The Importance Of Being Intellectual

In recent years, being a nerd has become popular to the point where many people have tried to dress like nerds and they pretend to be nerds. No longer is being intellectual seen as being different and weird. As Richard Hofstadter points out, the actual intellectual fear that they are losing what makes them them because now it is difficult to distinguish an intellectual from a poser. Nerds do not feel alienated anymore, Hofstadter points out that they do not appreciate that. I agree with him that being intellectual is more popular, however I do not agree that it is something to fear and it is easy to distinguish intellectuals and non-intellectuals. Because there is more representation of nerds, more people feel more comfortable being nerds, although that does not mean that intellectuals ought to conform.

Intellectualism has become more accepted to the point where intellectuals are not mocked and are seen as cool. For example, Big Bang Theory is a popular television show about a group of intellectuals. In the show, the intellectuals are the main characters and not background characters who are teased or bullied. Also in the new Disney show “Girl Meets World,” there is a main character who is seen

as the nerd and the smart one. Even though, he is smart and different that does not stop his classmates from being friends with him. They actually interact and spend time with him and they even stand up for him when someone bullies of him. Also in both shows, they have female intellectuals which offers more representation for women. Although, intellectuals have become more accepted that does not mean they are required to conform. In both shows, the intellectuals dress in a certain way that distinguishes them from non-intellectuals. Also, intellectuals have different interests than non-intellectuals that does not mean that they need to give up their interests to hang out with their non-intellectual friends. They are still able to do the activities that make them different and their non-intellectual do not tease them for it and they do not try to be like them.
Intellectuals will not conform because they are always trying to stand out.

Like Benjamin Nugent points out in “Who’s a Nerd, Anyway?” intellectuals use language as a way of standing out. While others are using slang or “vernacular English”, intellectuals use “Standard English.” From what Mary Bucholtz studied, intellectuals do not try to fit in, they try to be different. “By cultivating an identity perceived as white to the point of excess nerds deny themselves the aura of normality… nerds may even be viewed as ‘traitors to whiteness,’” (Nugent 2). Nugent is referring to how Caucasians tend to appropriate African-American culture, on the other hand Caucasian nerds refuse to do that. Instead the nerds make their own identity instead of appropriate another culture to fit

in.
One of the reasons that being a nerd has become popular might be because more people of color are becoming nerds. Like Nugent points out Caucasians tend to follow what African-Americans are doing and since African-Americans have become interested in being nerds, Caucasians followed them. And the reason more people of color are becoming nerd is because they have more representation in nerd culture. In comic books, as Adam Serwer points out in “What Color Is Your Superhero?”, now there are more people of color. Serwer says that comics now have “heroes of color such as Mr. Terrific, Static Shock and Black Panther,” (Serwer 1). Having more representation helps nerds of color have someone to identify with. It also gives them an opportunity to be a public nerd. They no longer need to hide their nerdiness since they have a reason to be a nerd. They are no longer required to conform to their peers who are not nerds to fit in.
Even if America has become pro-intellectual that does not mean that they it is necessary for them to conform to the majority. Intellectuals, like most people strive to be unique and different. Richard Hofstadter says as nerds are becoming “increasingly recognized, incorporated, and used, they will begin merely to conform.” I disagree considering even if nerds are used or their culture is appropriated, it is easy to recognize who is an intellectual and who is not. People who dressed as nerds for fashion look different than regular nerds on the grounds that they’re trying to look cool. For example, when the nerd glasses become popular you could tell who was wearing glasses for fashion considering most of the time they would have the lenses taken out of their glasses. Also, what separates intellectuals from non-intellectuals is how they speak, they have a different way of speaking. When an intellectual speaks, from the moment they open they utter their first words, you know they’re smart. Non-intellectuals appropriating nerd culture are only doing for the fashion and for the most they are not trying to speak or behave like actual intellectuals.
In conclusion, yes there isn’t much of anti-intellectualism as nerd culture has become popular. Thanks to comic books and television, more people want to be nerds nevertheless that does not necessarily mean there isn’t a distinction between actual intellectuals and non-intellectuals. Nerds have always stood out and they continue to stand out, even if everyone is trying to be like them. Intellectuals stand out as a result of how they dress and how they talk. So, intellectuals should not worry about conforming since it is easy to distinguish nerds from others.