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Post by aang23 on Mar 9, 2008 0:50:11 GMT -5
Hi, I'm doing a term paper on Anti-Intellectualism in America. I have an idea on what I'm going to write about, I would like some other opinions:
Do you think Anti-Intellectualism is more prevalent in America than elsewhere?
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o8jedi
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Post by o8jedi on Mar 9, 2008 8:49:50 GMT -5
Well, define "Anti-Intellectualism." Looking at it, it makes me think that there's a movement that's encouraging stupidity (which I think is prevalent in popular culture with reality shows putting the spotlight on the worst our society has to offer). On the other hand, it could mean that those who advocate Anti-Intellectualism want to bring the pompous eggheads down a peg, so to speak. This is the first time I've ever heard such a term.
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Atmos
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Post by Atmos on Mar 9, 2008 12:22:33 GMT -5
Here are two definitions of Anti-intellects (from dictionary.com)
1. a person opposed to or hostile toward intellectuals and the modern academic, artistic, social, religious, and other theories associated with them. 2. a person who believes that intellect and reason are less important than actions and emotions in solving practical problems and understanding reality.
There are generally three main different influences that could promote anti-intellectualism:
1. Religious Fundamentalism – tendency of denying or opposing information that may contradict beliefs. 2. Corrupt Politics – dictatorship, authoritarian, and extreme nationalism attempting to limit education of the general public for “intellects” are more likely to question social norms and the currently practiced morality. In this situation the authorities are “intentionally” promoting anti-intellectualism. 3. Popular Culture – as o8jedi, Killer of Threads nicely put it: “putting the spotlight on the worst our society has to offer.” The tendency to make celebrities the center of society’s attention and idolizing them for their fame, materialism, etc.
In America it’s the first and especially the third that may sway the trend of anti-intellectualism.
For religious fundamentalism two events come to head: - you have the fanatics burning “Harry Potter” books because the books teach children evil things. This could be an example of limiting access to literary/artistic development. -then there’s the more persistent attacks on established scientific theories of biology, geology, and astrophysics. The most noted being extreme-creationists attempting to pervert the idea of the scientific method and pass off “creationism” as science. - then there’s the attempt to prevent children from “learning” different religions for instance in a world cultures class whether Christian, Muslim or even Atheist.
In these situations, the people seriously have a bit of a problem understanding the difference between teaching and preaching , that or they are of it and are consciously promoting anti-intellectualism.
With popular culture it’s much more obvious. Pop culture takes away the aim at real world events. The most common (and frankly the sad) example is the consist update on the life of Britney Spears. For some reason every little human error made by this woman is as important news as the current events of the Iraqi War. And then there’s the lasting sensationalism of Reality TV. What I found even most disturbing was when the Discovery Channel and TLC when into the fad of giving shows about House-makeovers and Motorcycle Reality Show.
(Thank God that’s over though…I think Discovery Channel whipped back into shaped when Nat Geo Channel came in to bring some competition, haha. At least Dirty Jobs and MythBusters provide decent learning experience.)
Anyways, another issue with anti-intellectualism can be on the education system. The most criticized issue is the process of “dumbing down” education, expecting everyone to become equally smart in every specific subject.
And when a group of a few are struggling with a grade/curricula, instead of just tending to those few for specific needs, its decided that the grade level is too hard and they take it down a notch for the entire student population, lowering the academic standard.
The “No Child Left Behind Act” has caused quite a controversy in this case.
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As for my quick opinion, as long as I keep seeing Britney Spears on front page news, I’m forced to say there is a significant amount of Anti-Intellectualism in the USA.
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Post by CountessRachel on Mar 9, 2008 23:55:14 GMT -5
Well, as one of my friends put it: "The majority of middle-class America spends their whole day thinking. When they go home, that's probably the last thing they want to do."
And I find that rather true, to a certain extent. The frequency at which Americans can turn off the television and actually say to themselves, "Hm, that show actually taught me something interesting and practical," I'm willing to bet isn't phenomenal. When you have shows like "American Idol, Family Guy," and "South Park," out rating History/Discovery Channel shows by astronomical margins? Definitely says something about our attention spans...
Thing is, people are tired when they get home and lack the energy to engage in critical thinking these days--beyond what they're required anyway. We don't watch television/movies and read books to analyze social commentary and universal themes--we do these things to be merely entertained.
Now. When it comes to the American education, I do find it extremely sad that schools have to resort to dumbing down the standards just to improve the pass rate. But American schools would rather keep pass/fail rates consistent with our foreign peers so as not to look like a country of dunces even though we are. Not to mention so many teachers fear having to suffer some of these monsters another whole year.
On the flip side, I do think that in this decade, we are far more informed than say 20+ years ago. With the Internet available with all kinds of resources like Google and Wiki, there's more of an opportunity to learn (so long as we use good judgment with our sources.) There's a fairly decent chunk of the population that embraces intellectualism--I think we all do, just at different degrees.
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attonbitus
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Post by attonbitus on Mar 10, 2008 13:06:55 GMT -5
I echo what's been said. The only thing I would add is that the US school system is quickly becoming a system to create test takers rather educating youths for the betterment of society.
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Post by Consonant*** on Mar 24, 2008 23:41:02 GMT -5
When you have shows like "American Idol, Family Guy," and "South Park," out rating History/Discovery Channel shows by astronomical margins? Definitely says something about our attention spans... South Park is a good satire. As in you have to be smart to get the jokes.
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Post by CountessRachel on Mar 25, 2008 0:18:05 GMT -5
As are a good chunk of shows...but I daresay the majority of America doesn't really watch and analyze South Park for it's underlying, satirical tones.
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Fireman
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Post by Fireman on Mar 29, 2008 11:39:22 GMT -5
There are stupid people everywere, not just America
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Post by chaobender482 on May 27, 2008 9:49:33 GMT -5
Well seeing this topic seems old, I think speaks for something that makes it more towards Anti-Intellectualism,
We are talking about people who also have mental disorders, and I know there is plenty to worry about when it comes to people say those who have any form of "Autism" are currently the most Stupid people on the face of the earth, well I don't say that, given the fact I am one of those who is very intelligent and well able to get past problems without taking hours to think about it, but sometimes people never believe me and I get harassed or teased for it,
Now that shows you that there are people who don't go by the book or watch the news concerning this kind of stuff, and no offense if this post seems a bit offensive.
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Post by 2X the All-Powerful! on May 27, 2008 13:42:48 GMT -5
You can say that compared with more logical, reasonable nations like Japan or some of the European nations that promote peace and advancement, America promotes envy or worship of celebrities, greed and want of a sense of fulfillment and doing what makes you "feel" right. The reason why people call Americans liberal minded is because we are; we choose what "feels" right over what is right or what has been proven right.
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Post by chaobender482 on May 28, 2008 13:53:44 GMT -5
You can say that compared with more logical, reasonable nations like Japan or some of the European nations that promote peace and advancement, America promotes envy or worship of celebrities, greed and want of a sense of fulfillment and doing what makes you "feel" right. The reason why people call Americans liberal minded is because we are; we choose what "feels" right over what is right or what has been proven right. Well then that would be kinda make the US one of those countries that is less on intelligence and well support on things that might matter later on, it seems to be like that now and days from what I mentioned earlier.
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