I just saw Juno for the first time tonight (I know, I’m slow) and I’ve got to say, I’m a little scared for geekery.  Sure, the movie wasn’t terrible, but it was self-aware and ironic, much like all good indie flicks must be.  So, what scares me is that one of the characters is geeky–he likes Herschell Gordon-Lewis movies, he collects comic books, etc. 

BUT, not only is he geeky, he is also indie-cool–he plays guitar and likes Sonic Youth.

DOUBLE BUT, not only is he geeky and indie-cool–he is also attractive and rich and married to Jennifer Garner.

So, what’s the problem?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  In the past decade or so, “Geek” has gone from being a put-down to a new form of ironic complement.  The mainstream has latched on to all things Geek (did you see any of the blockbusters this summer?).  But in doing so, the mainstream has softened it.  We used to be a band of outcast brethren.  Now, we’re a viable pop-culture minority that the Man is pandering to.

I don’t think it is at all a positive thing.  It’s late at night and I can’t quite form a coherent argument as to why this bothers me so much.  It’s not just Juno, I’ve been noticing it a lot recently…why are people in movies so self-consciously geeky?  Geeks in the wild are too caught up in the objects of their affection to be self-conscious.  What makes us geeks is that we don’t realize how geeky we are until someone points it out.

Maybe it is a good thing that we are no longer society’s outcasts, but even so, I must leave you with this warning: Beware the wolves in geek’s clothing.