Years ago collecting comics, cult films and figures was something only for those dedicated to a specific genre. You'd go to conventions and meet like minded individuals who you could chat to about a genre that no one else really cared about.
Suddenly being a 'geek' became 'cool' . Now I put those marks around those words because I never like putting any group into a segregation, the same as I dont like separating heterosexual to homosexual or black and white (I simply believe you are a person not a name)
Now conventions like comic-con have (in my opinion) lost the value of what they started off as, and have now become advertising fields for producers and a plethora of complaining whinge bags. Yes I said it, whining self important cretins. My anger or should I say dismay comes from the very small announcement that there will be a Superman/Batman film. No script is wrote, no actors officially cast just a image of two badges together and a passage read from a comic. Yet within minutes moaning could be heard from convention halls to the other side of the world via twitter and Facebook.
Why?
Well I think it's because 70% of those people at cons go because they think its the thing to do now. The same people who suddenly wear thick rimmed glasses even though they can see perfectly well. These are the people who jump on a band wagon without knowing what they are really talking about, the people who complain that iron man can't have a AI suit because Siri can't even find a coffee shop properly. The same people who think Rose was the first Dr Who companion, You see they miss the point.
Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror all come from the world of Intrigue. It's all about either what could happen, (Close Encounters). What we would love to happen (exploration in TNG) or what we don't want to happen (Frankenstein). If you don't have that interest then you don't understand what 'geekdom' is actually about.
So I say this, is saying you are a geek now passé, is it becoming an annoyance and thus out of fashion. Maybe, maybe not. But I know writing here on this forum, a forum that has members who love their different fantasy genres that this thread will get replies but replies of an intelligent nod rather than ' that's rubbish' as has been said about the proposed Supes/Bats film.
I walk from the bench your honour.
I have to admit, Meds, that I have been feeling the same way...it's not us, but 'normies' who watch the Big Bang Theory or think because they saw a Star Wars once that they are geeks. Since when was it ever cool to be a geek? I mean, I love that they are making tons of comic book movies now, though.
I think being passionate about anything is geeky, so true geekery will always be around, but the phony geek stuff will go away. Maybe I'm just irritated that the stuff that got me picked on in school is now considered cool.
Good points Meds, but truthfully most of it doesn't really bother me much. The writing for this has been on the walls for many years now. I would even go as far to say that by the end of TNG on TV, that being a geek or Trek fan wasn't the same as growing up only on TOS reruns and had much less of a stigma attached to it - and it's only gotten 'easier' to be a geek since then. The advances in computer technology I think have played a huge part in this. I don't get to as manys cons as I used to, but when I do it's obvious the crowd demographics have shifted. For the most part I try to see this as a good thing. Bringing 'newbies' into the fold helps keep new content coming. Some of that content is not so great, but sometimes we get some gems too. Plus, it's our job as the 'true geeks' to educate the newbies about who was the best Captain of the Enterprise or who was the first Doctor Who. This is actually one of the reasons I've kept doing the podcast for so long. But at the end of the day I know I am that special kind of geek who knows where the bowling alley is on the Enterprise and I certainly know who shot first in "Star Wars." :)
That's rubish.
;)
My geek fandom is so insulated from the overall Geek culture I don't feel like I have a strong opinion one way or the other. My participation in triathlon occupies so much of my time, those are the people I see the most beyond my work and family, so I am not immersed in geek culture on a daily basis beyond the internet. Although I attended the Phoenix ComicCon last month, I went for just a few hours. It was fun and I would like to go to San Diego maybe when Jensen is a little older. I saw a video of a Dad and his son dressed up and it looked so cute. :) I do think the Superhero movie thing is causing a massive overstauration of content both in film and TV but I can take or leave what I choose. The marketing hype aspect really doesn't bother me, maybe it's because of what I do for a living but it's part of business and I accept it as such. So I suppose my fandom is my own and I don't concern myself with the greater community beyond my fine friends here. :)
Interesting topic.
I agree with Chris's comment that geekery at its core is being passionate about something, anything. So in that way it is a universal concept. (Geekery being the complete opposite of hipsterism, which is defined by irony in everything and passion for nothing!)
I also agree w/ Rico that a true geek can/should take the happy role of educator.
Even with the proliferation of fantasy/sci-fi in mainstream (which I don't mind..more good than bad I think), I can still experience geekily prideful and exclusive sensations when I must explain that I'm busy on Monday night because of standing weekly pen & paper rpg sessions (been off and on for the past 22 years!).
No matter what, at least there is always this:
Real recognizes real.
The pendulum will most likely swing back once this current craze plays out.
I agree that what used to be geeky is now pretty mainstream. I hate it when that happens to areas I'm interested in and prefer it when I'm in a world of my own with my interests save for perhaps a few like minded individuals.
I've found that I personally delve deeper and geekier into a topic and find a niche when everybody else seems to have an opinion on the subject. :-)
Ha, yeah, I'm with you Dan. "OH YOU THINK YOU'RE GEEKY, DO YOU???" Let's read some old Marvelman comics then!!!
I think the term GEEK has gone mainstream. I think there is a definite & targeted marketing campaign to define geek. I don't know if being a geek is really considered cool though. People know Star Wars or Star Trek references ( beam me up Scotty) but the sort of people you can sit with for hours & discuss and episode of Trek- a rare breed.
