I know that I’ve been having spells of angry posts lately, but it’s because of crap like this:
I’ll give you a second to process.
Are we ready to have a discussion about proper conduct yet? All right then, let’s get started.
Call me a hipster, call me an angry bastard, call me anything you want, but “nerd” right now. If the people in that video are “nerds” then I don’t want to be one anymore.
Hollywood and the media have taken some great strides in redefining what a “nerd” is (Big Bang Theory is a hit TV show, afterall) and it’s videos like the Damsels of Dorkington that are setting us back and capitalizing off of an image that should be long dead by now. Yet, this kind of crap persists.
I know I’m probably going to take some flack for what I’m writing, but it needs to be said: you can be a fan of something and appreciate a medium without being ridiclous about it.
Seth Cohen - you should look up to him.
Remember the O.C.? A lot of people unfairly criticize the show because they have never watched it and I used to be one of those people until my wife convinced me to give it a chance. I’ll never forget laying in bed reading the Legion of Superheroes when I overheard Seth and Ryan casually talking about Legion. It was a serendipitous moment and it was something that I will always remember fondly because it was something that you don’t see on TV very often: two normal guys (main characters and teen idols no less!) briefly discussing comic books.
Look at Coyote Ugly. Granted, it’s a pretty terrible movie on all accounts, but the male lead of the film is a guy that collects comic books. He isn’t presented in a nerdy way or as socially unacceptable. He’s a normal guy who happens to like comic books.
Maybe I’m being unfair. Maybe you’re thinking, “who are you to judge?”
I’M CODY FREAKING WALKER!
Seriously though, I’m not really any one except someone that is concerned about the medium that I love. We complain about isolation and people not understanding the medium we enjoy, but then we turn right around and make things like the “kissed a nerd” video to isolate ourselves more.
Am I being judgmental? Am I being rude?
I’m not trying to be. I just want people to be aware that we’ll never be taken seriously unless we start becoming more serious. Nerds are always going to be picked on until we start acting intelligently.
Are the Damsels of Dorkington horrible people? Not at all. They are trying to entertain others and make a dollar doing it. I probably shouldn’t begrudge them, but I can’t help it. With comic sales tumbling and the industry on the ropes, it’s videos like this that keep people away from comics rather than bring in readers.
Is anyone listening to this?
I doubt it.
No one ever really wants to hear the truth despite how much it stares them in the face.
——
This past weekend was Springfield G.A.M.E. and I spoke about comic book journalism. I wrote this essay before going to the convention and I was hoping that my anger could be proven wrong there. I was hoping that the Damsels of Dorkington and the fans of G.A.M.E. would be active participants in a discussion of comic books or really any of the other panelists that were in attendance. Unfortunately, I was horribly wrong.
Springfield G.A.M.E. for all of its good intentions, unfortunately did not live up to what I had hoped. I hoped that people would support local artists and participate in a dialogue about the problems in comic books. Maybe I’m a bit bitter, but I’m also thinking of Diana Botsford.
Botsford teaches screen-writing at Missouri State University and she has recently come out with a new Stargate book. I’m nobody, so I don’t expect anyone to come by, but Botsford has worked in Hollywood for years and she’s an incredibly person and counting myself, my wife, and my friend Ross, there were six people at her panel. We talked science fiction for an hour and it was a wonderful experience.
What were the Damsels doing during this time? They were watching movies on a laptop at their booth.
The Visioncon organizers were also at G.A.M.E. and what did they do during the panels? Nothing. They could have supported Botsford, Ross Payton or myself and they didn’t.
Please don’t interpret this as the rantings of a guy who is angry for not being noticed (no matter how true it might be) and let’s instead interpret it for what it is: a lack of effort in terms of fans to try and support local artists.
When I go to conventions, I try and find local artists so I can support them. At this convention, I found an old friend, Chad Woody, and I bought a t-shirt and some artwork from his booth. Woody thanked me and told me that he had almost made enough money to justify taking the booth. While attendance wasn’t incredible, if half of the people there supported Woody and the other artists there, then we could chalk up G.A.M.E. as a success.
I’m sort of free-writing right now, but an idea I am going to have to come back to is the function of conventions vs. the perception of what they are. Essentially, conventions should be a place for fans to come and support new and local artists rather than a place to get cheap merch.
guh . . . I’m getting infuriated again and I have grading to do, but please help me out with these thoughts and comment. I might be a bit unfair and I am willing to admit that so please don’t go off on me for this, but please help me to understand these frustrations that I am having with fandom and our lack of solidarity.
Relax man; you’re getting worked up over nothing. As far as the “I kissed a Nerd” thing it’s just people trying to, all be it late, capitalize on Katy Parry’s fame. It’s unfortunate that “nerds” were her subject of focus for this parody but, that’s all it is. a parody of life. I get your mad but this would have suffered a slow death on youtube before disappearing after a few years. Hell, I wouldn’t of even seen it if it wasn’t for this site.
