Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 24, 2022 | Page 15
Examining the rise of nerd culture Nerds have made their way into popular culture over recent years JOSIE SCRATCHARD Life Editor Not too long ago, a nerd was considered to be someone who read comic books, obsessed over “The Lord of the Rings” and spent afternoons at the arcade. Nerds were harassed constantly for their hobbies to the point that many kept them hidden. However, the last few decades have unraveled the seclusion of nerd culture, carrying these hobbies and subjects into mainstream territory for everyone to enjoy. With the production of “Star Wars” (1977) and “Superman: The Movie” (1978), state-of-the-art computer-generated imagery (CGI) coupled with never-before-seen action sequences lured audiences of all different interests to the previously fabricated realm of nerdom. As computers and other electronic devices entered into the equation, video games became a new force on the market. Consoles like the Nintendo NES and Atari took over household television auxiliary ports, blurring
the lines of the common entertainment consumer and the traditional nerd. Nowadays, you can catch almost anyone planning to see the new Marvel movie on opening weekend, playing Xbox or geeking out over Star Wars Land — the stigma has diminished tremendously. Mainstream media and popular culture both have played a large role in the popularization of traditionally nerdy activities. This makes them more palatable to the average person. After all, if Jason Mamoa is willing to put on tights to breathe life into the image of Aquaman, then there’s a supremely simple explanation as to why the masses are willing to herd in front of their screens. As popular and beloved actors and actresses line up to portray characters from comic books and "nerdy" literature, nerd culture becomes permissible in society. There’s no denying the nerdy paradigm was one of a skinny boy with a collared shirt and glasses, so once that notion goes by the wayside, people are able to run rampant with their new, socially acceptable interests.
Although nerd culture has spread to the masses and become far less stigmatized, there are still elements that are vilified. Games like “Dungeons and Dragons” and “World of Warcraft” remain tethered to the image of the outcasted nerd, and the normal person can never dare to cross that threshold without fear of social defamation. Why is this the case? Popular culture hasn’t even dared to touch the deeper dimensions of nerd culture. If the subject can’t be turned into a movie or show, it probably won’t ever be considered worthy outside the world of nerds. Despite this, nerds don’t really seem to care. Many people who have found their place in nerd culture have become gatekeepers of their beloved hobbies. For instance, many fans of Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” series hold it so close to their hearts that the thought of a production company attempting to create a television show fills them with disdain. Fans of the series believe the story shouldn’t be introduced to those who haven’t read it because they hold a strong sense of entitlement for their dedication to the series.
Finding meaning in the unthinkable ALLYSA SOLTREN Staff Writer "But she’s so smart and hardworking." "But she has rosy cheeks and a soft, bright smile." "But we shared notes with each other in Anatomy class." These were just a few waves of the tsunami of thoughts rushing through my head. They came after my sister checked her phone one summer afternoon and suddenly couldn’t stop saying, “holy s***.” Then she read the message to me. And just like that, my old classmate and friend was gone. The next few hours of that day just went on. I messaged my other friends. My sister told our dad, who then came to me to ask if I knew anything. I had to tell my mom. Throughout all of this, a horrifying thought attempted to break loose. When I received another message from my friend who had found out more, this thought was set free to rampage throughout my mind and memories. She made an attempt on her own life, and she couldn’t escape it this time. Reading the details made me think more of her mother. I wasn’t there, but I could clearly hear the screaming and sobbing. The very next day, I heard a song in the mall that was painfully ironic in both its message and its reminder of her. The day after that, I realized that I had never considered that my first high school reunion would be at a funeral. The sight of her released a whirlwind of emotions, most notably anger, but I still don’t know to this day whom I was angry at. We offered our condolences and any other words we could muster to her family, and then we had to leave. I had to get myself ready to move back onto campus for my second year of college. I took a picture of her with me. My Notes app was filled with as many details I could
remember about her over the course of 12 cial part of the timelines of so many family years. I became more motivated to pay ex- members, friends and teachers. Society needs to pay more attention. tra attention in Abnormal Psychology class, and not just because I had declared Psy- The suicide rate of adolescents and young adults has been on the rise, resulting in the chology as my major. I researched bipolar disorder. Constant alarming amount of orange flags and perdoubts nagged me about whether I de- petually swollen red eyes of parents. All of these people should have had more served to call her my friend. I wrote a letter to her mother. I haven’t yet experienced a time to journey through life. There were day where she didn’t cross my mind. There more goals to achieve and new ideas to are pieces of her everywhere, like in the stu- consider and cultivate. There were other dious enthusiasm of a classmate, the sweet people for them to discover and share a world with. So many things were lost along intonation of a passing girl’s voice or in the with my friend’s passing, but her true legblonde fade of another girl’s hair. acy should not be how she left the world. But none of these things could reverse She was a wonderful person who loved what had already happened. good things and was desperate to escape the Mental Health Week took place this past immense pressure and pain. Her joy, virweek. It certainly felt a bit different for me tues and desires are what we should bring this year than it did last year. This time, to other people who need it. the little colored flags so carefully arranged Even though she’s no longer here, she in Tribble Courtyard meant something else. can still help others stay around if only we My friend’s death became one of those or- learn how to help. We need more converange flags, but according to the sign, she sations and understanding, more research was only one of a thousand college students and solutions, more remembrances and preventions. So I’ll continue to remember within that flag. And there were hundreds of orange flags. things like her warm brown eyes, her love I wondered how many of them were plant- for Disney songs and her dream to become ed thanks to social and academic pressures a teacher. I don’t want the lights within to be extinon top of pre-existing mental illnesses. guished too soon for anyone else. When I visited her social media account, I wasn’t there to unfollow. I just wanted to look around and know more about what National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 she enjoyed. That’s how I found the location tag of one of her posts, titled “SomeCrisis Text Line: where in Time.” 741741 I realized that she was right. Somewhere in time, we’re acting out a made-up story on the playground. Somewhere in a class- University Counseling Center Crisis Asroom, we’re racing each other to finish a sistance: 336-758-5273 math problem first. Somewhere else, we’re posing together in our graduation gowns For life-threatening emergencies call for our mothers who take an exorbitant 911. amount of pictures. With every accomplishment and kind Contact Alyssa Soltren at remark, she made sure that she was a cru- soltac20@wfu.edu
In fact, some nerds are so protective over their favorite stories and hobbies that they gatekeep them even when conversing with fellow nerds. They’ll ask them painfully specific questions regarding their knowledge of the nerdy topic in order to confirm their depth of interest in the subject. What many nerds fail to realize is that if their activities were represented in popular culture and enjoyed by more people they would also become less stigmatized. More people would be accepting of — and even take part in — events like Comic-Con and the reading of comic books. But maybe some elements of nerd culture are meant to be secluded from the majority of society. Maybe nerds like living in their sheltered world of hobbies because it is simpler than attempting to relate to those who simply “like” something instead of completely immersing themselves in it. Maybe nerd culture is destined to remain as such, instead of melding with popular culture. Contact Josie Scratchard at scraja20@wfu.edu
THE HOT LIST "TOP 10 INTROSPECTIVE NOVELS" BY MARYAM KHANUM
1.
"Nausea" by Jean Paul Sarte
2.
"Ward No. 6 (and other stories)" by Anton Chekhov
3.
"Killing Commendatore" by Haruki Murakami
4.
"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
5.
"No Exit" by Jean Paul Sarte
6.
"The Mandarins" by Simone de Beauvoir
7.
"The Trial" by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8.
"The Third Policeman" by Flan O' Brien
9.
"Travels with My Aunt" by Graham Greene
10.
"The Yellow Wallpaper (and other stories)" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
