The End of the Performative Male Era? Intellectualism Is Back
As attention spans shrink and digital fatigue grows, a new cultural shift suggests being genuinely well read and intellectually curious may be replacing performative taste as the modern marker of status
A new marker of status
A cultural shift is taking shape in 2026 as intellectualism begins to replace performative taste as a marker of status, particularly among young people navigating an increasingly digital and AI-mediated world.
As awareness grows around the cognitive side effects of constant scrolling and outsourced thinking, long-form reading and analog habits are being reframed as tools of resistance. Book sales are rising, public transport is seeing more commuters reading physical books, and cafes are increasingly doubling as informal reading rooms.
For many people, this shift is showing up in small and familiar ways. Friends are starting book clubs again, and people are talking about finishing books the way they used to talk about finishing a series.
The rise of the literary male
The emerging “literary male” reflects this shift, placing value on taste and the ability to contextualize it through knowledge and analysis. In practical terms, this looks less like quoting directors you have never watched and more like actually sitting through a three-hour film without checking your phone.
It looks like reading the book you posted on your story instead of letting it sit on your bedside table for months. The social pressure has shifted slightly. Being interested is no longer enough. Being informed is becoming part of the appeal.
The shift follows years of hyper-visual and highly curated masculinity online, where cultural capital was often signaled through aesthetics rather than depth. In contrast, current trends emphasize actual engagement.
Carrying a book or referencing a film now comes with an implied expectation of having fully consumed and understood it. Social media trends centered on “escaping brain rot” and “becoming disgustingly educated” reflect both humor and a growing anxiety about attention spans and intellectual dependence on technology.
Intelligence as a mainstream aspiration
Intelligence, once framed as niche or secondary to visual desirability, is now re-entering mainstream aspiration. It is not unusual to see people openly talking about wanting to be “smarter” in the same way past trends focused on getting fitter or more productive.
The change is also tied to everyday fatigue with digital life. Many people describe feeling overwhelmed by how much information they consume without retaining. The constant switching between apps, videos, and feeds has created mental restlessness.
Reading a book, watching a full movie without multitasking, or even writing by hand, is increasingly described as grounding. For office workers, students, and creatives alike, analog habits are becoming a way to feel present and focused.
Performance or genuine depth?
Still, questions remain about whether the movement represents a genuine cultural turn toward depth or simply a new form of self-optimization. While data from libraries and long-form digital platforms suggest increased engagement, intellectualism also risks becoming another performance metric.
Reading lists and cultural literacy can function as new forms of social signaling, particularly in online spaces where identity is continuously constructed and displayed. The difference now is that the performance requires more effort. It is harder to fake having read something than it is to post a photo of it.
What distinguishes the current moment is its emotional framing. The return to reading and slower forms of media consumption is often discussed in terms of mental recovery rather than productivity alone. Many young professionals describe a desire to rebuild focus, regain cognitive sharpness, and reconnect with sustained thinking.
Unclear longevity, clear appeal
Whether this signals a lasting renaissance of intellectual culture or a temporary rebranding remains unclear. Cultural trends historically move in cycles, and resistance movements are often absorbed into mainstream consumption.
However, for now, intelligence and curiosity are experiencing renewed cultural value. The growing appeal of difficulty and deep focus suggests a broader recalibration of what status and self-presentation look like in the mid-2020s.
For the public, the shift is more personal. It shows up in deciding to read on the commute instead of scrolling. In choosing a long article and actually finishing it. In watching a movie all the way through without second screening.
Small habits that, taken together, suggest that for many people, being smart is about how you live and think day to day, not just how you appear.
Many people are turning to books as a way to counter digital fatigue and shrinking attention spans. Reading in public has become a way to reclaim focus, engage deeply, and signal genuine intellectual interest.
The term refers to men who prioritize intellectual engagement over performative aesthetics. They read books, watch films fully, and are able to discuss their cultural interests with context and understanding.
Masculinity is shifting from being defined by visual curation and performative taste to valuing knowledge, curiosity, and thoughtful engagement. Intellectual ability is increasingly seen as a mark of status.
Yes, trends like “becoming disgustingly educated” highlight the growing cultural emphasis on reading, learning, and deep thinking. They mix humor with genuine interest in reclaiming focus and cognitive skills.
It is too early to tell if this marks a long-term cultural change or a temporary trend. For now, intelligence and curiosity are gaining renewed value, and many people are adopting analog habits to improve attention and engagement.
