Your brain on the Internet

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I Wanna Be A Nerd Too!

I don't think I have ever been referred to as a nerd, nor have I ever wanted to be called one. The negative stereotype about nerds that has permeated throughout the last several decades has been so distasteful and looked down upon that no one in their right mind has ever wanted to be a part of it. However, in Chris Hofer's article "Four Eyes No More: The New Nerd," he claims that the "nerd" of the last three decades is being replaced by a cooler, more likeable version of what this stereotype once entailed. He cites several television shows, including The Big Bang Theory and NUMB3RS, on network television that have portrayed likeable nerds as the main characters that have helped to change the stereotype and create a "new nerd," a smart yet suave and cool version of what a nerd once was. Another show I have seen a few episodes of, Chuck, airs on NBC and portrays the main character as a classic nerd. Yet despite his misgivings, he still has an attractive girlfriend and manages to prevail over the bad guys in every episode.


In the last decade the old stereotype of a nerd has begun to vanish, being replaced with a more socially acceptable blend of smart and cool, intelligent yet attractive. Popular culture has completely morphed our perception of this once unique and detested persona. I thought I never wanted to be called a nerd, but after reading this article, maybe I'll change my mind..?

Saving the World, One Book at a Time

Last Friday, I went to see the new film Book of Eli at the South Campus Gateway Film Center. I was enjoying the film, until about halfway through, Denzel Washington's character Eli whipped an iPod out of his knapsack and started listening to some tunes. I did a double take before I realized what had happened. The movie is set in post apocalyptic times- how does an iPod last 30 years? I got an iPod 2 years ago for Christmas and it died midway through last year. Eli's iPod was the oldest version too! Most people know from experience that the lifespan of their iPod is quite a bit shorter than the price implies it should be. This, and other cinematic abnormalities are the primary focus of Charlie Jane Anders' blog, "Forget Nuking The Fridge. It's All About The Post-Apocalyptic iPod!"

However, cinematic implausibilities aside, the iPod depicted in Book of Eli is intended to be more symbolic than realistic. It is sort of like a beacon of hope for Eli- a technological anomaly in a devastating time period with few other physical possessions to cling onto besides a couple firearms and a dearth of water. Anders talks about the emotional connection between humans and these gadgets, which is true not only for Eli (he risks his life and barters a few valuable possessions in exchange for charging his iPod battery) but for many people today. Why else would we pay hundreds of dollars for something so mundane? This is particularly true for cell phones as well. Almost everyone I know, including myself, is attached and completely dependent on their cell phone. Without it, I feel naked. Even though most of the time no one is trying to call me, when I don't have my phone I feel like someone is trying to get through even more. Compare this to Book of Eli- there is not an overwhelming amount of technology in this post apocalyptic world, and yet Eli is able to cling onto his iPod and ***spoiler alert*** use it to save the "word."