zeitkritischer

Zeitkritischer is the comparative form of the German adjective zeitkritisch, meaning "critical of the present age" or "contemporary-critical." It describes attitudes, works, or persons that examine, question, or challenge the conditions of the current era, rather than focusing solely on past periods or timeless themes.

Origin and usage: The term combines Zeit (time, era) and kritisch (critical). It is used primarily in German-language discourse—especially in literature, art criticism, philosophy, and journalism—to describe critique aimed at contemporary society. While zeitkritisch is common, the comparative form zeitkritischer appears when comparing two subjects or degrees of critique: "X ist zeitkritischer als Y."

In practice, zeitkritischer can modify a noun or function predicatively: "ein zeitkritischer Roman" or "das Werk ist zeitkritischer geworden." It may denote a stylistic or intellectual stance that foregrounds concerns about the present, such as political accountability, media rhetoric, or social inequality. The related noun Zeitkritik denotes the broader project of critiquing the era, and Zeitkritiker refers to a person who practices such critique.

Translations and nuance: In English, zeitkritisch is often rendered as "contemporary-critical" or "critical of the times." The precise sense depends on context and is closer to discussions of the zeitgeist or to modern social critique found in literature, art, and public discourse.