Nothing feeds BS about nerds more than complaining about it on a message board to the internet. Let’s be honest with ourselves for every one socially exceptional “nerd” how many awkward, socially backwards, Asperger spouting nerds do you see at a con. a lot of cons are filled with greasy dudes who don’t know how to bath and are obsessed with anime. But these are my people. If anything is going to change it has to be done on an individual level to bath and pay attention to social graces.
I feel you on the point you’re making about supporting local artist at cons. It’s great if you can do it and I highly recommend it. You can get some pretty cool original pieces there. Even some stuff personalized to your taste. There isn’t too much to be said on the lack of support at those cons but from what I see over here on the coast for is a different story. A lot of artist and art work changes hands at cons and they make some good money. It may be that the G.A.M.E. con was just too small to properly support the artist there. I could be completely wrong, but that’s just my take on it.
I hear ya Cody. I do my damndest to get people to understand that what is considered “nerdy” is actually a unique demonstration of artistic expression through a specific medium. I hate being branded with a stigma because of my passion towards certain art forms because there are guys out there that perpetuate a stereotype and make it impossible for me to be taken seriously.
Had I not had work that night I would have gone to G.A.M.E to support you and the many other authors and artists in the industry. Sadly, that was not the case. Please continue to fight the good fight Cody. I will do the same as best I can.
Cody,
I appreciate your sentiments. Stay militant mang!
I think you’re pretty much spot on in your assessment, however, I believe that comic books have always carried a certain stigma.
(The closest cousin to that stigma is the nearly universal disdain of RPGs. I’m 35 and my friends still give me endless crap for playing, writing and generally enjoying RPGs. But I digress…)
Your article talks about the great writers and artists that are out there, but like anything, American pop culture is pretty much spoon-fed to the masses. Delving deeper into any medium requires time, work and passion. I don’t think that casual fan of comic books sees the same kind of value in taking the time to dig. There will forever be that intangible line that separates people who want to play Farmville or Angry Birds and people who want to play Civ III.
We are a consumption-based culture predicated on the idea of convenience. Inconvenience discourages people more often than not. I think that the nature of a 24/7, always-on modality in the “digital age” has pretty much ruined the common person’s appreciation of many things, comic books included.
Back in the day, Comic Con (or any comic related convention) was about comics. It was about going to meet the artists, find a rare issue of Thor (in my case, anything by Ron Frenz) and hanging out with literally thousands of other comic book fans. Comic Con today is something very different…
It is ironic to me to think that the medium that gives Cody Walker (aka Ace McCloud) a platform through which he can share his love of comic books is also the vehicle that has, to some extent, diminished the appreciation of comic books as anything other than a commodity to be consumed. However, to be fair, this devaluation of a certain artistic medium is nothing new. Think of how many artists tried to imitate Michelangelo after visiting the Sistine Chapel!
Gone are the days of eagerly waiting for the next issue of Excalibur, going down to the comic shop, watching excitedly as the dude behind the counter slipped your new baby into an acid-free bag and backing board, getting home as fast as you could and finally basking in the glory that was John Byrne’s amazing art and stories. It was a powerful experience. I think that the Internet killed those kinds of experiences for many a casual fan…
The comic shop and the proprietors of those afore mentioned shops created a place for the likeminded to meet. The Internet helped decentralize and depersonalize the comic shop experience and the “solidarity” one could find there.
Academia (yes, the bastion of nerd-dom: it’s tallest and most heavily fortified bulwark) is culpable, to some extent, of comic book snobbery. Remember that little incident involving Neil Gaiman and the World Fantasy Award. I think that that incident perfectly symbolized the pathos of the “Nerd”. It was the ultimate metaphor for a “black-on-black” crime. In my mind, there is nothing worse than nerds rejecting nerds and fat people making fun of other fat people…
One could argue that mainstream acceptance has finally arrived with the advent of Generation X: a generation that grew up the children of absentee parents (some of us anyway) and comic books. The Iron Man film is the perfect example of the mainstream warming up to comic books, as is the acquisition of Marvel Comics by Disney (I think it was Disney, either way it makes my stomach turn)…
Technology can be an amazing thing and in the end I am confident that the artist, the writer and, ultimately, the comic book will adapt, but I’m equally confident that it will be a bumpy ride…
Mason – “Relax man; you’re getting worked up over nothing.” It’s this sort of passive attitude that allows the stereotypes to endure. I’m tired of enjoying an unfairly stigmatized medium because nerds are willing to be exploited.
