What is a “nerd?” The term itself is abstract. I believe our generation has come to define a “nerd” by how deeply someone delves into or obsesses over whatever their particular interests are, be it comics, sci-fi, fantasy, video games, music, it really could be anything. We think of a nerd as someone who is obsessed with these things.
Side note: while the definitions of geek and nerd used to be very different, they have slowly become two sides of the same coin. The lines between the definitions have blurred, and now can be used almost interchangeably. One is usually considered more socially awkward than the other, but even that is subjective.
The rise of the nerd in pop culture has been subtle. The word has slowly shifted from something that was meant as an insult to something that is accepted, even something that is actively sought after.
But how did this happen? How did the way culture views nerds shift from Revenge of the Nerds to the Big Bang Theory?
The origin of the term “nerd” is hard to place. Many believe that the first time the word “nerd” was used was in the Dr. Seuss book If I Ran the Zoo which was released in 1950. The term was first reported as a synonym for someone who is “square” in 1951 after an article in Newsweek titled In Detroit. “Nerd” really entered the mainstream as an insult when it was frequently used by the epitome of cool, Arthur Fonzarelli a.k.a. the “Fonz” from Happy Days.
Throughout the eighties Anthony Michael Hal was the go to actor to portray your typical nerd. He was Rusty Griswold in the original Vacation, and also played the role of the nerd in Weird Science and The Breakfast Club. Revenge of the Nerds, another popular eighties movie, also helped solidify the image of what a nerd was.
However, since that time I think there has been a shift in our public perception of what a “nerd” is. The shift has not been instantaneous, but over time things that would have been considered “nerdy” are now filtering into the mainstream. Obscure characters are starting to get movie franchises – Ant Man is getting his own movie for god’s sake.
The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular TV shows right now, and it stands in stark contrast to how Revenge of the Nerds portrayed nerd culture. Sure the guys from Big Bang Theory are socially awkward – Raj can’t even talk around women without alcohol – but they are all the heroes of their own story, and they all get the girl in the end.
There are many possible causes for this transition. I think the most prominent being globalization. Nerds are no longer isolated. Instead, through the use of the Internet, social media etc. (created by other nerds) they are able to form communities around their particular flavor of nerd.
If there is shared interest for a show, or game, or movie, or comic book, then forums are created. People passionately discuss their likes and dislikes, and a community is formed. Through this shared community a buzz is created around their likes, and that buzz creates a market.
Case and point; since opening day The Avengers has grossed $623 million, The Dark Knight Rises has grossed $448 million. That’s over a BILLION dollars in less than two years by two movies based on comic book characters. This year alone Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel have grossed around $300 million, and as of right now there are over ten superhero/comic based movies scheduled to be released over the next three years.
San Diego Comic Con, the Mecca for Nerds, is another example of nerd culture transitioning into the mainstream. The first Comic Con was in 1970, had only 300 attendees and five guest speakers. Fast forward to 2012, Comic Con took over San Diego with 130,000+ people and over sixty guest speakers.
It went from attracting a couple of comic artists and sci-fi writers to attracting the biggest names in film, TV, gaming, and comics; from being housed in a small hotel to taking over the San Diego Convention Center, Gaslamp, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, Petco Park Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, and the Chula Vista Center
Another heavy hitter that would have been relegated to the fantasy shelf if it had come out in the seventies or eighties is Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling tapped into nerd culture by writing about wizards and magic, and the mainstream couldn’t get enough. If you thought Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises made a lot, then prepare to be blown away. As of November 27, 2012, the total revenue for the Harry Potter Franchise, including books, films, and toys, was over $24 billion. That is $7 billion more than the GDP of the entire European Union in 2012.
A good analogy for the rise of nerds is the movie Paul, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. At the beginning of the film they were attendees of Comic Con, caught up in all of the sights and sounds. They were “nerds” in the “cool” world of Comic Con. By the end of the film they, the “nerds,” were the headliners.
It has been a long ride since the 1950’s, but nerds are becoming the norm. Nerds are “coming out of the closet” as it were. People aren’t afraid to get excited about what they love. Simon Pegg, who is somewhat of a role model of mine, has said, “Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.”
The purpose of this website is to explore what it means to be a nerd. What does it mean to you?