performative intellectualism (essay)

How often have you used a fact you discovered on social media in front of other people just to appear more educated? Or changed your opinion to match something you saw in a political meme and its comment section?

Performative intellectualism is like wearing glasses with clear, non-prescription lenses. The desire to be perceived as intelligent often stems less from genuine self-fulfillment and more from a craving for external validation. People may admire the frames of your glasses without questioning whether you can read the fine print, but the greater danger lies in convincing yourself that wearing them somehow makes you more intelligent. 

We often mistake appearance for substance, and the danger is subtle but insidious. Over time, the act of performing intelligence begins to replace genuine inquiry. We start curating our thoughts for social approval rather than personal clarity, and our minds, once curious, become mirrors reflecting what we believe others want to see.

You quote Pride and Prejudice or 1984, not because you’ve read them, but because you’ve seen a 30-second reel. The aesthetic of literary sophistication is enough; understanding the plot or themes is optional. You drop a “fun fact” about quantum mechanics or black holes at a party, even though your knowledge barely scratches the surface to attain the vibe of being scientifically enlightened. You like or share a political meme, not out of conviction, but because it signals that you are engaged, aware, and ideologically “in” with your friends / followers. The truth of the argument matters less than the appearance of participation.

Social media and dinner conversations become stages on which we demonstrate competence rather than cultivate it. In prioritizing perception over comprehension, we risk losing both intellectual honesty and the confidence that comes from knowing something deeply. The glasses may make us look sharper, but without substance behind them, our vision remains superficial, and the world we think we understand is seen only in outline.