“I get your mad but this would have suffered a slow death on youtube before disappearing after a few years.” – And something else is going to come along to make us look foolish. This video is merely the current example and one that is on my mind because it was filmed at Visioncon, so I was there as it was going on. My purpose for bringing it up is two-fold: 1) It’s on my mind. 2) This is just one very tiny example of the exploitation of nerd culture and a poorly crafted one at that.
“If anything is going to change it has to be done on an individual level to bath and pay attention to social graces.” I totally agree and I thought that was my original point, but I might have gone off on tangents and never got to that point.
“It may be that the G.A.M.E. con was just too small to properly support the artist there. ” You’re probably right. They are trying their best, but I wish Springfield nerds were just a little more active and supportive. I find many to be rude and quick to judge local comic shops.
if you really want to get mad look at the damsels of dorkington’s website, fairly ridiculous
and hey, i read something on your blog
Globally? Sorry, but you’re “Lasergunsgopewpewpew” to me.
Yeah, I looked at the Damsels website as well. I read it aloud to my wife so that we could both cringe. It’s pretty rough.
Also, thank you so much Lasergunsgopewpewpew for commenting. You have brightened my day considerably and I wish more people were like you because you are the best nerd I’ve ever known. More should strive to be like you, for realz.
Cody- “It’s this sort of passive attitude that allows the stereotypes to endure. I’m tired of enjoying an unfairly stigmatized medium because nerds are willing to be exploited.” no one wants to made fun of but its going to happen whether you want it to or not. how many other stereo types are mocked every day? how many time do you see the ditzy blond or the bull headed jock? they’re all over comics. If anything the “Nerd” cliche is really old and out of date and they look really bad for making those same old references and not trying to be original and update.
The point I’m trying to make is it’s about how you handle yourself when it happens. going militant isn’t going to help draw more people to nerddom if anything its going to turn more people away. By no means am I saying ‘be a door mat’ but If we accept and embrace our flaws and make fun of ourselves then its increasingly difficult to make fun of us. I hate to use him as a reference. Kevin Smith constantly talks about how bad of a director he is, how fat he is, or how small his dick is. with all those tossed out its hard to make fun of him. so I say let them make there comments and jokes. laugh at them for not updating there retarded cliches and move onto better things.
Or we can be adults and decide how we react to taunts and not let our taunters decide how we react…
Mason – “If we accept and embrace our flaws and make fun of ourselves then its increasingly difficult to make fun of us.” Or it becomes easier to further perpetuate those stereotypes.
Also, I think the term “militant” is rather strong because it implies an advocacy for violence, and that isn’t at all what I am proposing. Instead, I would rather we work towards changing these stereotypes.
While your examples of the ditsy blonde or the dumb jock may seem to be related, I would argue that they are not simply because these stereotypes are created for the purpose of a promotion of self-expression, “see these people that you want to be? They are what is considered the ‘norm,’ but the norm is ridiculous and why would you want to be them?”
Meanwhile a “nerd” stereotype seems almost antithetical to the promotion of self-expression. Anyone who is passionate about something that is socially stigmatized within the realm of popular culture is considered a “nerd.” What these “nerd” stereotypes are saying is that “you aren’t normal. You’re a freak and you should be ashamed.”
You know what?
Forget it.
You’re right.
I can’t stand talking about this stupid subject anymore and I completely and totally regret ever bringing it up because ultimately it won’t do any good and it is keeping me from doing real work.
I’ve said all I can say and if I can’t convince you, then that’s just the way it is, but I will leave you with one final thought in the form of a song because this says more than I ever could:
Well that made me a little sadder. I thought we’d moved beyond some of those enduring stereotypes of nerds. I can’t deny that people who look like that exist, I game with a few, and there shouldn’t be a need to do so: anybody can be a nerd. At least, that’s the point I hope your trying to push for, Cody.
Stay mad, it helps keep me aware of stuff like this.
Mmmmmmmm strong is the force in this one mmmmmmmmMMMM
I pretty much agree with you Cody, but in my limited experience ( I say limited because I’m only 23), there is large number of people who act just like the stereotype. I have played games or talked comics with guys and gals like you, who are calm headed and don’t act like what most of society would deem as weird, but every person like that I have met a person who acts weird or personifies that stereotype. To that end, you’re right, people need to change on an individual basis. However, because people need to change individually is the very reason I don’t think that stigma will ever fade. At best all you can really do is brush the haters off.
No matter what anyone does stereotypes will never change. They are, sadly, tried and true jokes about certain stereotypes that will forever persist. Whether it being asians and their inability to drive, blacks love of fried chicken, or nerds being being four eyed basement dwelling geeks.
Do i like the stereotype associated to me? No. But i still make the jokes about the other stereotypes.
And while this video is clearly exploitation, my only problem with it is that it’s bad exploitation. Whereas “White N’ Nerdy” is amazing exploitation.
