Analysis Of Nerds And Geeks

He integrates value ethos through “There is something wrong with the system of values in a society that only has derogatory terms like nerd and geek for the intellectually curious and academically serious” (P.1). He declares that American society, which degrades academics to the point where derogatory terms are created is considered wrong since being devoted to education doesn’t indicate unequal amount of work. He states it right to praise anybody that’s committed towards a subject regardless of if it’s based on academics. Fridman utilizes that in order for the readers of the New York Times appreciate intellectuals rather than degrading since any individual dedicated towards any subject is equal to someone pursuing academic success since they all commit their efforts in the process. Then he employs sociological ethos through “For America’s sake, the anti-intellectual values that pervade our society must be fought” (P.6.). Fridman presents that the culture of America spreading anti-intellectualism across the nation is wrong since that states America is ineffective as a country compared to others. Academically driven leaders are those that command a nation towards success so discouraging education is a error in American society. Fridman applies that in order for the readers of the New York Times recognize the value of intellectuals instead of diminishing their worth since individuals successful in

In an essay published in the New Yorker in May 1999, entitled “High-School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies,” writer David Denby analyzes movies targeted towards teenagers and the stereotypes associated with them. He begins his essay by describing the archetypal characters in high school genre films: the vapid popular girl and her athletic male counterpart, and the intellectual outsider and her awkward male counterpart. He then describes the reality of teen life, and compares it to the experience depicted in these films. Next, he analyzes the common theme that the geeky characters are the protagonists, and suggests there are such because of their writer's personal experience and a history of geeks being ostracized. Finally, Denby analyzes the tropes in

The author agrees with the fact that the jocks get the majority of the fame rather than the occupations that deserve it such as teachers. Teachers show kids how to act during the real life and to learn right from wrong. While

In today’s society, constant judgement as to how well you fit in achieves nothing, rather distinguishes hope for improvement. Ideas including being looked down upon for an individual’s intelligence or being pushed aside from groups due to one’s academic ability are becoming an epidemic as those who seek to better themselves are seen as inferiors. The United States today is accustomed to issues as far as the negative deterioration towards those who possess higher mental values. In America Needs Its Nerds by Leonid Fridman, a look into how geeks and nerds are identified, the reality of childhood dilemmas, and the problem in the broad spectrum of the globe are all noted and questioned as to why America as a society expresses such a negative position

In the world of academia, from Graff’s perspective, street smarts are associated with anti-intellectualism. Graff states “we associate the educated life, the life of the mind, too narrowly and exclusively with subjects and texts that we consider inherently weighty an academic.” He argues that educators should broaden their aspect of material they once preserved as inefficient. Graff implies that a person who is studious enough can find substance in any content. He reasons that intellect can be uncovered and observed in various forms, hence the name “hidden intellectualism.” He suggests that the Education system overlooks the interest of the students because they consider their interest irrelevant.

Human brains are programmed with a need to be accepted and not overlooked. Subsequently, it’s not a factor people can usually ignore. Fridman makes comparisons in which nerds, “prefer to build model airplanes rather than get wasted at parties with their classmates, become social outcasts” (Fridman 14). His comparison associates with the individual’s interest that represents social acceptance. Next, Fridman proceeds to explain the social insecurities of “refusal to conform to society’s anti-intellectual values” (Fridman 15). He implies ethos in the example that from a young age kids are forced to look at what is usually socially accepted, and then expected to try and follow others accepted qualities.

In Hidden Intellectualism by Gerald Graff, he begins with the argument of “street-smarts” versus “school-smarts”. Graff explains that school-smarts can be hidden within street smarts and can be learnt through not just talking with friends, but also from the media and our surroundings, hence the “hidden” intellectualism. He goes onto explain that “schools and colleges overlook the intellectual potential of street-smarts” (198) because these types of intellectualism are actually considered anti-intellectualism. Graff then begins to discuss that intellectualism is often looked down upon within schools, and people that are considered “school-smart” are seen as nerdy, or boring. We learn that as a child, Graff was afraid of bullying and

In the article “Hidden Intellectualism” written by Gerald Graff, Graff target college students to inform them about a hidden intellectualism that can be found in our everyday society. In the article Graff draws attention to the many types and ways different people can identify with intellectualism. He argues that people are intelligent in several ways and just need to learn how to plug the intellectualism they enjoy into a school-like setting during classes. He exemplifies this by using his own intellect within sports and such as an adolescent. While being very analytical of sports team movies, and the toughness he and his friends engaged in, he was unknowingly before now trained to be intellect in a class room and other school subjects.

