Anthropology of Geeks

The Thin Line Between Geek and Nerd Pt. II

2006-10-23T17:37:00.001-07:00

The Thin Line Between

Geek & Nerd
Part II

If you remember from Part 1, I've listed Stephen Colbert and Kevin Smith as archetype's of Hollywood Geeks. However, one the really stands out in the scene (and one that I consider a god amongst directors) that has acclaimed geek status is Quentin Tarantino. Wikipedia puts him in words a better way than I can:

"...well-known for his public persona as a motor-mouthed, geeky hipster with an encyclopedic knowledge of both popular and art-house cinema."

What makes him a geek? His encyclopedic mind - the fact that he can spit at any information about every single film made on Earth (Note: that is a hyperbole). What makes him a Geek and not a nerd is the fact that Tarantino is a his works aren't only meant for critics, but for subculturist and the mainstream folk as well. Now, the people in the "Mainstream" (People who enjoy Michael Bay movies, the Fast and the Furious, Frat Pack movies, anything with lots of explosions, guns, and cars, etc. Though, don't get me wrong - I enjoy Frat Pack movies and several Michael Bay movies as much as the next guy) value him and his movies because of the amount of violence in them (As to quote Dane Cook, "Everybody loves a little violence in their life."). However, subculturist enjoy his movies because of the many pop cultural references and influences in them. One prime example of this out of Tarantino's movies is Kill Bill Volume I & II. There are many East Asian fun facts throughout the movie that Quentin Tarantino can just sit down and point out in every minute of the movie. There are many examples, but to list a few:

- Hattori Hanzo is based on an old Japanese historical figure that has been depicted in many movies and television shows, and the man playing Hanzo, Sonny Chiba, took on the role of Hattori Hanzo in Japan's Kage no Gundan.

-The plot line of Kill Bill is also based around The Five Deadly Venoms, a Hong Kong Martial Arts cult film from '78.

-Pai Mei is also based off a Chinese historical figure, and the character has been featured in several old Hong Kong martial arts movies as well; Gordon Liu, the man who took on the role of Pai Mei in Kill Bill II, had the honor of fighting Pai Mei in the movie Clan of the White Lotus.

- He's also portrays a scene similar to that of the opening of Samurai Fiction, with the lights turned off and the blue drop-off in the background.

- The yellow jump suit the Bride is wearing is the same one that Bruce Lee wore in his final movie, The Game of Death; the masks that the Crazy 88 wore are a nod to Bruce Lee's work in The Green Hornet

The point is - Quentin Tarantino is a geek himself. And a god.

I believe I've got my point across as to what geeks are: likable, social, bitchin', culturally refined intellectuals. As for nerds well, there aren't really any great examples. Why? Because a) You probably have never heard of them and b) Neither have I. (I'm still young and learning) And even the most famous nerds are only known within their own clique of nerds. For example, if I were to ask a hardcore Star Trekkie that Eugene Wesley Roddenberry is in the room same room as us - a true Trekkie would know that I'm lying (For the record I am not a Trekkie - could never get into it.). Heck, ask anybody who Erneste Gary Gygas is and they'd probaly have no idea. Of course, if the "anybody" did have a faint idea of who he is, he'd/she'd either be a) a very, very, very big nerd or b) have some knowledge of gaming history. (Gygas is the father of Dungeons and Dragons and modern role play, which has led to the basis of Role Playing Games, or RPGs) (Ladies and gentlemen, Exhibit D: I know actually know who Erneste Gary Gyas is) If somebody were to know this - how would this make them a nerd? Because nerds are socially inept. They obsess over these kind of stuff - and these kind of franchises are so big that it would take quite literally a lifetime in order to keep up - and it keeps growing, too. Just look at the comic book industry. There have different universes, different versions of a heroes, new teams, new look, new heroes, and the list goes on. Thanks to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby - they've started a whole generation of nerds/geeks. The only nerd that has really achieved any fame in pop culture is Bill Gates - but only because he's the richest man alive (Well, techinically second richest now - haha, poor bastard... pun intended). And heck, I'm not even so sure if one can consider him a nerd - he's somehow managed to mate, fornicate, and breed (Melinda Gates and three children). He's just good at what he does.

