Why Geek Culture is Now the Mainstream

What is Geek and Geek Culture

Geek is a funny old term, isn’t it? When I look back to my childhood, I see it as a negative thing. It’s one of the (many) reasons I stood out from others and was bullied. Now, it’s a badge of honour. Looking at things analytically, it is difficult to identify whether this is because I’ve grown to accept who I am, the definition of the word has evolved or societally and culturally we’ve become more accepting of geekiness. Whilst it is cliché to say; it is a combination of these things but it is especially difficult to argue against the point that geek culture has found its way into the media mainstream.

When we say, geek we historically mean those who don’t fit in (the term originally was used to mean carnival folk, of course). The eccentric, the non-mainstream, the smart and the societally rejected, for example. Whilst this is still true, we now typically mean someone who is knowledgeable, smart and enthusiastic about certain things. I’ve been all of these (except carnival folk). When talking about geek culture, we’re referring to (once) obscure media with a very passionate and enthusiastic following. Videogames, sci-fi, fantasy, anime and comic books all fall under this umbrella.

The Entertainment World has Changed

Today, things are different. Westworld and Game of Thrones (sci-fi and fantasy respectively) are among the most popular TV shows. Let’s think about that for a moment. A convoluted story about android actors in a cowboy theme park and a magical dragon lady, politics and ice zombies are the sort of things that your cab driver might bring up on a long journey. The world is not the same as it was. When I was a boy, knowing a few Spider-Man villains was enough to warrant a lunch break of abuse.

Now, people know about Iron Man, Thor and Hawkeye (bloomin’ Hawkeye, of all people). They even understand the difference between Marvel and DC. Harry Potter, a series based on magic, wizards and mythical creatures is a household name. Then there’s Star Wars; which has gone from pop culture icon, to obscure enthusiast fantasy-sci-fi, to a pop culture resurgence that is bigger than ever!

Even videogames; once escapism for the downtrodden or distractions for kids, are now mainstream. You hear about Call of Duty, Minecraft, Pokémon and Fortnite on daytime TV. The little computers we keep in our pockets (and pretend are for phone calls) have games on too. At one stage (not too long ago) it was an abnormality to not have a Wii in your home.

Our Modern World Appreciates Intelligence And Quirks A Little More

Some people out there were always attracted to brainpower and people’s intellect, but it has become even more of a thing in the past decade or so. In years gone by, many were impressed by people who emitted a sense of coolness by sticking it to the man and not being bothered about education. We now have the ability to communicate with people from all over the world and can show off what we’re capable of. 

Social media and other networking platforms give us an opportunity to showcase even the most obscure talents and skills. Many years ago, the masses wouldn’t see a chess guru as much of a popular figure, for instance. Now, people are fascinated by the way their strategies and tactics work inside their heads. People may now flock to read pieces from the likes of Mikhail Solodovnikov and many others in order to gather more information. 

We live in a world full of people showing off their array of talents in all kinds of areas. The geeks of the past are able to group up and tell the world that it’s pretty cool to be yourself. The more ‘fashionable’ individuals and jocks of the world are now more than happy with quirks and geeky aspects. The technology around us has allowed all kinds of hobbies/passions/abilities to be unearthed – and it’s definitely for the better. 

We’re All Geeks Now

Passion and enthusiasm for media continues to grow as more intellectual properties become movies and TV shows. Technology continues to march forward and with it; so does technological proficiency. The geeks grew up and shared their passion with everyone else. The directors, writers, composers, developers and tech pioneers driving the media we consume are the same people who were once on the fringes and you know what? Their passion is contagious.

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post