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Revision as of 15:53, 12 November 2012 by 64.254.236.72 (talk) (→Definitions)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about the term geek itself, as well as the modern meaning. For the circus performer, see Geek show. | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Geek" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The word geek is a slang term for odd or non-mainstream people, with different connotations ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a person heavily interested in a hobby", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp one who is perceived to be overly intellectual".
Although often considered as a pejorative, the term is also often used self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride.
Etymology
This word comes from English dialect geek, geck: fool, freak; from Low German geck, from Middle Low German. The root geck still survives in Dutch and Afrikaans gek: crazy, as well as some German dialects, and in the Alsatian word Gickeleshut: geek's hat, used in carnivals. The Swedish transitive verb gäcka (to outsmart, to fool) has the same root; att gäcka rättvisan (to escape justice by clever tricks) is a set expression.
Formerly, in 18th century Austria-Hungary, Gecken were freaks shown by some circuses. In 19th century, in North-America, the term geek referred to a freak in circus side-shows (see also freak show). The 1976 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary included only the definition regarding geek shows.
The word appears in the modern sense of a science, math, or technology enthusiast in Robert Heinlein's 1952 short story "The Year of the Jackpot".
Definitions
There are many different types of geeks. There are physic geeks, science-fiction geeks, theater geeks, historical re-enactment geeks,and computer geeks. Basic geeks can be identified by their lack of social skills. They may have a hard time attracting the opposite sexe.
Geek chic
"Geek chic" refers to the embracing of stereotypically "geek" characteristics including black-rimmed glasses, T-shirts with geek in-jokes, and more technically complex accessories.
There are multiple interpretations of the term "geek chic", with heavy black-rimmed glasses being the sole defining trait as far as the press is concerned. Wearing them is sufficiently notable to have celebrities like David Beckham, Justin Timberlake and Myleene Klass being reported as "trying geek chic". David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, has also described the look of his bespectacled character as having "a bit of geek chic".
Many NBA players wear lensless glasses with thick plastic frames like horn-rimmed glasses during post-game interviews, geek chic that draws comparisons to Steve Urkel.
To geeks themselves, the term is used for "reclaiming the geek identity as something not only meaningful, but also stylish." - for this usage, more than mere spectacle frames are required, and so the term has a wider remit, being applied to home furnishings and objects as well as oufits. In this usage, the term "geek chic" can even be used as a positive contrast to the somewhat more negative term "geeky".
See also
- Anorak and Boffin, British slang for "geek"
- Akiba-kei and Otaku, Japanese slang for "geek"
- Autodidactism
- Behavior
- Enthusiast
- Fantasy prone personality
- Geek Code
- Geek girl
- Geekcorps
- Nerd
- Norm (sociology)
- Technosexual
- Girl Geek Dinners
- Asperger's Syndrome sometimes produces personality traits that overlap with some of the modern definitions of geek.
References
- ^ "Geek". Dictionary.com-Merriam-Webster entry. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
- The Sun: David Beckham geek chic
- Daily Mail: Justin Timberlake geek chic
- stylelist.com: Myleene Klass geek chic
- BBC's Doctor Who News: Filming starts.
- "Whacky NBA Playoff Fashion!". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
- Cacciola, Scott (2012-06-14). "NBA Finals: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Other Fashion Plates of the NBA Make Specs of Themselves - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
- How Stuff works: Geek Chic
- Geek Chic HQ
- Geek Sugar: Cell phone stand, totally geeky or geek chic?
External links
- The Geek Test
- Geek Culture: The Third Counter-Culture, an article discussing geek culture as a new kind of counter-culture.
- Hoevel, Ann. "Are you a nerd or a geek?" CNN. December 2, 2010.
- "Geek Chic", USA Today, October 22, 2003
- "Suddenly, It's Hip to be Square", Associated Press, July 18, 2005
- "How Geek Chic Works"
- Nerd Project at the Wikiversity