To sum it up: Geeks are intellectuals who can actually pull away from their hobbies and Geeky obsessions and go out - have a life, get some friends outside of the Geek clique, get some fresh air, can actually do a push-up, have some appeal, mate, know what's going on outside of their own little world, and actually socialize with the opposite sex. Nerds? Still living with their parents, either in a room or their basement, with bookshelves filled with fantasy and/or science fiction novels, playing D&D, with the internet as the only means of communcation with the outside world. As you're reading this they're eBaying for that Ultimate Star Wars collection set and putting their house up for mortgage... again. If they're more obsessed with getting the original VISOR that LeVar Burton on the set of Star Trek rather than getting with somebody of the opposite sex - then Houston, we've got a problem. That's what separates the Geeks from the Nerds: how far an obsession can take you. Would people be impressed with your collection of Star Wars paraphernalia or rather your knowledge of the series? Would you rather watch reruns of Star Trek all day long or actually get up and do something with your day? Or perhaps even your life?

Does an obsession consume your life - or do you take control of it?

With too much time on his hands, and too many things on his mind,
Henry "Pootie Chang" Pham

The Thin Line Between Geek and Nerd Pt. I

2006-10-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Thin Line Between
Geek & Nerd
Part I

I'm a geek. Always have been, always will be. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this many times. I only want to proclaim it once more. However, there isn't much a difference between the two - and I feel its about time that somebody point it out. Throughout the posts, I've listed different clues or Exhibits of what makes me a Geek. (Exhibit A: Sharing unwanted knowledge that seems absolutely frivolous for a person. Exhibit B: Using words such as "frivolous" and "subculture"):

"...a person who is fascinated, perhaps obsessively, by obscure or very specific areas of knowledge and imagination."
- Wikipedia

See that ladies? That's a geek.

Whereas a nerd is:

"...refers to somebody who pursues intellectual interests at the expense of skills that are useful in a social setting, such as communication, fashion, or physical fitness."
- Wikipedia

See that? That's a nerd.

I know the sources aren't at all that reliable - however, these sources are ones many people can refer to and that many are probably actually willing to look up. However, the line between Geek and Nerd is quite thin and obscure - many people confuse a Geek for a Nerd, and vice versa. As to quote an urbandictionary.com entry:

"Unlike the word 'nerd,' which is always pejorative, 'geek' often carries a positive connotation when used by one of the group."

I'd like to point out once again - Geek, good. Nerd, gross. One specific "Geek" clique that a lot of people should be familiar with is High School Band. What makes Band so great is the same reason why even the most popular people who also happen to be in the High School Marching/Concert Band brand themselves "Band Geek" proudly - or at least have a friend in band. Because after all, there are many different kinds of cliques in Band that all come together all for the common pleasure of either a) the pleasure of playing music or b) the pleasure of mingling with so many people in band. Because of this, Band Geeks have the best connections with people - you're bound to know one person in band, even somebody in the football team or track is in band. But of course, the High School Band Geek Experience is going to have to be a topic for another day...

Nevertheless, Band Geeks are an example of how the term "geek" is a positive connotation of people with a strong intellectual interest (as said by Wikipedia) - in this case, it would be musically. To draw upon celebrity images and examples, Kevin Smith is a large (no pun intended) Hollywood Geek. With a very large fanbase and several great box office and controversial hits (Clerks, Dogma, Chasing Amy), he innovates his knowledge of the Geek Subculture into his movies. For example, in the movie Clerks there is a conversation centered around Star Wars. In Mallrats, there's Stan Lee, the great and awesome Comic Book Legend right next to Jack Kirby (Exhibit C: I actually know who Jack Kirby is) and in the Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back movie, there've got lightsabers. Yet, his movies still appeal. Heck, in the new Clerks II movie (Now Playing in a local movie theatre near you) there a comparison of Star Wars to the new epic fantasy/Geek movie reference of our generation, Lord of the Rings.

Stephen Colbert, for you politically active folks, is also a geek. At the age of ten, Colbert moved to a more urban environment.Instead of making friends, he found love: a love of science fiction, fantasy novels, and, yes, a love for fantasy role-playing games, most especially... Dungeons and Dragons. However, thanks to Dungeons and Dragons, it has attributed to his interest in an acting career and his improvisation skills. He's worked as an understudy for Steve Carrell, and hell, even wrote for Saturday Night Live. He is now dubbed as one of the 50 Most Influential People of all time by Time Magazine, he has now grown in the eyes of politicans and Hollywood proudly thanks go Dungeons and Dragons. That's right bitches, Dungeons and Dragons.

