Camile Paglia on McCain, Obama and Sarah Palin

So?

Just something interesting to read, with observations that transcend this particular election.

As per Paglia's standards, it's an interesting piece. Smart, challenging, unconventional. But it's also true to form in being grating, smug and a chore to read. Each paragraph could be easily boiled down to a couple short sentences without losing much of the meat. Basically agree with her analysis of the cultural importance of the Palin Phenomenon.

Ha! My reactions precisely. I can never decide if she is on my side or not, and I can never decide if she needs to be cheered for busting up conventional liberal wisdom, albeit while dismissing conservative backwoodsmen, or taken down a peg or two for that irritating smarter-than-all-the-rest-of-you attitude.

Paglia's style is symptomatic of someone heavily invested in being The Intellectual (as opposed to, say, an intellectual or that nobler breed, the scholar). Fortunately this pose is less fashionable than it used to be, but it still finds an audience, mainly (but not only) in academia.

I love this distinction between the intellectual and the scholar. "Intellectual," whatever the word should mean, now means someone who agrees with certain political fashions, and agrees with them publicly and polysyllabically. "Scholar " means something deeper, quieter, not as fast-paced or flashy, and completely indifferent to this moment's fads.