Geek Love

Something funny on network tv...who knew?

I was watching the pilot episode of a very entertaining new series called Chuck about a computer tech nerd who has the combined knowledge of the NSA and CIA downloaded into his brain when a theme came to mind. There are always fads running through popular culture, whether it be boy bands, dinosaurs, penguins, etc. While watching Chuck, the latest fad sunk in: Geeks.

Geeks, nerds, whatever anyone would want to call them, are the new "in" thing. Being a geek or nerd, seeing this trend doesn't trouble me at all but I do find it surprising. Media usually sells the image of "cool", an affectless state of culturally established beauty or demeanor. "Cool" doesn't analyze or shows any effort of trying to exist on the exterior, it just is. A geek/nerd is the opposite, it's writing sentences like the ones that preceeded this-analysis and speculation on intellectual minutae for the sake of doing it.

Media for the nerdy is popping up all over the place, presumably an attempt to grab some sweaty dollars from the hands of techies wetting themselves over the pending release of Halo 3. Video games is the media genre showing the most expansion -i.e., money. This latest shift in media is moving from showing what they think nerds want to see (The Matrix) to showing what they may want to be.

The current Holy Grail of geekdom, isn't that right Sarge?

On TV, you have the aforementioned Chuck which had a terrific pilot episode that managed to cram computer viruses, pop culture asides, shots at homogenous corporate structure and spy action into 45 minutes. Other than one actor doing the most practiced Seth Green imitation I've ever seen, it was a lot of fun. Also on TV is the Big Bang Theory about a group of scientists trying to score points with the babe next door.

The gang bang theory - hey, isn't that the kid from Roseanne?

In movies, you have Judd Apatow churning out geek themed product all over the place. He started in TV with Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. Since then, he has gone to movies with The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. All of these have tackled geeky themes like action figure collecting, internet porn and Rush. Top this off with the flood of comic book adaptations over the past decade that has no signs of stopping (I never thought I'd see an X-Men movie, let alone three of them).

Proof there's big money in representin' for us nerds

In music, indie bands have gained commercial traction and even rap is showing signs of life in this area. The current top rapper, Kanye West, probably can't be described as geeky but has shown to have more on his mind than the usual guns, money and girls approach (though he has covered those topics as well, except maybe guns). West has proven to be politically and socially outspoken about actual topics that go beyond pot smoking. I can't say I necessarily agree with him on his point of view but it is refreshing to see a popular artist have one.

Only happy if you agree with him on how great he thinks he is

So what's the facination with high SAT scores and calculus equations all of the sudden? Maybe with the growing unpopularity of The Iraq and such as plus the declining approval of the current administration people are looking for something that doesn't say "might makes right". Or maybe it's just a new set of cultural touchstones that is ripe for comedic ribbing until writers run out of fresh pop culture references (Chuck had a real good one where they referenced Prince's "Batdance" with one character saying "Stop the presses, who is that?" followed by another saying "Vicki Vale-Vick-Vick-Vicki Vale"). Or maybe it's just another market to be plundered.

Like any fad, it's hard to say how long this trend will last so I intend to enjoy it while I can. And the best way I can think to close this post is to add Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy". And remember to Live long and prosper for the Fellowship before Morpheus finds the Midiclorians. For Gods sake, someone please think of the Midiclorians!



Weird Al Yankovic - "White & Nerdy"