Evolution of the Geeks
In the past 20th century, the word geek has evolved into many different meanings. The term branched off to create a person with low social skills, often with high intelligence, a person highly interested in computer technology, and a person with a devotion to something that places him or her outside of the mainstream. Geek usually has negative connotations within popular culture, where being a geek tends to be an insult. The term can also be a badge of honor among subcultures, such as the know-it-all of Star Trek.
Media dictates popular culture. The television sitcoms I’ve watched growing up all displayed who is the stereotype for a geek. Steve Urkel from Family Matters, Screech from Saved By The Bell, Ross from Friends are some examples. All are viewed as highly intelligent and with low social skills. Yet the word is still evolving and currently is accepted as an honor. Examples of cool geeks of the 21st century are hobbits from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Seth Cohen from The O.C, and Napoleon Dynamite. The consensus of the word geek by the media shapes the society’s minds of what is perceived to be true.
The term stereotype is usually referred to be a term of abuse. It gives society a short cut to identify and categorize people. The word also evokes a consensus among all of society. According to the Oxford English Dictionary Online, the word geek was introduced as the lowest of carnival performers, often displaying acts of swallowing live animals. It evolved in the 20th century to represent a person who is highly intelligent yet lacks the ability to socialize. This representation inflicts psychological and social behaviors that often consider geeks as outcasts and victim to abuse from the ...
... middle of paper ...
... taped-up glasses, the 21st century is welcoming the geek to the mainstream. Geeks are adorable, relatable, and provide comic relief. With the following of Harry Potter fans and quirky geek icons such as Napoleon Dynamite, the geek of today is the ultimate cool. Now geeks put the pop in pop culture.
Works Cited
Lester, Paul M., ed. Images That Injure: Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media. Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1996.
Long, Tom. “Great geek portrayals save “Dynamite” from its clichés.” Rev. of Napoleon Dynamite, by Jared Hess. The Detroit News on the Web 2 July 2004. 20 October 2004 < http://www.detnews.com/2004/screens/0407/07/e01-201089.htm>.
Oxford English Dictionary Online. <http://dictionary.oed.com>.
Soergel, Matt. “RETURN OF THE NERDS: Geeks are the coolest things in movies this summer.” Florida Times Union 28 Jul. 2004, city ed., c-1.
“High School Confidential”, an article written by film critic David Denby for the New Yorker in 1999, accurately disputes and criticizes that high school related movies get their genre clichés from other high school movies that are out, as well as emotions of writers from their own high school years. Denby backs this claim up with multiple examples showing the stereotypes of high school movies, and explaining how those stereotypes are incorrect, such as the stereotypical princess in the school, the standard jock-antagonist, and the outsider/nerd character, and then he shows that all of these examples stem from the “Brian de Palma masterpiece Carrie”. David Denby’s purpose is to show readers how most high school movies are over-stereotyped
definition of “geek,” which has been relentlessly used on those dedicated to the pursuit of
According to its first definition of the word, a nerd is a "foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious." That sounds about right. But Oxford's first definition of geek is synonymous: "An unfashionable or socially inept person." Oxford's second definitions of both words are also synonymous, nerd as "an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession" and geek as "a person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest. (Goldsborough, 2010)
In Napoleon Dynamite (Jared Hess, 2004), the character known as Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is quite a unique fellow. His quirkiness and eccentricity are what make him as a character; they are the primary traits of his personality. Keep in mind, however, that he is not the only odd character in the film, but he has his own peerless way of defining himself separate from any other character(s). This effect is achieved through certain cinematic techniques that director Jared Hess utilizes in order to bring out Napoleon’s persona in ways other than simply “guessing” who he really is. Rather, these techniques “explicitly imply” certain character traits; they are like clues that allow one to see the character just as the creator intended. Through mise-en-scene, sound, and acting and performance, Napoleon Dynamite emphasizes and comments on the character of Napoleon, defining his physical and social nature.
Such devastating mistakes by eyewitnesses are not rare, according to a report by the Innocence Project, an organization affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. The Innocence Project uses DNA testing to exonerate those wrongfully convicted of crimes. Since the 1990s, when DNA testing was first introduced, Innocence Project researchers have reported that, “Seventy three percent of the two hundred thirty nine convictions overturned through DNA testing were based on eyewitness testimony” (Loftus xi). One third of these overturned cases rested on the testimony of two or more mistaken eyewitnesses. How could so many eyewitnesses be wrong? This paper will identify a theoretical framework that views eyewitness testimony ...
