Once upon a time, calling someone ÔÇÿa geekÔÇÖ would go into bullying territory. It would imply they were unattractive, undesirable to the opposite sex and boring (intellectual ability or talent deemed irrelevant).┬á The geek, using the standard Google definition is ÔÇÿan unfashionable or socially inept personÔÇÖ . For once, Google is wrong. From large framed glasses to Doctor Who: things that risked your head being flushed down a toilet twenty years ago are now officially desirable.
Back in my 90s-kid childhood, geekiness strictly equated to uncoolness. Ever watched Recess? Everyone wanted to be TJ, the kid with the cap pushed so far back on his head it defied gravity and ÔÇÿsneakersÔÇÖ to rival Jay-Z. No one wanted to be Gus, with a personality as strong as his constantly breaking glasses. No one wanted to be Gretchen with a voice like a strangled cat and a head practically the shape of a flower vase, however good at science she was. Bart Simpson is another prime example. Despite being bright yellow and played by a woman, he was the idol of all ten-year-old boys, who would parrot ÔÇÿeat my shortsÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿay carumbaÔÇÖ at any opportunity. From The Powerpuff Girls to Dennis the Menace ÔÇô pre-teen protagonists often had the best clothes, rebelled against The Pesky Parents and The Tedious Teachers and those who tried hard academically were scorned.┬á The 90s also saw a surge of ÔÇÿunderdog winsÔÇÖ or ÔÇÿgeek gets the girlÔÇÖ films (e.g. The Girl Next Door and American Pie). However this scenario merely ostracises geeks further. It implies ÔÇÿthe geekÔÇÖ is such an alien to society that doing something vaguely human, (getting into a relationship or kissing a girl) facilitates a whole blockbuster film. Particularly irritating is the implication a ÔÇÿcool kidÔÇÖ is almost ÔÇÿcharitableÔÇÖ for dating a geek, as if they have leprosy rather than a minor issue often easily solved by Specsavers.
As a former geek (harsh critics might disagree with the ÔÇÿformerÔÇÖ part in its entirety) this negative reinforcement still registers with me. When I was younger I certainly looked the part, which was unfortunate in the ÔÇÿuncharitable 90sÔÇÖ. Firstly, my front teeth grew in the top of my gums, creating an effect even Mona The Vampire would laugh at. I also had a fringe that grew at an alarming rate and┬á at one point I resembled walking hairy head with teeth poking out. I had the fashion sense of a drunken peacock and consequently, when my squint developed, (which just added to my childhood beauty), I chose rainbow coloured glasses with the biggest frames in the shop.
I shunned Barbie to read as many books I could get my nerdy little hands on. I was probably the only child whose mum limited the amount of The Famous Five I read ÔÇÿfor my own goodÔÇÖ. Saying ÔÇÿitÔÇÖs awfully queer that I didnÔÇÖt have a partner in P.E again, frightfully unfairÔÇÖ, was as bad as it could get where I went to school. I lived in Plymouth and if youÔÇÖve been there youÔÇÖll know: itÔÇÖs not the place where the ÔÇÿFamous FiveÔÇÖ would hang outÔǪ
I wish I could say that I rose above the peer pressure but when I started secondary school, desire to conform got me. I became ÔÇÿboredÔÇÖ of reading, neglected my glasses and from the moment I brought a ÔÇÿcute chickÔÇÖ pencil case, my geek tendencies were as neglected as the Famous Five books in the attic. I wish I could tell my 11-year-old self with my giant glasses and wonky teeth to chuck away that pencil case and get my head back in a book ÔÇô but at that time, I didnÔÇÖt have the confidence. Ever since then, IÔÇÖve felt like a bit of a geek under cover, waiting for someone to ÔÇÿoutÔÇÖ me or perhaps invite me into some exclusive club. That hasnÔÇÖt happened, but perhaps people like me are finally accepting their inner geek, because recently there has been a massive shift. The geek is no longer the underdog, but the topdog throughout. Harry Potter exemplifies this change perfectly. The blonde haired, blue-eyed kid is the enemy and the kid in glasses with the weird scar defeats the bad guy (Potterheads will hate me for the simplicity of this analogy but you get my drift). The contemporary geek is also more likely to gravitate towards computers than books. In a world where technology dominates, knowing your techno-shit is actually pretty cool (not to mention helpful to everyone around you).
But why has being cool become uncool? Why is there demand for films that endorse brain over brawn and glasses over guns (both metal and muscular)? Perhaps this pattern correlates with the current economic climate, as dull as that might sound. The competition for employment has prioritised for many people what is important. With jobs high in demand, being ÔÇÿcoolÔÇÖ isnÔÇÖt enough. The successful women are no longer the Sex and the City types who do their jobs by day and go out drinking Cosmopolitans by night. The successful ones are the girls who pull all-nighters in the office rather than charismatic men. The guys who roll in late after proudly drinking the most tequila shots are no match for the guy who stayed late redesigning the computer system. These were the people who were perfecting their CVs and internship applications in the library, while the rest of their peers were cheering on the varsity team.
The issue with the geek trend is that itÔÇÖs hard to pull off: you can be passably ÔÇÿcoolÔÇÖ in the traditional sense with the right clothes and a decent haircut.┬á The geek sense is more difficult, because finally, the internal self is reflecting the external self (the way things should be). The ÔÇÿoldÔÇÖ cool kids are frantically attempting the trend, but itÔÇÖs not working.
For instance, a company called ÔÇÿReem ClothingÔÇÖ has included a range called ÔÇÿOriginal GeekÔÇÖ among its more traditionally ÔÇÿreemÔÇÖ brands. Ironically, the T-shirts feature a giant ÔÇÿgeekÔÇÖ slogan stretched across the chest of a guy who is more likely to have his face in a protein shake than a book. It looks as wrong as Beyonce advertising dirt biking. The old school ÔÇÿcool crowdÔÇÖ can wear the kit, but they donÔÇÖt know the rules of the game. ItÔÇÖs a similar concept to the humorously self-deprecating T-shirts an obese person might adorn: ÔÇÿnothing would fit me but this lousy t-shirtÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿmore to loveÔÇÖ or ÔÇÿIÔÇÖm in shape: round is a shapeÔÇÖ. It would be acceptable for Dawn French but if Alexa Cheung, head of the stick brigade with legs the same width┬á as things you stick in hummus wore one, eating disorder organisations around the country would erupt in horror. True geeks operate their mojo below the surface and itÔÇÖs impossible to replicate.
Mark Zuckerberg, responsible for the creation of Facebook and being the ultimate ÔÇÿcool geekÔÇÖ described his journey to success: ÔÇ£the real story of Facebook is just that weÔÇÖve worked so hard for all this time. I mean, the real story is actually probably pretty boring, right?ÔÇØ Unfortunately, its become apparently clear that in the real world, being a grafter is whatÔÇÖs important. The adult Bart Simpsons of society will be kicking themselves and wishing theyÔÇÖd listened to their teachers, instead of telling them to ÔÇÿeat my shortsÔÇÖ. Because the thing is, the geek doesnÔÇÖt just ÔÇÿget the girl nowÔÇÖ. The geek gets it all: including your job five years down the line.
Charlotte Wace
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