like George Orwell's 1984 and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, as well as modern examples such as Kim Stanley Robinson's , which extrapolates from current capabilities without invoking implausible physics. The movement has influenced discussions on the role of in addressing global challenges, inspiring sub-variants like Mundane that apply similar realism to marginalized voices and cultural contexts. While not a dominant force, mundane continues to encourage writers to prioritize , emphasizing harm, healing, and sustainable futures in an era of ecological and social urgency.

Linguistic Origins and General Usage

Etymology

The word mundane derives from the Late Latin adjective mundanus, meaning "belonging to the " (as distinct from the spiritual or ), which is derived from the noun mundus denoting "," "," or "the ." In its origins, mundus also connoted "clean" or "elegant," stemming from a mendh- related to and order. This root sense of worldly elegance later narrowed in Late Latin Christian usage to emphasize the material realm over the divine. The term entered English in the mid-15th century through Old French mondain (attested from the 12th century), which carried similar meanings of "worldly," "earthly," or "secular." The earliest recorded English form was mondeyne or mondein, appearing around 1425–1475 in religious and scholarly texts, where it replaced prior Middle English variants. This adoption occurred amid the influence of medieval translations of classical Latin works and patristic writings, which popularized Late Latin terminology in vernacular languages. In its initial English usage, mundane primarily served an purpose, contrasting the temporal, earthly (mundana) with eternal or heavenly domains, as seen in devotional of the period. Spelling evolved from mondeyne to the modern mundane by the late , with shifting from a French-influenced /mɒnˈdeɪn/ to the current /mʌnˈdeɪn/, reflecting anglicization and phonetic standardization in printed texts. Over time, this worldly extended toward senses of the ordinary, though early applications remained tied to theological distinctions.

Definitions and Synonyms

In contemporary English, the adjective "" primarily denotes something ordinary, commonplace, or lacking in and excitement, often evoking the routine or banal elements of daily life. For instance, one might refer to "mundane tasks" such as household chores that feel repetitive and unremarkable. This usage emphasizes practicality and the temporary nature of everyday experiences, contrasting with anything novel or stimulating. A secondary meaning pertains to matters of the or secular world, as opposed to the spiritual or realms. In this sense, "mundane affairs" might describe worldly concerns like or , distinct from heavenly or ethereal pursuits. This connotation traces its to notions of worldliness, reflecting the term's historical association with the earthly sphere. Synonyms for "mundane" in its core sense include "everyday," "prosaic," "banal," "humdrum," and "routine," all conveying a sense of ordinariness or dullness. For example, by explores the details of domestic life to highlight their subtle profundity amid routine. In everyday speech, one might say, "The conference was filled with mundane discussions on budget allocations," underscoring a lack of excitement. Antonyms such as "extraordinary," "transcendent," or "sublime" emphasize the opposite qualities of wonder or elevation. In the secondary sense, synonyms like "worldly" or "earthly" align with its focus on the tangible world. Contemporary nuances show little variation between American and British English. Overall, the term's application remains consistent across variants, prioritizing lexical precision in both formal and informal registers.

Philosophical and Religious Contexts

Worldly Distinctions

In , delineates a fundamental contrast between the sensible world and the intelligible realm of Forms, with the former representing the mundane, material domain of change, space, and time that is perceived through the senses and inherently deficient. The sensible world consists of particulars that partake imperfectly in the eternal, unchanging Forms, such as Itself or Itself, which exist in a transcendent, divine-like accessible only through reason. This binary underscores the mundane as an illusory shadow of true reality, where everyday objects and experiences fail to capture the perfection of ideal essences. In Christian theology, Augustine further develops this earthly-spiritual dichotomy through his notion of the saeculum, the temporal era between humanity's Fall and Christ's second coming, characterized by mutability, sin, and the intermingling of divine and human elements in historical time. Contrasted with divine eternity—the immutable, infinite saeculum futurum—the saeculum embodies the mundane realm of suffering and ambiguity, where the City of God and the City of Man coexist amid worldly affairs. Augustine's framework positions mundane existence as a probationary space governed by God's providence, yet fraught with the limitations of finite human temporality. Medieval scholasticism, exemplified by , employs "mundane" to denote temporal domains like and , which Aquinas treats as natural extensions of human sociability ordered by reason but subordinate to eternal . In his Summa Theologiae, Aquinas argues that political society pursues the through just governance, while economic practices, such as fair exchange and the prohibition of usury, reflect commutative and within the bounds of . These worldly concerns, though essential for moral life, remain imperfect applications of eternal principles, directing humans toward ultimate beatitude in the divine order. Modern philosophical interpretations, particularly in existentialism, revive the mundane-spiritual tension through Martin Heidegger's analysis of everydayness (Alltäglichkeit) and das Man (the "they" or anonymous public), portraying routine existence as a fallen immersion in conformist social norms that obscure authentic being. In Being and Time, Heidegger describes das Man as the average, inauthentic mode where individuals dissolve into collective habits and equipmental dealings, echoing the philosophical devaluation of mundane routines as barriers to resolute, individual existence toward death. This conception highlights the existential risk of worldly absorption, urging a retrieval of the self beyond the levelling dictates of everyday averageness.

