Intellectualism

Anyone can be intellectual? At any educational level, different groups and types of students exist. Intellectualism can be approached and understood in many forms, varying from regular study works, vast literature, and knowledge provided at educational institutions. Often believed that it was only practiced by selected few persons, such as scholars with great academic “intelligence” but as we progress in society, many of the social constructs built over the years, have turned a whole…

for the rest of your life? According to Mike Ross in Blue Colored Brilliance Rose’s mother was only a waitress and didn’t go to college. He believes that she still acquired knowledge through brains and physically. Whereas Gerald Graff in Hidden Intellectualism believes that “street smarts” can turn into successful academic people. In Graff’s story he does a great way of listing the ideas to support how his mother still learned intellectual ideas by not going to college. Whereas Rose, tells…

The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream by Barbara Ehrenreich, Hidden Intellectualism by Gerald Graff, and Nuclear Waste by Richard A. Muller are all articles in the book They Say, I say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein that give readers an example of different types of college level writing styles with the purpose providing them with a source of influence to assist further develop own skills. Looking into these reading superficially, many would observe that these reading all address…

In “Hidden Intellectualism,” Gerald Graff uses examples from his personal life to submit his view of a college education. Mike Rose exemplifies his mother and uncle’s comparable opinions in “Blue Collar Brilliance” to prove his view on a college education. Even though both articles reflect the same view, they use different methods and devices to relay their common interest; although, Graff uses personal experiences, Rose uses standpoints. Confirmed by both Graff and Rose, education is not only…

school activities. Sports, for example, is a common hobby that is subject to a wider scope of debate and talk. This is explored by Gerald Graff, a professor of English and Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his article, “Hidden Intellectualism,” he explores his childhood: “Until I entered college,…

Anti-intellectualism was first proposed in an American historian Hofstadter Richard's book "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life". As Anti-intellectualism has different forms in different countries, he did not give a precise definition for "anti-intellectualism". However, he mentioned a rough definition for it: Anti-intellectualism is hostility to and mistrust of intellect, intellectuals, and intellectualism commonly expressed as deprecation of education and philosophy, and the dismissal of art…

"How come education and intelligence of a character must always be offset by his social ineptitude, or condescending attitude toward his 'techno babble?' How come being above the average in some area is so often portrayed as some sort of socially undesirable eccentricity?" (Maciac) Today's television bolsters the idea that individuals who are viewed as "smart" are lesser class citizens. Children's shows on Disney Channel portray an inaccurate view of intellectuals to viewers causing school…

Penrod believes that nerds are disliked because of their intellectualism, yet the reason they are excluded from social activity is due to a self-fulfilling prediction. He shares with us that today’s society tends to glorify non-intellectuals, such as athletes and celebrities, while the intellectually skilled individuals get left on the sidelines with little recognition for their accomplishments. Most high schools contribute to anti-intellectualism. Several people will not remember who the…

Irony in Good Country People Good Country People by Flannery O’Conner, touches upon the identities of Christians of Southern America and also focuses on the part played by intellectualism and physical challenges in the development of identity of individuals. The entire plot is spiced with tearing irony. There are four clear sections in the story emphasizing the relationships between four prime characters. The irony of the story encompasses the social and religious parameters and the rude outlook…

You Doing Here,” and William Chace, author of “A Question of Honor,” both give their reasoning to this decay of intelligence. Both Edmundson and Chace examine the ways in which colleges and universities play a key role in the problem of “anti-intellectualism” in America. Mark Edmundson informs his readers of his beliefs that college is only the beginning. He starts off his article by addressing this issue with his intended reader, college students. Edmundson speculated that to get a “real…