In paragraph 5 lines 37-40, Fridman says , "In most industrialized nations, not least of all our economic rivals in East Asia, a kid who studies hard is lauded and held up as an example to other students". This helps develop his argument because it is comparing completely different places and shows the reader that the U.S has high popularity when it comes to anti-intellectualism whereas for other countries, being a "nerd" or "geek" is normal. This quote shows that students in other countries don't have to be an example or rewarded because they study because where they come from, everyone does that. In the U.S athleticism is more important to most people so students who do pursue their knowledge are held up as examples for the ones who

Towards the end of his third paragraph, Fridman delivers a short statement, “Nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized,” that strongly projects America’s anti-intellectual values. While “nerds” and “athletes” are two obvious, contrasting beings, the antitheses reflected with the isolation of “nerds” and the praising of athletes heavily pushes the notion that “nerds” are being thrown out of a society that only appears to incorporate anti-intellectual values and undervalues scholars. In Fridman’s eighth paragraph, he illustrates how ballplayers, or athletes, are “much more respected and better paid” than the professors of the most reputable universities. Like before, he displays the divergent individuals with conflicting facts, income and respect in this case, that oppose intellectualism and promote anything but intelligence. Fridman’s use of antithesis deepens the questioning and challenge to overcome anti-intellectualism standards in American

I selected the book The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins because I was interested to read about an adult author’s perception of a modern American high school experience. I also chose the book because the reviews mentioned that it related to a TV series I enjoyed, Freaks and Geeks. As I read through the book, I found that it centered around the theory that if a student is excluded or dismissed in high school for having different traits than what other students considered normal, those same traits that made them different will allow them to succeed in an adult life after high school. As soon as I got about a quarter of the way into the book I was not as enthusiastic as I was at first glance. I did agree that these traits could benefit someone, but they don’t define what you have the potential to be when you’re an adult. This high school cliché, despite the seven heartwarming storylines, is inaccurate in describing what the future holds for high school students because our future is unpredictable, and a book with a little statistic and seven high school experiences can’t solidify someone’s adulthood. I also noticed that there were no counterarguments present in the book, leading me to assume that Robbins may not have heavily researched both sides of her ‘quirk’ argument. Although I had differing opinions than the author, the seven characters, their storylines, and the promise of a young James Franco continued to perk my interest and

Author, Alexandra Robbins, in her novel The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth, describes her quirk theory and establishes its credibility as she centers her theory around seven different characters as she narrates their high school experiences. Robbins focuses on the negative effects of popularity and how social norms can affect an individual, regardless of what social group they belong to. She creates an amusing, informative tone in order to appeal to the geeks, freaks, and popular crowds with relatable experiences and strong essays in regards with the social scene, exclusivity, and how one handles a given situation.

Similarly, in Gerald Graff’s essay titled Hidden Intellectualism argues that “street smart” can enhance scholarly thinking. Graff’s knowledge of sports presented an analogy of the two subjects. Graff observes sports bring people together passionately discussing stats, players, and scores. In Graff’s opinion subjects such as sports can be used as an academic tool to gain knowledge in a school setting. Passion can be hidden in some places you already know. Some are obvious, and some you have to search for. Is your passion worth the effort?

(Quote 1) The quote supports the central idea by saying sports helped lives, but the quote also showed that there was racism and sexism in American society and sports helped change them. (Explain 1) Another is, “Owens and Louis marked a turning point. Many white way Americans saw these black athletes as fighting for them.

It is sad to see how these teenagers think of themselves as being cool because of the activities they choose to do, when they each see how it is making them live a shorter life and none of them are doing a thing about it. Life is worth more than feeling cool. Proverbs says, “Since they hated knowledge…the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them” (Proverbs 1:29a, 32). The teenagers in “We Real Cool” have an image of their selves as being cool on the outside because of the badly behaved things they are taking part in and want others to think them as being cool. These teenagers want to think that they are cool for doing the things they do, but they know that the destructive life they live will soon be a factor to their deaths. Brooks demonstrates in “We Real Cool” that even though people acknowledge their own behavior and think of themselves as being cool, their destructive ways will be a part of their short lives and none of their coolness will ever matter again.