Historical Philosophical Applications

In , the term "mundane" denoted the earthly, worldly domain in which and moral action unfolded, reviving classical philosophies that emphasized engagement with everyday civic and social life over ascetic withdrawal. Desiderius Erasmus exemplified this by critiquing the vanities of mundane existence in his early 16th-century satire The Praise of , where he lampooned the follies of wealth, power, and social pretension as distractions from a philosophia Christi rooted in . Erasmus's approach integrated spiritual ideals with mundane concerns, portraying the revival of classical learning as a means to reform worldly vanities and foster virtuous living in the here-and-now. During the Enlightenment of the , "mundane" came to signify the empirical, observable reality accessible through sensory , sharply distinguished from abstract metaphysics by thinkers like and . employed the term in his philosophical writings to underscore the tangible sufferings and absurdities of mundane life, as in , where he derided Leibnizian metaphysical optimism in favor of cultivating one's garden—practical action within the empirical world. Similarly, 's confined legitimate philosophical inquiry to mundane impressions and ideas derived from , rejecting metaphysical speculations about causation or the as beyond verifiable . The 19th and 20th centuries saw "mundane" applied in and phenomenology to emphasize earthly and perceptual foundations, respectively. John Stuart Mill's centered on promoting mundane happiness as the ultimate ethical goal, prioritizing the greatest aggregate pleasure in daily human affairs through social reforms like education, rather than transcendent or ends. In 20th-century phenomenology, used "mundane" to describe the "natural attitude"—the uncritical acceptance of the everyday world's existence—and advocated bracketing these mundane perceptions via the to uncover transcendental essences underlying experience.

Mundane Astrology

Overview and History

Mundane astrology is the branch of astrology that examines collective and global events, including the affairs of nations, , wars, and , through the analysis of charts such as solar ingresses, eclipses, and national horoscopes. The term derives from the Latin mundus, meaning "," reflecting its focus on worldly or public matters as opposed to individual horoscopes. This distinguishes it from nativities or personal astrology, emphasizing instead the astrological influences on societies and large-scale phenomena. The origins of mundane astrology trace back to ancient Babylonian practices around the BCE, where it emerged as a distinct form of concerned with the welfare of states and rulers. It developed further during the , with foundational principles outlined by in the 2nd century CE in his , particularly Book II, which associates planets and signs with specific nations and regions. In the medieval era, these ideas were expanded and formalized in works like Guido Bonatti's Liber Astronomicus (c. ), a comprehensive that applied astrological cycles to historical and political events in . Mundane astrology experienced a revival during the and into the , notably through English astrologer William Lilly's 17th-century almanacs and prognostications, which accurately forecasted events like the and the based on national charts. In the 20th century, it saw renewed application to global , with astrologers like H.S. Green publishing Mundane or National Astrology around 1911 to address predictions of major conflicts, and Charles E.O. Carter analyzing the Second World War in his studies on the astrology of war and peace during the 1940s. These efforts highlighted mundane astrology's role in interpreting large-scale historical cycles amid two world wars.

Key Techniques and Interpretations

In mundane astrology, core techniques revolve around the analysis of specific astrological charts to forecast national and global events. The Aries ingress chart, cast for the moment the Sun enters 0° Aries, serves as a primary tool for annual predictions, delineating themes for the forthcoming year based on planetary positions and aspects at that ingress. Lunar phases, particularly eclipses, are examined for timing shorter-term events, with ancient traditions associating their degrees and durations to the magnitude and location of impacts, such as a lunar eclipse on the 14th day signaling leadership crises. Great conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn, occurring approximately every 20 years, mark longer cycles of societal expansion or contraction, influencing political and economic shifts over decades. National charts, derived from a country's founding date and time, provide foundational baselines for interpreting these cycles relative to a specific nation's destiny. Planetary significators assign symbolic roles to celestial bodies in representing collective entities and dynamics. The Sun signifies rulers and leaders, embodying national vitality and governmental authority. Mars denotes conflicts, actions, and , often highlighting wars or civil unrest when afflicted. Saturn represents restrictions, economic hardships, and the broader structures of the state, including land and resources, with its placements indicating periods of or institutional challenges. These significators are interpreted within house assignments, where the 1st corresponds to the general populace and , the 7th house to open enemies and alliances, and the 6th house to or matters. Interpretations often draw on historical alignments to illustrate these techniques. For instance, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction at the start of Cancer in 1914 was linked to the outbreak of , symbolizing intense structural breakdowns and transformative conflicts affecting empires. In a modern context, the 2000 Jupiter-Saturn in Taurus, combined with the U.S. Aries ingress chart showing Mars retrograde near the 6th house cusp, foreshadowed military engagements like the and post-9/11 security shifts. Contemporary applications include using Saturn-Pluto conjunctions, such as the 2020 alignment, to predict economic cycles and global crises like the , while ingress charts inform election outcomes by assessing leadership significators in angular houses.

