There was a time when comic books, anime, sci-fi, fantasy and many other things were considered things only socially inept nerds and geeks could like.
That was a long time ago and far away. It might even have been another galaxy. Here, now, on Earth it's nerd power and people living the geek life. How did it come to this? Is it a good thing? Should I be afraid?
As to how it happened, that's a long story and definitely worth a book. But I'm a little busy at the moment, so I'll just give the Cliffs Notes version. (Do they still make Cliffs Notes?)
The Beginning
Science fiction and fantasy have been around for hundreds of years. Heck, Cyrano de Bergerac (yeah, the guy with the big nose) wrote science fiction. (And yes, he was a real guy and pretty good with a sword). It was considered literature as important as anything out there. Postulating on the possible future or the fantastic has always been an integral part of being human. It's all about the idea of who we are and who we want to be. And that's as human as it gets.
Let's just say it's been around and leave it at that. What I really want to know is: When did it become such a big deal?
I would say the 60s had something to do with it. We had our first real brush with true science fiction becoming fact when we made it to the moon. It fired our collective imaginations and started to push us all into a new type of thinking. Let's also admit that drugs and the hippie culture had something to do with it, as well. I mean they were searching to expand their minds, and get laid. But sci-fi and fantasy and technogeekitry were still fringe elements.
Star Trek and comic books became the touchstones for that era and the start of the Nerdolution. Geekolution? I don't know; I'm working on a good name. Let's face it, there were no big fan conventions until Star Trek fans started to coalesce into a Borg-like consciousness. They rented out hotel ballrooms and put up enough cash to fly out the stars and create a happening. There were science fiction conventions before 1972, but the hardcore fandom hadn't really taken off. Just before Trekkies became a force, Comic-con opened it's doors in 1970.
They all quickly became a force to be reckoned with. (I do like a good cliche). Star Trek would have faded into memory without the Trekkies (Yes, I know they prefer Trekker now. Don't care). Their persistent, overwhelming love for the 23rd century made Paramount create a film, television, toy, etc. mega-franchise that continues going strong to this day. And Comic-con is the center of all nerddom.
Why is this all important? Well, you need to understand this Awakening (hey, I kind of like that one) has been brewing for a long time.
The Explosion
So, things went along at a fairly decent clip. Star Wars added to the fervor and lots of other bits and pieces came and went to add to the canon. It was a solid base of nerdtatiousness and geektasticalness that still went along fairly standard lines. Lots of males, few females, many socially inept, but interesting and well-meaning.
So, what the hell happened? In short, the Interwebs. People could search for what the wanted to know about and be part of communities without sacrificing their street cred to the public at large. That allowed many closet nerds to break the shackles and chains that bound them. And as they became assimilated (enculturated ) into the geek way they began to realize that they could just be who they are. This happened for many people who felt alone and sidelined by the mainstream. Some good, some bad, but you get the idea.
Anyway, the geekitude continued to en-nerderate until it reached critical mass. And voila, suddenly, there are geeks and nerds everywhere. When they reached the point that they felt comfortable coming out (this all sounds suspiciously like the history of homosexuals in America) and realized that together they could change perceptions, they took to the streets.
True, they didn't exactly march for their rights and occasionally fight in the streets or go to the Supreme Court to get the right to be married, but go to Comic-con and tell me if that isn't the Castro District for nerds.
Should I be scared?
No. Next question. Oh, all right. I'll answer it properly. No. Let's move on.
Is it a good thing?
Now that's a real question. Thanks for asking. A qualified mmmmmmaybe yes. Like anything else, the Nerd Awakening is subject to perversion by corporations and others who view it as merely a money-making endeavor. And, we've seen lots of that already.
Once again, just look at Comic-con and the blatant comercialism that pervades the convention. Who among the attendees hasn't looked around and thought, "What the hell does (pick your poison) have to do with Comic-con." Or the introduction of hipsters (I don't have a better word for poseurs, oh wait, I guess I do) who wear comic book shirts and come to conventions to check out the scene, but refuse to be part of it. The people who haven't read a comic book since they were kids, etc, etc. You get the idea.
In the end, though, this is a golden age (well at least a silver age) for nerds and geeks. It's a time when we actually have some power over what we want and we have the ear of people with power. And if a few people wear comic book shirts to be nerd cool, that's OK. They just called us cool. Plus it just furthers the advancement of the nerd movement and the nerd culture.
So get out there and be loud and proud. Nerd is not a pejorative, Geek is not a death sentence. It's time to rejoice in what you love. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. (come on, let me have this one)
