Against Pretension

Are you a fart sniffer in need of relief?

A Clockwork Orange, dir. Stanley Kubrick (1972)

Author’s Note: This post will not be my most eloquent essay, but I felt that my opinion on this topic deserved a long post. I am writing this with the intention to fire it off as soon as I am finished.

P.S. This post is injected with a pinch of humour to lighten things up because whatever I say will likely be subject to (perhaps unfriendly) opposition.

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Dear Reader,

The fart-sniffers are losing their damn minds!

There has been a recent rise in an almost Beatlemania style frenzy about “the rise of anti-intellectualism”. These lamentations about the “wilful stupidity” of modern society are coming from all directions. Much of this discourse stems from some TikTok videos from would-be readers who have been complaining about the chapters being “too long” or there being “too many words”.

Are these videos surprising? Yes! Are they a little silly? Yes! But is calling these people stupid going to help? Not at all.

A few years ago, I got in a taxi to read poetry at an open mic. When the driver learned of this, he asked:

“Oh, so are you a proper nerd?”

I’m well-versed in this kind of response to my more ‘intellectual’ interests. It really doesn’t bother me at all. Do you know why? Because it comes from people who are lost. These people haven’t found the path of enrichment yet, but we can help them. Their aversion to arts and culture can stem from many places, such as background, a previous experience, or a misunderstanding of what those things provide.

A subset of society has a problem with the term, “let people enjoy things,” and it’s getting out of hand. They huff and puff from their armchairs about how people refuse to see why the curtains are blue; blowing smoke rings from their pipe.

Here is an imaginary conversation:

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Fart: But you mustn’t reduce a book down to its tropes. This is simply reductive and undermines authorial intent and the context surrounding it.

Bubbles: Tropes help me choose what books to read. Besides, I read for fun.

Fart: That author spent a decade researching this book, but all you care about is whether it is enemies-to-lovers or not!

Bubbles: This isn’t school! If you want in-depth analysis, find another video to watch.

Fart: *sighs* We’re doomed.

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Does this look like a productive conversation to you? This faux concern for the perceived intellect of strangers is wasted energy. Do you know how Bubbles might become intrigued by deeper analysis? By showing your passion!

Being passionate about something is the most effective way to corral a crowd. If I am walking down a busy street, I am staying far away from the preacher screaming about my eternal damnation, and I will go to the woman with a leaflet and a keen ear. Shouting at a child to eat their vegetables will only keep them away forever, whereas if you helped them to see the benefits in their own time, they will be mighty keen to eat their greens for years to come.

While it is true that governments loathe an educated society, catastrophising someone’s lack of engagement in arts and culture will kill any burgeoning interest. Advocations for snobbery disguised as “being educated” is a fool’s errand. Pretension is a sickly beast living alone on top of a hill who kicks down the climbers, all the while raving about the view.

I am not a fart sniffer, but I have the interests of one. I enjoy art, theatre, poetry, writing, drawing, information gathering, etc. Though I do not deem myself an inhaler of Poo de Parfum, I have lapses of reason: for example, ranting about a quizzers lack of knowledge. But what I must remember is that the pond reflects all who come to gaze at its silver.

I would adore for those who say they “switch their brain off” while reading to find the joy in critical thinking, but the reality is that they may not be ready to—and that’s ok! Maybe they will find in five years time that they love writing in-depth reviews? Preaching to someone already walking away will not make them come to you.

As a Classics reader, I am more than used to being side-eyed, and I can understand why. Those who don’t read such works have only ever had bad experiences with readers like me; probably people who made them feel inadequate and stupid. It doesn’t have to be this way!

We live in a world of extremes. Either people are not reading enough or they are not reading the books you believe are worth the paper they’re printed on. This will never instill curiosity in those you seek to lead. We are all aware of our natural instinct to do the opposite of what is told to us.

Are fart sniffers what they are because they truly love it or because they understand how it looks? If two people love each other, they are comfortable being in the same reason. On the other hand, if you experience unrequited love, the subject of such is likely pulling away as you try to hug them. Just as you cannot make someone love you, you cannot force people to partake in activities considered good for the progression of society.

So you see, dear reader, fart sniffing is a wasted endeavour. Store those farts up for a truly repelling person, such as those who love cheese! I jest, of course. But my point remains: the indulgence of pretension and snobbery disguised as societal concern is as bitter as Alexander the Great’s ashes.

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