Mundane Science Fiction

Origins and Manifesto

Mundane emerged as a literary movement in 2004, inspired by an idea from British writer Julian Todd and coined by author Geoff Ryman during his tenure as an instructor at the Clarion West Writers Workshop in . Ryman, along with participants from the 2004 class, developed the concept in response to the dominance of escapist tropes that they viewed as increasingly disconnected from real-world scientific and social realities, particularly amid rising global concerns in the early 2000s. The movement aimed to refocus the genre on plausible, Earth-centered narratives that engage with contemporary issues like and technological limits. Central to the movement is the "Mundane Manifesto," drafted and signed by and the Clarion West 2004 class, which establishes self-imposed constraints to ensure scientific rigor and relevance. The manifesto explicitly prohibits (FTL) travel, FTL communication, , , aliens (except in highly limited, non-interstellar contexts), alternative universes, parallel worlds, magic, and supernatural elements, insisting instead on stories confined to or the solar system using only known or reasonable extrapolations. It emphasizes narratives that prioritize human experiences, cultural dynamics, and pressing societal challenges, rejecting interstellar fantasies as implausible and ethically irresponsible distractions from planetary crises. The manifesto's principles draw from the tradition of , particularly the works of authors like , whose explorations of near-future societies, ecological limits, and —such as in Robinson's —model the grounded speculation Mundane SF seeks to promote. By aligning with these influences, the movement positions itself as an evolution of rigorous, issue-driven storytelling that uses to illuminate rather than evade the constraints of our world.

Characteristics and Notable Works

Mundane science fiction emphasizes human-scale narratives grounded in plausible extrapolations of current technology and societal trends, often exploring themes such as , ethics, and without relying on , alien encounters, or faster-than-light propulsion. These stories prioritize Earth's finite resources and the consequences of human actions, rejecting elements like generation ships or galactic empires in favor of realistic, near-future scenarios that highlight and technological limitations. The subgenre draws on the Mundane Manifesto's rules, which limit speculation to solar system-bound settings and human-centric innovations like and , fostering a disciplined approach to that aligns with verifiable physics. Key examples include Geoff Ryman's Air (2007), a low-key tale of global technological adoption in a remote village, illustrating social disruption from emerging networks without supernatural or extraterrestrial intrusions. Kim Stanley Robinson's Aurora (2015) critiques the romanticized notion of interstellar migration through a generation ship's doomed voyage, underscoring ecological and engineering challenges within realistic constraints. The anthology When It Changed (2009), edited by Ryman, collects stories focused on cultural and social transformations on Earth, inspired by Joanna Russ's work and adhering to mundane principles to explore human potential amid change. The movement has sparked debates over its potential to constrain creative speculation, with critics arguing that prohibiting core science fiction tropes like aliens or undermines the genre's exploratory essence and risks producing overly restrictive narratives. Proponents, however, praise mundane SF for its relevance to pressing real-world issues, such as , by promoting stories that encourage sustainable thinking and critique resource waste without escapist fantasies. This tension reflects broader discussions on science fiction's role in addressing contemporary crises, with endorsements from literary outlets highlighting its alignment with hard science accuracy.