Also, there are different kinds of geeks; different paths of geekdom so to speak. I am a disciple of the Trek path; SF book path but have little knowledge of the world of comics.
But I think maybe being a geek girl is different than being a geek boy. It doesn't seem to be very mainstream for women to be geeks. Hanging out with geeks ( ie the Penny type) yes. being a geek girl...not so much.
So, you're telling me I'm NOT cool?? Dammit, I thought I turned a corner.... ;)
This seems very appropriate here:
The Guild: I'm the One That's Cool Directed by Jed Whedon, Co-Written By Jed Whedon & Felicia Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhgupR565Q#ws)
To be honest, I sort have had some of the similar feelings that others have to this whole Geek Culture, and I am not sure if I fall into the the definition of what a geek is anymore. Maybe I view myself as more of a nerd possibly, and view that as really getting deep into certain topics. Like Rico stated, I do sort of pride myself as knowing some rather specific things about certain topics.
I don't go to many cons either, but the ones like Comic-Con though really big, just seem like a Media showcase for studios to promote upcoming shows, which is not bad but not for me. I went to a Star Wars con a few years back just before Episode 3 was released, and I found all the panels I was interested in where not very well attended, but they covered topics in detail. I went to one that was about how they did the sound for Episode 3, and there was probably about 30 people there. In the panel they actually showed an entire scene from the movie, which I felt was funny, as there was a rather popular panel that they ran over and over where people would wait a few hours to get in which basically showed an extended trailer. The Panel on the sound editing showed way more then the flashy one everyone was waiting for. I guess for me, I would like to learn things about a topic I am interested in, more so then going to a panel with Celebs giving general responses to Movies or Shows they worked on. Would not mind going to one of the Big Trek cons some day as I suspect there is lots of interesting things to see there.
As soon as something is commercialised, monetised and exploited it becomes mainstream and loses integrity sometimes. Creators will sometimes start to cater for the mass market for the highest revenue and not to pursue a vision. That is the saddest part for me. That is the time to find another interest for me.
I don't know, my personal enjoyment of geek content is not altered one way or another by it's financial success or lack thereof. I think Geek cultures biggest issue is over saturation of comic book/superhero content. For me, that's not part of my fandom and just a lot of noise.
When "The Avengers" makes like a billion dollars it means we will be seeing comic book based movies for a long time to come. I'm actually happy about that - if they are done well.
Quote from: Bryancd on July 24, 2013, 03:01:07 PM
I don't know, my personal enjoyment of geek content is not altered one way or another by it's financial success or lack thereof. I think Geek cultures biggest issue is over saturation of comic book/superhero content. For me, that's not part of my fandom and just a lot of noise.
I'm going to admit, as a fan of comics for 35 uninterrupted years or so, I like that these movies are being made, but the 'noise' part is bothering me. I gotta say, one of my favorite things in the universe was going to the comic shop and JUST talking with the guys about comics, writers, artists, etc. Now my comic shop is so full of everything else it isn't about the comics anymore. I guess if you don't have an inherent love of opening up an old comic and getting that smell I sound dumb. And I agree with Bryan that there is SO much...I mean, Ant-Man? That needs a movie now? I guess superheroes could be our version of myths and legends...but in reality they are the only thing raking in mega-bucks at the metroplex, because the appeal is SO wide.
Quote from: ChrisMC on July 24, 2013, 03:44:05 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on July 24, 2013, 03:01:07 PM
I don't know, my personal enjoyment of geek content is not altered one way or another by it's financial success or lack thereof. I think Geek cultures biggest issue is over saturation of comic book/superhero content. For me, that's not part of my fandom and just a lot of noise.
I'm going to admit, as a fan of comics for 35 uninterrupted years or so, I like that these movies are being made, but the 'noise' part is bothering me. I gotta say, one of my favorite things in the universe was going to the comic shop and JUST talking with the guys about comics, writers, artists, etc. Now my comic shop is so full of everything else it isn't about the comics anymore. I guess if you don't have an inherent love of opening up an old comic and getting that smell I sound dumb. And I agree with Bryan that there is SO much...I mean, Ant-Man? That needs a movie now? I guess superheroes could be our version of myths and legends...but in reality they are the only thing raking in mega-bucks at the metroplex, because the appeal is SO wide.
Yeah, I don't mean this as a knock against comic book fans, it's just so prevalent right now, I find it amusing. I can see how others might find it annoying. My personal interest are WARS/TREK/Middle Earth and then mostly stuff that involves space. Batman, Superman, Iron Man have no resonance with my childhood heart.
It's a double edged sword though. The success of Avengers and X-Men movies for the comic book fan means that there are multiple Avengers and X-Men comic book titles and most of them aren't that good. Commercialism decreases the quality of material.
The fact they often change so much of the history and origins etc really is annoying. I understand sometimes it is necessary but sometimes there are artificial reasons such as when they don't have the rights to a character or they need to simplify things to cater for the most common denominator.
I think I'm leaning a lot more towards independent material and the awesome fan material these days when it comes to my geekiness. They almost always focus on the vision and aren't so worried what studios, advertisers, investors etc. They don't have to cater to mass markets, just the fans. They are also the fans.
Oh, I really like my comics and love reading them. And my comic shop has more games and heroclix stuff than comics. They even have game tables in the back that get used about everyday. It's cool that they have so much geeky goodness but I wouldn't mind there being more boxes of old comics to look through.