2008 Woodie Awards
Outing what's in : Why it's chic to be geek
Popular culture is changing what is considered cool
Erich Pilcher
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: A&E
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In America there is one thing that everyone agrees with. This one thing is known as popular culture. Yes when you hear about the next big thing, that is popular culture talking to you. However there is a new trend in popular culture that has become "the next big thing" and we have missed it. That next big thing is that all of a sudden being a geek is cool.
Think about it for a minute, when your computer malfunctions where do you take it? Probably to Best Buy and they have it repaired by the Geek Squad. And wait it gets better. Who is one of the richest men in America right now that could be considered a geek, by the standards set forth by popular culture? Bill Gates.
Think back to some of the top grossing films of the past 10 years. Included in that list are The Matrix films, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and the Star Wars Prequels. People camped out overnight, and in some areas weeks, before the release date. In the early 90s these movie geeks would have been ridiculed beyond belief.
Now, I know that some of these people have been made fun of by numerous T.V. personalities but that means they are getting press and most people think it is cool that a group shows this much dedication and passion.
In the world of video games the next generation world of gaming had the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 taking the world by storm. However, limited numbers and over-hyping caused many people to camp outside local retailers for days waiting for these new machines to be released.
On CNN one man told reporters he lied and told his bosses that his grandmother died so he could wait in line for a PS3. Days later the story broke that the man was fired. However his legend was forever etched in the book and folklore of geekdome.
When did playing video games, reading comic books, waiting in line for hours, and in some cases, days for movies and playing games online for hours on end not only become acceptable but cool? Could it be back in 1989 when a young 16-year-old doctor captured the hearts of America? This actor was, of course, Doogie Howser M.D.
Who taught us it was ok to flaunt your intellect and get drop-dead gorgeous women to boot? Could it be when Steve Urkel in the T.V. classic Family Matters finally gained the affections of Laura Winslow? Or perhaps it was when a lovable band of geeks, with names such as Booger, Wormser and Tikashi otherwise known as the Tri-Lambs, took out the jocks at Adams College in the Revenge of the Nerds saga and proved geeks were truly here to stay.
It is hard to say when the geek pop culture uprising occurred. The fact is, no matter what, the geeks have taken their place in popular culture.
So it is official, geek is now chic.
Think about it for a minute, when your computer malfunctions where do you take it? Probably to Best Buy and they have it repaired by the Geek Squad. And wait it gets better. Who is one of the richest men in America right now that could be considered a geek, by the standards set forth by popular culture? Bill Gates.
Think back to some of the top grossing films of the past 10 years. Included in that list are The Matrix films, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and the Star Wars Prequels. People camped out overnight, and in some areas weeks, before the release date. In the early 90s these movie geeks would have been ridiculed beyond belief.
Now, I know that some of these people have been made fun of by numerous T.V. personalities but that means they are getting press and most people think it is cool that a group shows this much dedication and passion.
In the world of video games the next generation world of gaming had the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 taking the world by storm. However, limited numbers and over-hyping caused many people to camp outside local retailers for days waiting for these new machines to be released.
On CNN one man told reporters he lied and told his bosses that his grandmother died so he could wait in line for a PS3. Days later the story broke that the man was fired. However his legend was forever etched in the book and folklore of geekdome.
When did playing video games, reading comic books, waiting in line for hours, and in some cases, days for movies and playing games online for hours on end not only become acceptable but cool? Could it be back in 1989 when a young 16-year-old doctor captured the hearts of America? This actor was, of course, Doogie Howser M.D.
Who taught us it was ok to flaunt your intellect and get drop-dead gorgeous women to boot? Could it be when Steve Urkel in the T.V. classic Family Matters finally gained the affections of Laura Winslow? Or perhaps it was when a lovable band of geeks, with names such as Booger, Wormser and Tikashi otherwise known as the Tri-Lambs, took out the jocks at Adams College in the Revenge of the Nerds saga and proved geeks were truly here to stay.
It is hard to say when the geek pop culture uprising occurred. The fact is, no matter what, the geeks have taken their place in popular culture.
So it is official, geek is now chic.
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