Savant knowledge?

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Hey Gang,

I know from time to time Savant syndrome (as it's referred to) is often linked to those whom are on the Autism Spectrum I've got a question about that, Many people on various Billy Joel fan forums that I had been associated with have told me that my dept of knowledge of the guys music surpasses the 'typical' knowledge that fans normally have in fact one person pm'ed me on Facebook "Your knowledge is impeccable concerning his recordings, sound..etc. the technical aspects the technical aspects (of his music) is what you know best". Could it be that I have a Savant knowledge on that topic? For some reason my father thinks I'm savant with computers because I know more stuff then he does but my brother bluntly puts it that my knowledge in computers is simply that those in middle and high school knows which more or less I agree with.

There's two topics that I love to talk about one of them is Billy Joel and his music and the other one is Television broadcasting & operations.

Does anybody have a clear(er) definition of what Savant knowledge is?

I'm trying to figure out what areas of knowledge I have that could be considered as "savant" in nature.

If one has VASTLY superior knowledge to an acknowledged "expert" on a subject (e.g., television broadcasting), and awes these "experts" when one exhibits that knowledge, then one is a "savant."

Jimi Hendrix was considered a "savant" with a guitar. Eric Clapton was an acknowledged "expert" on playing guitar. Clapton was awed by Hendrix abilities. I would say that Clapton considered Hendrix a "savant" at playing guitar.

Savant ability is usually something that is coming from autistic brain functioning that is not normal acquired knowledge.
Like people who do instant calendar calculations or any kind of instant calculations that they are not consciously calculating in the normal way but their brain is doing it on another level.
Or people who remember everything that happened every day of their life without trying but their brain is just keeping all those connections.
Or people who can draw something in incredible detail from memory like Steven Wiltshire because their brain is keeping a detailed picture of what they see and they can reproduce it.
Or people like Einstein who are pattern thinkers and have insight into things because their brain is connecting things.
Also people with intense focus can gain a savant like knowledge and understanding about their special interest because their brain is zooming in on that interest.

In the case of a "guitar savant," I would say that one, in most cases, has to know how to play the physical guitar. Perhaps, if a person is incapable of actually playing the physical guitar, yet could teach at a savant level, then this person would be a guitar savant as well.

I don't believe an extensive knowledge of the New York subway system, without actually travelling the routes, would qualify one for "savant status" as it pertains to knowledge of the subway.

If one includes historical information, then it might confer savant status.

billy joel has been a prolific recording artists for several decades. So if you have exhaustive knowledge of the technical aspects of each tracts on his albums- AND- you're not an expert on any other recording artists (are perhaps dont even play an instrument yourself) then -yes- I would say that you are a savant. You have a very deep, but very narrow expertise on one subject. Deeper than most experts of billy joel have.

you're not quite an "idiot savant"- one of those low functioning people who cant go to bathroom by themselves nor dress themselves-but when they sit at a piano they can play as well as Chopin ( or calculate what day of the week it was when columbus landed in 1492 or whatever their skill is). But its kinda like that.

I would label it "encyclopaedic knowledge" vs. "savant knowledge."

Having encyclopaedic knowledge of a subject, especially a special interest, is an Aspie trait.

I suppose "savant knowledge" could be an applicable label for the same thing, though.

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