Here's the old definition of marketing: 

	The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and
satisfying customer requirements profitably

The new one: 

	The strategic business function that creates value by stimulating,
facilitating and fulfilling customer demand. It does this by building
brands, nurturing innovation, developing relationships, creating good
customer service and communicating benefits. By operating
customer-centrically, marketing brings positive return on investment,
satisfies shareholders and stake-holders from business and the community,
and contributes to positive behavioral change and a sustainable business
future.

Yikes...the inmates are running the asylum...

How about something real simple, like Peter Drucker's view on marketing: 

	The aim of marketing is to make selling superfluous. The aim is to
know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and
sells itself.


source: http://www.emergencemarketing.com/