The Current Status in the Modelling of Stellar Atmospheres

The old question whether models of stellar atmospheres are wrong, adequate, or even overelaborated, is discussed with a number of examples from contemporary research as a background. A simple quality classification scheme for models of different types is presented. It is concluded that, in spite of rapid recent progress, we are far from having fully satisfactory theoretical representations of stellar atmospheres. Reasons for continuing the efforts to reach a higher degree of physical consistency in model atmosphere work are discussed.