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Ich Bin Ein Nerd!: Geek Identity in Insider and Outsider Media

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Abstract

Neterer analyzes several geek characters through the eyes of both insiders (who are familiar with geek culture) and outsiders to geek culture, and how these characters can shape the way geeks are viewed in society. Focusing on examples from Revenge of the Nerds and The Big Bang Theory, Neterer explores the ways in which outsider characters can perpetuate stereotypes about geeks, particularly as they relate to gender and masculinity. The chapter then highlights the differences between these examples and examples created by “geeks, for geeks,” including The Guild and The IT Crowd. In these examples, “geek” is portrayed as a chosen identity rather than a label, and engagement with geek culture is depicted as an effective method of understanding oneself and the world.

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Neterer, J.S. (2018). Ich Bin Ein Nerd!: Geek Identity in Insider and Outsider Media. In: Lane, K. (eds) Age of the Geek. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65744-8_6

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