On eletism and the super bowl

There is a tendency amongst skeptics and perhaps intellectuals everywhere to brag about how they don't indulge in popular past times. In one popular science blog the commenters were climbing over themselves to declare how contemptuous they are of the super bowl. The same blog demonized McDonalds and Walmart and various other aspects of popular culture, crowing about their particular esoteric tastes.

I know that popular culture can sometimes be based on the lowest common denominator and I don't think that everyone should be obsessed with the life of Paris Hilton. Some pop songs are just empty. But at least sometimes popular things are disparaged simply because they are popular or to feel superior, and sometimes immersing yourself in a common celebration is an essential part of being human. It is also necessary if we are to make science understood beyond a select group.

On the other side, Neil deGrasse Tyson described in a recent interview how he watches the super bowl even though he isn't all that into football, just because it is part of our culture and he might get something from that that will allow him to make a connection with others.

In The Happiness Myth: Why What We Think Is Right Is Wrong, Jennifer Michael Hecht summarizes the things that have been an essential part of happiness over the centuries. In addition to knowing yourself, sex, friends, and drugs, she lists celebrations and festivals. In ancient times, bacchanalian multi day festivals were a major part of life. Probably the closest we have today is Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnival in Buenss Aires. The whole community would come together in a communal release and bonding. That has always been one component of human happiness.

At first it would seem we don't seem to have such festivals today, but Hecht points out that things like the super bowl, or the nation on its toes over a boy trapped in a well fill that niche today. It is a bit of common culture that we all indulge ourselves in. This summer I went to a parade in Jamestown. I'm not that big on parades, especially in small towns where a truck with a sign on the side might pass for a float. But thousands in the community came together and celebrated in public and I went and enjoyed it as part of that communal celebration.

If skeptics or intellectuals or scientists insist they are above popular culture, they will never reach or understand most people, and they are also missing out on one of the essentials of a good life. It's OK to let your hair down now and then and get excited about what every one else does. It's OK to watch the super bowl not because you care about the teams, but just because everyone else is. It's OK to dance the Macarena when everyone else is. It's even OK to comment on the latest celebrity gossip or trivial news story that everyone is talking about.

As a teacher, if I can make a reference to a popular movie or other aspect of popular culture, I am much more likely to make a connection and to be remembered that if I ignore the rest of culture. If we want people to care about science, the best way is to show them how it is part of the communal celebration. I wish we had more celebrations based around science or at least nature. In Austin, Texas, people gather near a bridge to watch thousands of bats emerge from under the bridge and fly about. That's cool.

Politicians today are not supposed to be seen as elite. I find that absurd. I want the best possible leader running the country, so he or she should be the best at everything they do. I want an elite running the country, not average Joe. I was repulsed when some politicians played on eletism for political points recently. But being the best doesn't mean you can't enjoy or even immerse yourself occasionally in mass culture. If that is what people mean by being elite, then I might agree. Sometimes scientists are also called an elite. Hopefully they are the elite experts in their fields. But hopefully they do not think that means they cannot eat a McDonald's hamburger while watching the super bowl.