Cultural and Subcultural Uses

In Fandom and Subcultures

In science fiction and fantasy , the term "mundane" has been used since the to denote individuals who are not participants in fan activities, often referring to " uninterested in genre tropes such as spaceships, aliens, or . In fantasy contexts, the slang term "mundie" (plural "mundies") refers to a mundane, meaning an ordinary, non-magical person. This emerged in early fanzines, where it contrasted the immersive world of with everyday society. At conventions like , "mundane" became common parlance to describe non-fans encountered in shared spaces, such as hotel guests puzzled by costumed attendees. Within these subcultures, the term carries humorous or affectionate connotations, though it can underscore a perceived divide between dedicated fans and outsiders, reinforcing fandom's and "otherness." Fanzines like File 770 frequently employed "mundane" in this way, poking fun at real-world intrusions or non-fannish behaviors while celebrating fan identity. For instance, contributors might jest about "mundane pursuits" pulling fans away from conventions, highlighting the tension between subcultural passion and ordinary life. The usage extends to role-playing games (RPGs), particularly in systems like World of Darkness, where "mundane" describes non-supernatural elements or ordinary humans, often representing real-world disruptions to immersive play. In Mage: The Ascension, mundane rotes refer to magical effects mimicking everyday reality, while in Demon: The Descent, Mundane Embeds allow characters to blend into normal society by concealing supernatural traits. Online RPG communities similarly use the term for out-of-character discussions or logistical interruptions that break immersion, echoing fandom's broader distinction between fantastical engagement and prosaic reality. In film and television, the term "mundane" frequently underscores contrasts between everyday routines and more exceptional or niche pursuits. The sitcom (2007–2019) uses it to highlight the protagonists' expertise in geek culture and against their ineptitude at ordinary tasks, such as Leonard's struggle to master driving in "The Euclid Alternative," portraying mundane activities as comically challenging barriers to normalcy. Similarly, the 1999 film , directed by , employs "mundane" to satirize corporate drudgery, with protagonist Peter Gibbons rebelling against the repetitive tedium of office jobs like handling TPS reports and printer malfunctions, capturing the soul-crushing banality of white-collar life. In literature and music, "mundane" appears to juxtapose the ordinary with the extraordinary or introspective. Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979) amplifies mundane elements—like a cup of tea or bureaucratic paperwork—into absurd cosmic scenarios, using this contrast to mock human pretensions and explore existential themes through humor. In indie rock, artists often invoke mundane routines to evoke relatable ennui; for instance, Courtney Barnett's "Avant Gardener" (2013) begins with "It's a , it's so mundane / What exciting things will ever happen in my lifetime?" to depict the monotony of illness and isolation amid everyday suburbia. Such references in songs like those curated in playlists on ordinary life further embed the term in musical expressions of routine struggles. Since the , "mundane" has permeated memes and online discourse to frame relatable ordinary experiences, evolving into viral shorthand for shared banalities. The phrase "Mundane Monday," popularized on platforms like , encapsulates the dreariness of weekly restarts, with users posting about coffee rituals or traffic woes to humorously normalize everyday hurdles and build community around the unremarkable. This usage extends to broader viral content celebrating "relatable struggles," such as viral threads on subreddits discussing the quiet absurdities of , reflecting a cultural embrace of the prosaic in digital spaces. During the (2020–2023), the term gained renewed traction in memes about routines, like endless Zoom calls or home workouts, as seen in trends hashtagged #MundaneLife (over 500 million views as of 2023).

References

  1. https://www.etymonline.com/word/mundane
  2. https://oxfordre.com/communication/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-1214
  3. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-history-of-science-fiction/on-not-defining-science-fiction-an-introduction/D2AE2A7F10F47811FA084FBE81FA1243
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  5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41505324_Introduction_Mundane_Science_Fiction_Harm_and_Healing_the_World
  6. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/mundane_adj
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  8. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mundane
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  11. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-metaphysics/
  12. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/8/477
  13. https://iep.utm.edu/thomas-aquinas-political-philosophy/
  14. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heidegger/
  15. https://www.astro.com/astrowiki/en/Mundane_Astrology
  16. https://www.astro.com/astrowiki/en/Guido_Bonatti
  17. https://www.skyscript.co.uk/lilly.html
  18. https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupid?key=olbp91681
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  20. https://www.skyscript.co.uk/ingresses.html
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  22. https://www.alabe.com/text/Stamenkovic-TradMund.html
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  26. https://www.locusmag.com/2006/Issues/01Ryman.html
  27. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1168&context=dissunl
  28. https://locusmag.com/feature/geoff-ryman-maximum-change/
  29. https://theunderdogpress.com/blogs/news/mundane-never-means-boring-speaking-on-mundane-science-fiction
  30. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/may/02/thereallyexcitingsciencefi
  31. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mundie
  32. https://www.jstor.org/stable/455177
  33. https://fanac.org/Fannish_Reference_Works/Fan_terms/Fan_terms-06.html
  34. https://mediarep.org/bitstream/handle/doc/12927/Convergence_Culture_Reconsidered_139-159_Kader_When_in_Rome.pdf?sequence=1
  35. https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Mundane
  36. https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstreams/3b287192-a538-4642-b33a-044868d68a56/download
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1256036/plotsummary/
  38. https://time.com/3739516/michael-bolton-office-space-funny-or-die-video/
  39. https://www.readinista.com/book-review-of-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-hitchhikers-guid/
  40. https://genius.com/Courtney-barnett-avant-gardener-lyrics
  41. https://www.song-bar.com/song-blog/playlists-songs-about-the-boring-dull-ordinary-and-mundane
  42. https://www.reddit.com/r/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon/comments/1otbdh8/mundane_monday_daily_hangout_thread_10_november/
  43. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/mundanelife
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