With Star Wars dominating at the box office and TV shows like the Big Bang Theory ruling prime time, is now the best time to be a nerd?
Ask any self-proclaimed nerd or geek (yes, there's a difference), and you'll find that they are reclaiming those terms with pride. Think, The Nerdist and Geeks Who Drink. Depictions of nerds have changed over time -- from hairy critters created by Dr. Seuss (read If I Ran the Zoo) to people who are "unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept" (you can thank Merriam-Webster for that) to individuals who are deeply passionate about their interests (art nerds, music nerds, tech nerds).
We discuss why these perceptions are changing, and why it's now cool to be a nerd. Our guests:
- Jackie McGriff, administrative assistant for development at WXXI, film nut, math and science nerd, photographer, and techie
- Ben Scrivens, owner of FRIGHT-RAGS
- Erich Lehman, owner and curator of 1975 Gallery
- Tricia Campbell, senior publishing coordinator, and self-proclaimed “hip nerd”