An extensive knowledge of different kinds of media and Geek culture can be implemented in life - as proven by Colbert's life. Geek culture can also be implemented in one's work, appealing to a certain audience of people who "get you" while at the same time reaching out to those who don't understand your arcane jibber-jabber. In a way, it makes you chic - being able to understand something that many don't. It gives us that special connection to some - a common interests. And to be able to pull that off while at the same time appealing to those who don't understand your talk - being socially felicitous - thats what defines a person as a nerd or a geek.

Next time on Part II of The Geek/Nerd article: Quentin Tarantino, and more on nerds

*Note: The bolds are merely to make the article more bearable to read. In articles that I plan to make from now on will have bold words just to get some key points across

Welcome to the New Generation of Geeks

2006-10-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the New Generation of Geeks
"MyPod Generation, Video Games, and Cyber Terrorism"

The current geeks of this generation are ones of the New Silent Generation as Neil Howe and Bill Strauss would dub us. We're Generation Z to the market reseach companies, or Generation Alpha to some. BusinessWeek has named us the Myspace Generation - a revolution similar to that of the social upheaval of MTV; all the cool kids are so into it, that Corporations are taking advantage of it and using it to advertise themselves. Look at MTV - it's now sponsored by millions of companies. It became a way for most markets to advertise and publicize. Just look at the unsheathing of the Xbox 360 on MTV. Whoever's the Public Relations director of Microsoft obviously knew how to reach out to their targed audience. Now, Myspace is the new way of publicity. For crissakes, just look at the "Feature Profile", the advertisement banners and the movie and music profiles. And now, another staple has come into the PC/Mac/Linux lifestyle aside from Myspace - the iPod. Hundreds of hours of music available to fit into a small compact, sleek, attractive MP3 player. What really distinguishes the iPod from those other MP3 players is not just the no-memory-card needed feature and it's click-wheel tool, but also the way it can be personalized. Hundreds of accessories, thousands of ways to customize a playlist, with millions of songs available. BBC News has come up with a punny name for this generation because of that - the iGeneration. However, one name that is more self-explanatory - the MyPod Generation. What has motivated the MyPod Generation into existence is the motivation of the internet and the geeks that work to further enhance and take advantage of everything that the internet has to offer: information, communication, and recreation. It's exactly what the World needs - all with the click of a button.

The Geeks of Generation Alpha is driven by the pursuits of technological advances... for video games.The Gamer culture is a strong one, with millions upon millions of people being influenced by it everyday (Or so the media, Jack Thompson, Hilary Clinton, and more than half of Congress wants us to think). And the interesting thing about it is that it isn't just limited to geeks. Some of you might remember or at least seen the effects of the Golden Age of Arcade Games. Remember its image? It wasn't just snot-nosed, suspender wearing, glasses-toting squares who ran to the arcade - a whole generation ran to the video arcade. It was an age of Pacman, Galaga, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, and Dragon's Lair that made video game junkies out of the adolescence. Video Gaming was - and still is - an area of Geek media open to all. You can buy a game, and not come off as a Nerd/Geek. Look at the sales for Halo 2. Say "Halo 2" to anybody within our generation and they'll know what you're talking about. Mention Mario, and the first thing to come to mind is not the Italian guy down the street with the same name or Mario Lopez (AC Slater during the days of Saved by the Bell). No, instead what comes to mind are mushrooms, an Italian plumber in red, and fireballs along with the gleeful stomping of those poor Goombas... It's obvious the effectt that gaming has on popular culture. Not to mention, it's only amplified our geeky needs. Look at Geeks now; thanks to the video game home console, we had another reason to isolate ourselves from the world. Who needs D&D when you can have a LAN party! And then there's the internet - and MMORPGs have now captivated us. Hardcore Geeks of the New Silent Generation are occupied with playing World of Warcraft, trying to level up our Paladin to level 60, survive a quest, and fight off monsters in a traveling party for experience. And guess what? You don't have to do it in your mother's basement with your buddies - you can now do it online. I'm sorry D&D but RPGs seem to be reaching out to a larger audience; because of that, it's become more successful. Look at Geeks now. They're tweeking out their harddrives so it can be able to handle a non-stop 24 hour LAN party, putting in coolants that can make a penguin freeze to death (Oh, if only...) The internet, the personal computer, the video games for PC and console - it’s a technological revolution within Geek Culture. Instead of the throwing dice that every true geek has been throwing throughout the Consciousness Revolution of 1964-1984, we’re throwing money to get the latest Expansion pack for Guild Wars. Instead of going out and buying comic books, we’re online reading webcomics. And it just doesn't stop their. We don't need to go to a live auction, we have one on eBay! What? Go out and buy a book? Ridiculous! Why go through the trouble when I've got Amazon right here! Oh, bloody hell, can't find what I'm looking for at the library... why, look at what Google has found for me!

