The Big Bang Theory: A Transformation of Geek Culture into the Mainstream

The Big Bang Theory is the kind of TV show you either love or hate.
It may not be the first series that focuses on geeks but it may be the first one that is so successful. It explores "geek culture" to the maximum, while trying to present many characters who are all different, but all share some "geeky" characteristics.

But wait, what is geek culture anyway, and what exactly is a geek? And what is a "nerd"? Is there a difference between the two?  

Interestingly enough, Wikipedia says that geeks were originally a term for circus freaks.  
The Swedish expression "att gäcka rättvisan" means to escape justice by clever tricks. In the 18th century Austria-Hungary, Gecken were freaks shown by some circuses.

Eventually "geek" came to mean a person who is very knowledgeable about a topic, and sometimes obsessed with it. Such as "computer geek", "car geeks", "Star Wars geek", etc. 
A "nerd" is the stereotype of an irritating, unattractive, unsocial person who may be more intelligent than most.
The difference between the two is that a geek is more social while a nerd may be more introverted. Nerds may be more technologically- obsessed while geeks are more artistic.

But all that is not important since The Big Bang Theory doesn't make the difference anyway. Every character is original. Leonard is the normal, social geek who is more intelligent than most and has an interest in comic books, video games and other "geeky" habits while still being quite an average person. Howard is the horny, awkward, annoying and quite personality-split Jew who lives with his mother. Somewhat reminds me of Woody Allen.
Raj is a charming but shy Hindu who tries to be American while still bossed around by his parents through his laptop.

Then there's Sheldon. Oh, lord.
Sheldon manages to be the most original character while still being annoying as hell. He's both incredibly smart and a narcissistic sociopath. And he sees nothing wrong with his social attitude. Some say he has Asperger's Syndrome. Anyway, love him or hate him, the series won't be the same without him. If I knew such a person in real life, I'd stay the hell away from him.

The series definitely begs the question: is there really a distinct geek culture?
The answer is contained in the question- the geek is a stereotype. Being a stereotype obviously means that not all geeks play Dungeons & Dragons, enjoy comic books, video games, or quote Star Trek in every situation. And more importantly , it should be said: not all geeks are super intelligent. It is stereotypically noted that geeks are intelligent and are usually technical experts, knowing much more about science and technology than the average person. That is not necessarily true. Many people enjoy "geeky culture" like video games, comic books, or collecting useless memorabilia, what does not make them geeks, and definitely does not mean they're smarter than the average person. 
Second, geeks are not always technically- inclined. I know many geeks who are much more interested in social sciences: history, economics, psychology.

This is the part where I reach the criticism of the series. It's interesting that much of it is feminist critique. 

Blogger "Critique geek" wrote that the problem with the series is that there are no geeky female characters in it. There are several female characters who are smart, but they're not geeky. The only ones allowed to be geeky in the series are men, while the women reject their geeky culture.
This may be good critique, but it make sense. In real life, most geeks ARE men. Video games are traditionally made for male audience ("The Sims" is an exception). Comic books are written and read mainly by men ("Twilight" is an exception). Women may have weird or unusual habits, but often that does not make them seem "geeky" like man.
Susana Polo adds that geeks are unused to seeing female geeks. A female geek who is also attractive is almost impossible in the world of geeks. If the stereotype of the geek is indeed a shy or unsocial, unattractive man (usually teenager), an attractive geeky woman breaks it completely. 

So what is The Big Bang Theory, exactly? Is it a celebration of geek culture? Or a celebration of stereotypes? One of the best-known geek stereotype of the 90's was Steve Urkel from "Family Matters". Steve Urkel served his goal: he was annoying and unattractive while incredibly smart, bad at sports and oddly-dressed.
But most importantly, he was a black geek, and a black geek who liked polka, Eastern-European national music (polka? seriously?). Thus his goal was breaking stereotypes and not just creating ones: Afro- Americans can be smart and talented. Afro- Americans can be geeks. Afro- Americans do not listen only to jazz, R&B and rap music.
In TBBT you have Raj. So he's a Hindu geek. Wow.

I think the most important service that TBBT does for the geek community (if there is one) is convincing them to get out of the closet. It shows that geeks are normal people, even though they may have different habits than others. Never once does Sheldon think there's something wrong about him- on the contrary, he thinks other people are the problem. It may be a good message: be who you are. Don't try to pretend you're something that you're not. Other people should learn to accept you.

Arivaderci, amigos.

http://www.ugo.com/tv/11-reasons-geeks-hate-the-big-bang-theory

http://3chicgeeks.com/2013/02/23/the-problem-with-the-big-bang-theory

http://www.geekosystem.com/big-bang-theory-love-hate