High school is one of the most memorable times in a person’s life. For some those memories are full with excitement, happiness, and joy. For others it ends up being a stressful and a hormonal rollercoaster of a nightmare that they wish they could forget. And of course, there are always those stuck in between, who just float on by through their 4 years, whether going unnoticed or just sticking close to the shadows instead of the limelight. This dynamic can be broken down between social classes within the high school scenes, using jocks, class clowns, trouble makers, and the Hollywood favorite, geeks. Movies such as Revenge of the Nerds, the Social Network, and Super Bad have shed light on these clever misfits who make you question the amount of attention we all gave them during school. For this essay I will analyze the social class within the movie Super Bad and describe what high school was like for the “Super” trio of Seth, Evan, and, Fogell, through the focus of 3 main lenses: Friends; Social Experience; and Sexual Experience.
The idea of adoption has been around far longer than the formal legal system of adoption in place today. In the bible, there is a passage detailing the adoption of Ester by her cousin, Mordecai, after the death of her parents. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and Babylonians all had their own systems of adoption. Adoption systems differ from country to country. United States citizens who internationally adopt today allow for the blending of cultures, languages, traditions, and ideals. In contrast, the practice of adult adoption in Japan is a particularly interesting system used quite differently and reflects a lot of traditional Japanese culture itself.
After reading the report titled “Coal Blooded: Putting Profits before People.” I agree that some coal-fired power plants do represent a health issue for those around them. I take exception to the generalization that all coal-fired power plants are unhealthy. The Executive Director of the Indigenous Environment Network, Tom Goldtooth boldly stated: “Clean coal is an oxymoron.” However, one only needs to look at Appendix III of the report. It indicates the exclusion of plants fired by “Anthracite/Bituminous Coal,” “Lignite Coal,” “Subbituminous Coal,” “Waste/Other Coal,” and “Coal Synfuel,” This exclusion shows your bias of the coal industry in general and coal-fired plants specifically. There is also the implication that coal-fired plants are
Clean Coal Technologies (CCTs) are defined by the WCI as 'technologies designed to enhance both the efficiency and the environmental acceptability of coal extraction, preparation and use' . These technologies reduce emissions, reduce waste, and increase the amount of energy gained from each ton of coal. There are a wide variety of technologies that are available to improve our coal performance. This can be done by: Enhancing of existing options, Deploying of Advanced Technologies, Exploiting Synergies with Renewables, and Development and Commercialization of Next Generation Technologies (“Coal”). Some environmental problems that they will be trying to address are: Particulate matter, trace elements and SOX and NOX, and mercury.
Stereotypes In the Media Stereotypes play an important role in today's society and particularly in propaganda. According to the Webster's Dictionary, stereotyping is defined as a fixed conventional notion or conception of an individual or group of people, held by a number of people. Stereotypes can be basic or complex generalizations which people apply to individuals or groups based on their appearance, behaviour and beliefs. Stereotypes are found everywhere in the world. Though our world seems to be improving in many ways, it seems almost impossible to liberate it from stereotypes.
Barsam, R. M., Monahan, D., & Gocsik, K. M. (2012). Looking at movies: an introduction to film (4th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co..
Pop culture can mean many different things to many different people. Pop culture is a form of entertainment that is consumed by mass amounts of people. Some forms of pop culture include; television, movies, music, popular tendencies, trendy clothing etc. One way to view pop culture is through a political lense. Pop culture and politics go hand and hand when it comes to one making decisions. Whether that decision is watching the six o’clock news on your favorite news casting network, or who to vote for in the next primary election. Pop culture can influence our identities and the way we perceive ourselves without use even knowing it at times.
Specifically, in the United States, there has been an exponential increase in use of electricity over the past few decades. With technology advancing, everyone feels the need to stay up to standards. But, what comes with these new technologies is not as beneficial to the earth as they are to us. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently posted a “Guide to Purchasing Green Power” which explains that our electricity is mostly made through fossil or nuclear fuels that harm not only our environment but ourselves as well. Some examples of fossil fuels are coal, natural gas and petroleum. These electricity techniques give off lots of pollution and significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions (2). Looking specifically at coal, there are many ways in which it causes environmental issues. Herman Daly explains that to retrieve the coal, miners must take the coal out of the earth, which can leave the surface with detrimental issues. The leftover rock that was extruded with the coal is now contaminated and left in piles, which
Geek; “an overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit” (Oxford English dictionary). In today’s dictionary the word geek can have both a positive, as well as a negative definition, neither of which is related to its original meaning. People have the tendency to alter these words and their connotation to accommodate their verbal slang. While many believe they have a clear understanding of the word geek, they lack the comprehension of its root and true meaning, as well as their mode of application.
We have seen culture changes during the course of many centuries. These decades has left us memories of what was important to our society during this time. In some cases, we are still living by these same standards of past centuries and the results of these beliefs is the reflection of the people of this twenty century. The coauthors of Common Culture Reading and Writing About Popular Culture Michael Petracca and Madeleine Sorapure on their Seventh Edition says, “pop culture is the shared knowledge and practices of a specific group at a specific time. Because of its commonality, pop culture both reflects and influences people 's way of life; because it is linked to a specific time and place, pop culture is transitory, subject to change, and