Validation 456 (Patreon)

Are we in the Peak Geek era? If The Big Bang Theory is the #1 television program, are nerds now mainstream? If so, how long will it last? And what happens when something else inevitably comes along to pique the interest of the casual fan? When another shiny light flitters them away. Whatever happens, we’ll still be here. We were here before, you see...

I’ve been going to conventions since the 80s. (I might not look it, but I am ancient in geek years.) Up until about 2006 you might see a dozen or so (maybe one or two at smaller shows) cosplayers walking about. It was usually the same people wearing the same costumes year after year. The only place where cosplay was really massive was Dragon*Con in Atlanta. And yes, they used to put an asterisk in their name! (I never ascertained the reason why.)

Dragon*Con was sensory overload. Five hotels in downtown Atlanta forming a 24/7 nerd party over Labor Day Weekend. They had costume parades in the street. It was truly mind-blowing. But now that magic has faded. It’s like we’re living in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. The elves have all gone into The West. They took their beat-up decades old spandex with them. Now everything is shiny and the replicas of iconic capes and tights, pvc and leather, well, it’s all custom-made and well-executed.

It’s not to say all magic is gone, however. It is just different. This era of nerd immersion is totally normal to younger generations. They weren’t alive when it was absolutely uncool to bring your issues of Watchmen to school and read them during lunch hour. (Yes, I did that.) But even if Comic-Con is accepted and covered once a year by major corporate media outlets, you really can’t know what these kids feel inside. Whatever it is, it’s magical to them.

We are in the middle of a cultural war right now. I might write about it in further depth soon, but for the moment, I will say we all could be a bit wiser by trying to see things from another person‘s perspective. If you are an older fan, informed by years of experience, consider remembering what it was like when you first went to a convention and how overwhelming awesome it might have felt. You were home. For younger people, your favorite comics, tv shows, movies and YouTube channels are all your own thing, but perhaps look back and discover the works of pioneers who influenced the current artists you revere.

This is not a competition. There is no prize for claiming you are more of a true fan than someone else. That can only create a void inside you, a hole in Middle-earth that can’t ever be filled. It doesn’t matter what age you are. It’s all one. Your love is real and valid and pure and true. From 0 to 112, we are all searching for meaning. There is magic in that quest. And when you meet someone else on the same journey, be like Sam, not Gollum.