Ben Nugent thinks Obama is a bit too hipster, Spielberg is a great nerd role model and Dawn Wiener is the greatest female nerd ever
This week we published [an essay by Ben Nugent] from his new book, American Nerd: The Story of My People. I spoke to him and discussed the book as well as getting his take on nerd icons and role models.
Ben says the book's structure resembles an '80s teen comedy: "Im this nerdy kid who abruptly turns his nerdy activities and nerdy friends in order to be cool. And eventually gains a moral compass and decides it was an innocent childlike state but I can never return. Thats kinda like the classic narrative." And is now ready to assume the responsibility of nerd expert, so I asked him about iconic nerds in popular culture.
He chose: Bill Gates Steven Spielberg Seth Cohen from The OC
He was a bit more ambivalent about Apatow's crew: "I think between Paul Feig and Judd Apatow weve had a different image of the nerd coming to the mainstream than weve had before. I wouldnt say Seth Rogen is a nerd. Ive been around him, and hes not awkward at all. Its always hard to know whether you call someone whos really funny, and sharp and socially with it nerdy or not. They put a certain kind of nerd on the screen but I dont think they themselves are nerds. But I think the McLovin character in Superbad was a really interesting nerd."
"Oh, I cant believe I left this out. Dawn Weiner in Welcome to the Dollhouse is the single greatest female nerd character Ive ever seen on screen.
And I also love the three nerdy boys in Freaks & Geeks: Sam, Neal Schweiber and Bill [Haverchuck]."
[Read the full interview here.]