Absurdity Quote by Noam Chomsky
“French intellectual life has, in my opinion, been turned into something cheap and meretricious by the 'star' system. It is like Hollywood. Thus we go from one absurdity to another - Stalinism, existentialism. Lacan, Derrida - some of them obscene ( Stalinism), some simply infantile and ridiculous ( Lacan, Derrida). What is striking, however, is the pomposity and self-importance, at each stage.”
About This Quote
The rise of celebrity culture in academia reduces serious scholarship to superficial fame, mirroring Hollywood’s shallow spectacle.
In simple terms: Star system cheapens intellectual work, making it like Hollywood.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess the influence of fame on scholarly value.
Themes
intellectual integrity
celebrity culture
academia
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- university conferences
- media appearances
- publishing
- online platforms
Key Concepts
media influence
public intellectuals
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fame affect academic rigor?
- Can popular appeal coexist with deep scholarship?
A Different Perspective
Fame can also bring broader reach and funding for research.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
