Nugent raises many arguments about the history of nerds and the evolution of the term in his book American Nerd. He introduces two main categories of nerds and includes five different threads of “nerd-dom” in his discussion to reveal different levels and variants of “Nugent’s people”.
The two classifications of nerds include a machine-like individual (usually male) on one hand and a socially excluded individual on the other (both male and female). The former is characterized as passionate in technology, articulate in conversation, passive in confrontation, rational and logical in thought and obsessed with machines. These nerds hide from the outside world and live with their technological equipment/devices. Essentially, as Nugent puts it, “they tend to remind people of machines” (6). The latter nerds are those individuals who always do their work on time, dress for comfort and the sake of being clothed rather than for fashionable/materialistic reasons and have very few friends. These nerds are picked on in school for being “different” and uncool.
The various threads Nugent discusses to give more life to the two aforementioned categories include ethnic and race division, the rise of machines and technology, Science Fiction, the media’s role in nerd portrayal, and finally a biological argument concerning nerd-dom, Asperger’s syndrome and Autism.
First, in terms of ethnicity and race, Nugent draws a spectrum that parallels degrees of nerdiness to certain ethnicities. On one side are the extreme non-nerds who are very sensual and physical; these are Africans. One the other side are Asians and Jews who are the extreme nerds for their intelligence, asexuality and less impressive physique. Nugent’s comparison between Jews and nerds is a very interesting one that never crossed my mind until I read his book. Nugent does not argue that Jews are nerds, but rather that they fit a very similar category in terms of social relationships and discrimination.
In other words, the discrimination and marginalization of Jews is in a way mirrored in that of nerds. This might be a huge stretch, but while Hitler was in power in Germany during World War II, a very clear distinction was drawn between an acceptable race and one that should be, well, exterminated. Hitler’s Aryan race included perfectly groomed, physically fit, strong men. Although many other factors contributed to his distaste of Jews, Hitler made a point to recognize that Jews were not a part of this race of strong athletic men. While not to the extreme of Nazism, the relationship between nerds and popular, “normal” kids is very similar to this. Nugent describes how the importance of physical health created such a divide. Very seldom would you find a nerd on the football team, or out at a party with a cheerleader or “hot girl”. Furthermore, jocks use their athleticism to torture nerds and set them further apart from the crowd by constantly recognizing and reminding them of their athletic and physical shortcomings.
The next two threads can go hand in hand because the rise of technology and machines allowed for online Sci-Fi related forums to take place after the Sci-Fi Magazine gained popularity in the nerd culture. This magazine had a letters section to which nerds could write stories and notes, form groups, create friendships; ultimately, they were forming distinct publics of nerds and sci-fi enthusiasts. After the onset of machines, nerds found another niche, another safe-haven. Here they could essentially be whomever they want, since the physical is not a factor. While machines facilitate nerd behavior, they also allow a nerd to be transformed into a powerful, accepted individual.
So now nerds have become a stereotype possessing machine-like anti-social, unathletic, and awkward qualities. The media started perpetuating this idea in various movies and TV shows, the obvious of which include Freaks and Geeks, Revenge of the Nerds, Steve Urkel in Family Matters, Screech in Saved by the Bell, and various characters on SNL. Only recently have movies and TV Shows been released to try and turn this stereotype around, or as discussed in class, show the cooler “geekiness” of nerds that is essentially more socially acceptable: Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Version, Ugly Betty.
The final thread is a very difficult one for me to figure out. Comparing nerds to Aspies and Autistic people assumes that nerds are biologically determined. I am definitely not well versed enough in Aspergers or Autism to fully be able to make sense of this argument, but it is safe to say that both are diagnosable “conditions” of the mind that noticeably affect an individual’s social behavior. I can’t help but disagree with the assumption that there is a nerd gene. While I can see that there are similarities between each element of this argument, I almost think it’s a cop-out, or easy way to try and redeem someone for being “nerdy”. When a woman finds out she’s pregnant, can’t her doctors run tests to detect such syndromes as Aspergers and Autism? And can’t a doctor not detect the level of popularity, intelligence or nerdiness of the unborn child?
This whole discussion of nerds, Aspergers and Autism makes me think about the nature vs. nurture argument; to me, nerds are nurtured. I honestly believe that nerds are nerds because non-nerds label them and treat them like they aren’t real people. The perpetual bullying instills fear and apprehension into nerds’ minds so they naturally seclude and find other more comfortable outlets to express themselves. It is like a vicious cycle that continues and has been going on for a long time. This fear of the “other” or someone different, and the fear and insecurity of not being accepted causes some people to prey on innocent victims; some of these victims do not know or feel comfortable enough retaliating. The media’s role in perpetuating the nerd stereotype only makes this cycle even worse. However, now that a new, more positive perception of nerds (or I guess more appropriately, geeks) is being portrayed in the media, hopefully the cycle will cease.
All in all, I found Nugent’s book very interesting and fun to read. I never realized all the different layers of nerd-dom, and also never really saw a difference between a nerd and a geek. I tended to understand nerd, geek, dork as the same thing. Anyway, I think that everyone is in one way or another nerdy/geeky/dorky. Nerd has definitely become its own “specie” so to speak, but it really only started out as a way of describing someone who was different, or weird, or quirky. But who can really define what is weird versus what is normal? And don’t these differences and quirkinesses just make life more interesting?