Thanks for the props, sir, as well as your purchases. I actually came out ahead of the curve, if my observations on Saturday held true for those hours when I was NOT at my table—I saw very little business being done around the room. All this might have been solved had attendance been better, as 90% of my business was with Team Walker, and with the couple running the booth with all the swords. Plus, I can’t complain much, since I knew I was going to a con focused on gaming, not comics, and I didn’t really do anything to support the game guys (unless going to the “podcast” panel counts.)
I think the panels were the real shame, especially Ms. Botsford’s, but I wouldn’t have known of her or bothered if not for you, so that’s one small step forward. She really was fine and gracious despite the pathetic environs.
The nerd problem is a classic Gordian knot. I dislike the traditional nerd stereotypes, but some of the recent Hollywood Adulation of the Nerd is even worse because it’s so bogus. For example, in the wake of Napoleon Dynamite, the popular kids wearing their “Vote for Pedro” shirts, when you know in reality there are real-world Napoleons and Pedros in their schools whom they habitually treat like shit. Or, when you read an interview with Megan Fox (or whatever flavor-of-the-month gal is in vogue) and she says, “I was a really a nerd in high school,” just like all the supermodels say. Now we have a whole new breed of movie stars and musicians who embody the current school of “nerd chic,” as in “The Social Network,” which is kind of cool because there really is a “Revenge of the Nerds” effect in our culture right now, but at the same time it is impossible, I believe, to be a true nerd without some form of rejection, dejection or at least social demotion. It’s a paradox.
I prefer “geek chic” but I completely agree.
Chad Woody said it better than I possibly could have, but that’s just Woody for you. Thanks so much!
“geek chic”=perfect!
With all due respect to Mr. Woody and his comments I think the question begs to be asked: What element of pop culture (nerds included) hasn’t been exploited by Hollywood?
To accuse Hollywood of cynicism is pretty naive in my book. Hollywood makes it’s living through exploitation. Currently, it’s the nerd’s turn to get some love Hollywood style.
I think there is a tremendous hypocrisy in geekdom, in an ideology that asserts ” We are “geeks” and you are not because you dont ***insert geeky activity here***” That attitude is what keeps people isolated and stuck. That attitude perpetuates stereotypes…
I feel that if a person enjoys reading comic books (which I do) or enjoys playing RPGs (which I do) they should simply enjoy it. To worry about how you might be perceived probably means you aren’t enjoying yourself.
Just my two cents…
“To accuse Hollywood of cynicism is pretty naive in my book. Hollywood makes it’s living through exploitation. Currently, it’s the nerd’s turn to get some love Hollywood style.”
–Agreed, especially in that (just like when people complain about “the media”) it’s equally on the consumer/audience how these attitudes play out. Another trope that’s been sticking in my craw, for example, is how we tend to celebrate the common man, in everything from Aaron Copeland symphonies to “Good Will Hunting,” but when it comes down to it, the average person on the street tends to look down on the common man, at least if he’s doing manual labor and below average in wealth or appearance. It’s this sort of hypocrisy that bugs me more than any nerdy one-upsmanship, but maybe I should just be glad that Hollywood (anyone) pays homage to nerds, janitors, obese black girls in abusive homes, etc., because it may be the only boost they’re ever going to get.
Word.
Dear Lobster,
Don’t get in a boil.
Seriously – I saw only the upside. I got to meet a few people who share my appreciation for all things genre. Great people — including and most especially yourself!
And in defense of VisionCon, they bought several copies of my book and we did talk. They’re big goal that weekend was to sign up members for their con.
Back to the writing dungeon with me now.
Do the same, if you can. I dig the cons, but I write to write. Getting it out there is a plus.
They’re = Their.
Sigh, if only one could edit their blog comments!
I think you are dead right about the Nerd thing and we should get riled up about it, dammit! Listen, I am a nerd. OK, 100%. I love comic books, I am currently playing x-men Legends 2 because I love having Wolverine slice everything into the pictosphere. I SAY THINGS LIKE I WANT WOLVERINE TO SLICE EVERYTHING INTO THE PICTOSPHERE. That is nerdy. But, the difference between me and most of my brethren: I can talk to girls. Not just girls, but anyone really about a far reaching number of topics: hunting, pop music, flowers, society, politics, sports, cars, etc, etc. I strive to make sure I am not socially awkward. I mean, I get it, I could be on the Big Bang Theory with my looks, but that doesn’t mean you cant be a regular guy. We all can and when we are, then we might get a big more legitimization beyond these trite characterizations the media is so fixed on.
Hey, I am doing an art apperciation project for my english class, on the art of comic books. If anyone would give me any information you know about comic books, or what its like to be involved in comic book collecting or making, please let me know, thanks.