Gwynn: Embracing your inner nerd

The definition of a nerd, according to Merriam Webster online dictionary, is an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.

Now granted, what ranks as being offensive varies from person to person, yet, I can’t quite help but think that Merriam Webster considers “nerd” a less than complimentary identifier. I’m afraid then, that this puts Merriam Webster and me at an impasse because being a nerd is to me a title worn with pride.

Now, I maintain the highest of respect for Merriam Webster. Being an English major, I have a great affinity for words. Yet, Merriam Webster’s definition of a nerd is not only inaccurate, but also dated.

The word ‘nerd’ first originated around 1951, and throughout the decades, the images and persona associated with being a nerd haven’t, until recently, changed much in the eyes of mainstream culture. Changing from the caricature of bespectacled, physically and socially awkward fan of Mystery Science Theater to that of a bespectacled, physically and socially awkward fan of the Syfy Channel, being a nerd in the 50s wasn’t much different than being a nerd in the 90s.

And yet in recent years, there has been an evolution of, not nerds themselves, but in how society views nerds—a revolution if you will. Nerd culture has exploded into the mainstream. Why?

Because being a nerd is fun. And mainstream culture is catching on. You have only to look at our American pop culture itself in order to see the signs.

There’s the story of “the boy who lived”, which went on to win over the world and spawn everything from a multi-billion dollar movie series to a genre of music called “wizard rock.”

There’s the near frenzied consumption of technology, with the latest iPhone, iPad, iWhateverapplecomesoutwithnext driving people to stand in line overnight just so they can have it the moment it’s available.

There’s the fashion industry, which now embraces grandpa sweaters, high-waisted pants, clashing prints, and of course, bowties, as being sartorially fabulous.

There’s the gaming culture, which started out with “Tennis for Two”, comprised of a dot and two sticks controlled by a few scientists in a lab, now having matured into everyone from your grandmother to KU basketball players crashing into each other in Mario Kart

All this is just the tip of the Death Star. The truth of the matter is, even though we used to have a particular image ingrained as to what a nerd looks like and is interested in, nerds come in all shapes, sizes, interests, and social skill level. Being a nerd is to admit that you are passionate about something—anything—and that you devote a large portion of your energy into that passion.

I’m a nerd. I’m out, I’m proud, and I have no shame. I flaunt my ‘nerdiness’ to the whole world, as obvious as Peeta Mellark’s perfection. Really, there wouldn’t be any use in my trying to hide it, either. I count myself as being interdisciplinary in my interests: Harry Potter, style, Broadway Musicals, Adventure Time, 19th century British literature, heck ANY literature, Disney, Medieval history, Glee, Marvel Comics, 80s movies. The list goes on. And on. And on…

Before I go onto automatic with geeking out, because then I’d have to stage a coup and take over the entirety of the Kansan’s Opinion Page: Nerd culture has exploded into the mainstream. Chances are, if you’re an interesting human being, you’re a bit of a nerd about something. So Merriam Webster, I’m sorry; I swear that when I’m trying to find a synonym when I’m writing my fanfiction, I’ll come crawling back to you. It’s just, when it comes to being a nerd, you don’t know a bogart from a dementor.

Katherine Gwynn is a freshman in English from Olathe.

Contact at kgwynn@kansan.com .
  • Updated Feb. 1, 2012 at 9:45 pm
  • fromashestoinfinity

    Well…Let me start by saying you’re trying. And that’s a helluva lot more than I can say for others. I’ll start by arguing with your definition from the revered dictionary. Classifying academics and intellectual pursuits is hit and miss. Sure, we all attend class, but at the very moment you’re more invested in a relationship (any relationship, mind you) instead of your studies, you lose. It can’t be that those studies are due, either. Imagine doing calculus out of the sheer joy of doing calculus. Or perhaps, writing incoherent thoughts down because you happen to love writing, not that your editor demands something to be put into the wonderful paper.

    Keeping things like that in mind, there is a huge culture you’re missing, either out of ignorance or sheer inept pursuit of a subculture. A self proclaimed “nerd” could be just anyone by the standards we’ve witnessed here. This is simply not the case. Almost as though you’ve seen way too much Big Bang Theory and have vicariously, placed yourself in an actor’s shoes, when even they can’t fulfill what it is to be a “nerd”.

    I find it very difficult to understand, of all the things you could’ve quoted, you chose Harry Potter and Star Wars. These are my biggest “nerd” follies for this article. Harry Potter was and is a good series, but everyone experienced Harry Potter, whether they did or didn’t read the book/see the movie(s). And Star Wars…the one thing that George Lucas refuses to give as a reference in his creativity career.

    This is to my brothers and sisters in the world outside of social normality, outside of creating new stereotypes: If I see you at Astro Kitty on a Friday night, and you definitely know why we’re there on Friday night; If you have torrented versions of Josh Whedon’s “Firefly”, (why did they cancel it! F*@#); If you have a poster of Leonard Nimoy in your room (Hell, if you just know who he is to our culture); If the term “raid” means more than invading the refrigerator. This is for you guys! We are still the “nerds”. We still live in a world undiscovered by those tossing around the words like “geek”. We get to experience the havens of our M:tG collections, the friends we’ve never met through late night dungeon runs, the original D&D collectors, the hours of magnified painting for our Warhammer 3000 figures.

    To those who are “Google-ing” these terms because you thought you were a nerd and are now open to a whole new world of possibilities, some of us just view you in rose colored glasses. We let you borrow all the terms you like because of the knowledge we possess. So yeah, be “nerds” if you must, but behind closed doors we are the fanatics, the grossly over obsessed, that you make fun of the rest of the year because we don’t look the same. We are the outcasts.

    Because it wouldn’t be the same without us, just like Star Trek wasn’t the same with Chris Pine.

    “Live long, and prosper.”

  • fiddleback

    Katherine, study the diagram below. Nerd implies high social awkwardness, probably even nearing the autistic spectrum. If you can make friends and converse normally, I’d say you’re probably closer to geek. And no offense, but your list of interests is a bit inane, landing in practically every crowded eddy in the dork mainstream, so you’re skewing heavily towards the center of the diagram: a dork. The literature and medieval history are a bit more distinctive and intellectually respectable, i.e. towards geek/nerd.

    The trends in our culture have usually been about aping authenticity, thus many people who label themselves with the authentically dysfunctional term “nerd” are usually either a bit too smart to be the bland “cool” but not quite intense enough to be geeks or nerds, and likely not so culturally hip and socially slick to be geeks. Thus, I think most of the people you’re talking about are on the smart end of the “dork” middle. At this point, the Midwest is mostly a sea of dweebs with the exception of college towns and major cities, which are islands of dorks and geeks. And, if you work at it, you might someday be an unimpeachable geek.

    You’re welcome.