This document explores the shift from representations of nerds to geeks in popular culture and the implications for masculinity. It discusses how masculinity was traditionally embodied through physical strength and confidence but is now also represented through expertise in science and technology. Popular culture examples like Die Hard and The Big Bang Theory show how male power and identity have shifted from the physical body to the mind through an emphasis on technical skills. This reflects the growing cultural significance of science, technology, and the digital world.

1. When is a Nerd not a Nerd?
When he’s a Geek…
Exploring the shift in
representation of masculine
identities
Ashley
Morgan

2. Purpose
of
Presenta3on
• To
examine
a
shi8
in
representa3on
of
masculinity
in
popular
culture
• To
explore
reasons
for
this
shi8
• To
consider
the
implica3ons
for
masculinity
of
this
shi8

3. Key
Concepts
in
Presenta3on
• Masculinity
• Embodiment
(both
having
a
body
and
being
a
body)
• Cultural
significance
of
technology

4. Overview
• Explore
representa3ons
of
Masculinity
of
the
past
using
some
key
film
examples
• Focusing
on
changes
through
the
same
franchise
films,
Die
Hard
(McTiernan,
1988)
• Examine
recent
representa3ons
of
nerds
and
how
we
recognise
them
• Defining
what
a
geek
is
through
examples
from
film,
TV
and
real
life
• Considering
the
implica3ons
for
this
analysis
for
geeks
•
Considering
the
impact
of
wider
representa3ons
of
masculinity
• Note
on
Women
and
Geeks
• Further
reading

5. Masculinity
of
the
Past
Men
o8en
represented
as
being
in
charge,
confident
and
powerful
Power
and
confidence
is
physically
embodied
i.e.
in
Rambo’s
muscles
and
gun
Or
through
the
powerful
symbol
of
suits
i.e.
Patrick
Bateman
Masculinity
can
be
‘read’
on
the
bodies
of
men.
They
convey
authority
as
they
either
wear
suits,
or
their
bodies
are
pumped
up
–
both
these
connote
power.

6. e.g.
Die
Hard

7. Some
Popular
Nerds
Napoleon
Dynamite
BreX
and
Jemaine
from
Flight
of
the
Conchords

8. What
is
a
Geek?
• Quan3fiable
difference
between
Nerds
and
Geeks
• Some
similari3es
–
socially
awkward,
lack
of
interest
in
appearance,
‘uncool’,
loser,
unpopular
with
others,
o8en
aspire
to
be
cool
• i.e.
Napoleon
Dynamite
aspires
to
be
‘in’
with
popular
kids,
and
an
ar3st
• i.e.
BreX
and
Jemaine
aspire
to
be
good
musicians
and
have
meaningful
rela3onships
with
women
• In
contrast,
Geeks
are
‘experts’
• Exper3se
is
likely
to
be
represented
as
part
of
masculine
iden3ty
but
not
obviously
embodied
• Problema3c?
Recent
research
among
school
age
children
finds
that
term
‘geek’
used
pejora3vely
among
academic
children
(Mendick
and
Francis,
2011)

9. Ross
–
Friends
Palaeontologist
Benji
Mission
Impossible
Technically
Sophis3cated
The
Big
Bang
Theory
Experimental
Physicist,
Theore3cal
Physicist
Aerospace
Engineer
(and
Astronaut)
Par3cle
Astrophysicist

10. Real
Life
Geeks
Steve
Wozniak
Mark
Zuckerberg
Steve
Jobs
Prof
Brian
Cox

11. What
are
the
implica3ons
for
men
as
geeks?
1. Representa3on
of
men
as
geeks
highlights
the
wider
impact
of
science
and
technology
2. Demonstrates
a
shi8
in
represen3ng
male
power
from
body
to
mind

12. Impact
of
Science
and
Technology
• Raises
importance
of
technical
exper3se
v’s
simply
being
able
to
do
a
job
(i.e.
banker)
• Computer
based
world
• Applica3on
of
science
to
everyday
lives
• Male
driven
advancement
• Science
and
technology
–
less
money
driven
and
more
driven
through
innova3on
and
prowess,
charity
and
philanthropy
• Evident
in
hXp://givingpledge.org
• Contrast
with
hedge
fund
managers,
city
bankers
etc
(men
in
suits)

13. Shi8
in
Power
From
physical
to
cerebral
• Shi8
in
male
embodiment
from
physical
to
cerebral
-­‐
in
physical
prowess
(i.e.
muscles,
or
being
able
to
dress
well
no
longer
the
only
signifier
of
power)
• Consequently,
men’s
iden3ty
is
not
fixed,
appears
to
be
more
fluid,
and
is
more
‘accessible’

14. Wider
Representa3on
of
Masculine
Iden3ty
hXp://youtu.be/BplBW1qNM4w
-­‐
Die
Hard
hXp://youtu.be/B6CIcoot1sM
Big
Bang
Theory
Masculinity
through
physicality
s3ll
important,
Now
lies
alongside
greater
aXen3on
and
representatuion
of
science
and
technology.

15. A
Word
on
Women
Angela
Merkel
Suits
are
such
an
important
signifier
of
power
that
women
wear
them
when
they
wish
to
demonstrate
power
A
number
of
women
as
geeks
exist
in
Popular
culture
In
past,
‘geeky’
looking
women
and
girls
subject
to
makeovers
by
others
and
seldom
demonstrate
But
o8en
quirky
or
conven3onally
aXrac3ve,
seldom
exper3se
‘ordinary’
looking

16. Reading
• If
you
are
interested
in
further
reading
on
Masculinity
and
representa5on
see
the
following:
• Connell
,
R.W.
(1995)
Masculini)es,
Cambridge:
Polity.
• MacKinnon,
K
(2003)
Represen)ng
Men,
Maleness
and
Masculinity
in
the
Media,
London:
Arnold
• Geeks
and
Nerds
• Kendall,
L
(2011)
“White
and
Nerdy”.
Computers,
Race
and
the
Nerd
Stereotype,
Journal
of
Popular
Culture,
44
:
504-­‐
524.
• Mendick,
Hand
Francis,
B
(2011)
Boffin
and
geek
iden33es:
abject
or
privileged?,
Gender
and
Educa)on,
24:1:
15-­‐24.
• Female
Geeks
• Innes,
S
(2007)
Geek
Chic:
Smart
Women
in
Popular
Culture,
Basingstoke:
Palgrave
MacMillan
• Other
• Lewis,
M
(1989)
Liar’s
Poker,
London:
Hodder