The Unseen Intellectualism That Surrounds Us
As students are compelled to study literature and philosophy, many have the image that these academic subjects are reserved for the upper class. However, the reality as depicted by Gerald Graff in “Hidden Intellectualism” is that a significant portion of people possess intellectual capabilities that are found beyond traditional classroom settings. Graff emphasizes that these individuals hold a valuable understanding of the world through “street smarts” or pop culture. The writer’s narrative on hidden intellectualism portrays how it provides an alternate route to develop academic skills.
What is Hidden Intellectualism?
According to Graff, hidden intellectualism is a term used to illustrate intellectual potential tied to none scholastic matters. It relates to a current phenomenon where individuals possess the cognitive capacity to excel in academic subjects, but do not exhibit such competencies in classroom settings. Graff, through his presentation of personal examples, highlights the significance of social networks and the interactive nature of popular culture that promotes such intellectualism.
The Importance of Street Savvy
Graff’s encourages the use of “street smarts” to navigate through life for intellectual enrichment rather than relegating such individuals as intellectually inferior. Popular culture serves as a platform for developing communicative and analytical skills with individuals examining the underlying theme of media and constantly criticizing it. Through street savvy, individuals have the ability to understand the complexities of society and helps to capture knowledge that textbooks cannot.
Academic Education and Hidden Intellectualism
Graff argues that academic education should not ignore hidden intellectual abilities and focus only on traditional academic subjects. He encourages instructors to take into consideration an individual’s interests and strong points while designing curriculums. This means that educators must incorporate practical frameworks that are informed by non-scholastic strengths in the creation of academic curriculums. By doing so, individuals who do not possess academic interest will be thriving in the educational system.
The Role of Popular Culture in Hidden Intellectualism
Graff states that popular culture creates an environment in which people are interactive and regularly exchanging their thoughts. Young people exercise their intellectual actions when interpreting movies, music, television, and other pop culture content. The understanding of such content entails developing a conversational dialogue that requires cognitive analysis, critical thinking, and interpretation of the meaning.
The Takeaway
The take home of “hidden intellectualism” is that intellectualism encompasses more just academic issues, but is embodied in societal norms. Through popular culture, people can develop a perspective that is broader which leads them towards academic success. Hidden intellectualism provides a platform where skills developed outside the scholastic domain can help individuals thrive in academic challenges. From high-Brow literature to pop culture, Graff suggests that intellectual enrichment should take an all-encompassing holistic approach.