With all this convenience and all the attractive features of a computer and the internet, people have now accepted these works of Geekdom. But many of them don't understand the power that technology has. And not to mention, they're vulnerablity for not understanding this power. Many of us have been able to use this to our advantage, thought its not something we go parading around. We’ve got internet piracy, hacking, and cracking into computers. We’re creating malicious viruses that are doing several million dollars in damages. Because of all this, we have a term for these invasions and destruction of computers: Cyber terrorism. We've finally found a way to fight back using what we have to our advantage. Why? Because society has become too lenient towards technology. That's the thing - too many people have become too reliant on technology, but not enough of them understand its complexity, or how it even works. They just know what it can do, and how to use it. And for once, the nerds/geeks have found an upperhand. With knowledge of computers, that certain class of geeks who understand the ins-and-outs of a computer have the power to do some domestic spying on others. They have the ability to dig through your computer, shuffle around, plant whatever they want in there, either it be trojan, virus, or worm. Hell, hackers out there might be keystroke logging right now as you are reading this, typing away to your friends on IRC, AIM, ICQ, or MSN messenger; every single key pushed on your keyboard is recorded and logged, and from there people can find passwords and encryption keys to make your computer vulnerable. This is mostly used for law enforcement and espionage. However, keylogging program is widely available. It is so easy to get them that it's scary. And this is just one of many vulnerabilities that a normal PC user has... (Don't get me started on Macs). Sure, keep on loading up your firewalls, your anti-virus internet security, and your algorithms. But that will only slow down the inevitable. Those are merely challenges before they find a loophole; a way around your various ways of protection. Be warned. Be afraid. Don't bully us. We're more threatening than we seem.

Slightly disturbed and working frantically to update my firewall,

Henry "Pootie Chang" Pham

Decided I Need Separate Blogs

2006-10-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be more organized... I intend this blog to be more of my written musings about just random geeky stuff, such as Gaming, the Anthropology of Geeks, subcultures, etc. I've always felt bothered with bloggers that seem to rant on with their lives. I've always wanted to do something more than that, you know. Right something that people would enjoy reading. I was typically elated when I learned that people actually liked my last 3 articles - and I got around to actually making one about Star Trek. However, life got to me first - and it seemed like I had more to post about my life and random stuff that caught my eye then what I intentionally used my blog for. Then came Henry and Hamdan Go to In-N-Out, my own personal project. That's when I realized that if people wanted to read something intellectual, they do not want to read about the writer's personal life or what he's find - they want some real reading material. The kind of stuff you read off of Wired.

Pretty much, the other blog - the one that I intentionally used - will be more for my own personal use. More for my own selfish needs to rant to the world about things that pertain to myself. This blog, however, will be mainly used for some freestyle articles I feel like posting. I'll post my old one's onto here, however I know I won't have as much time as I did over the summer to actually ponder and take my time to think and analyze subcultures. However, I promise you this - even though I will not update as much as I'd like, I will offer 100% thought-provoking materials that will offer great information, show some research done for it (Thank you Wikipedia and Wired) and not to mention stuff that should appeal to anybody with an inquiring mind.

So, consider this an update. I will use the background for my personal blog for this one because I find it more befitting - however, the bloody HTML is impossible for me to work with so I'll have to struggle with that... But I do plan on giving the personal one a bit of a facelift and something more... ineffable mise en scne.

Read. Feel Smart.
- Henry "Pootie Chang" Pham

P.S. I will be reposting my old articles to garner more appeal to this blog - just to add some meat to some possible new readers. Hey, I may get a small audience - but so long as I reach any audience who appreciates my work, I feel I've done a good job.