Public Intellectuals

As we read and you discussed in your video lectures, the concept of a public intellectual implies some sort of superiority which I'm not sure I'm comfortable with accepting. I think I take the stance that anyone posing interesting questions or critique could themselves be a public intellectual. With that said, some of the thinkers I particularly enjoy in the public sphere are:

Rachel Maddow-I enjoy her investigative approach to critiquing current political events, she also relates current issues back to issues of the past. I feel her reporting gives a bigger picture of political happenings.

Laverne Cox- There's a whole debate about whether actors should be involved in politics. This is similar to the public intellectual debate, but celebrities recently have been put on blast for voicing their opinions. I think what I most appreciate about Laverne is she is politically active as a person of color and a trans woman. I find she often is calm and educating about trans issues that even people who are queer friendly aren't enlightened on.

Jon Stewart- He is just one of many comedian commentators that I think are valuable public intellectuals. They make important news accessible and entertaining to the mainstream. I think he and others provides valuable critique or at least introduces the issues to people who might otherwise not seek them out.