Comments on: The Rise of the Nerd? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:38:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Nerdium Perpetuus - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15921 Nerdium Perpetuus - Asymptotia Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:15:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15921 [...] In view of the discussion here and here, I feel I ought to remind readers of an earlier post entitled “The Rise of the Nerd” I wrote on the subject of nerds, geeks, the terminology, and the media portrayals. Somewhere in there is a serious point, which keeps getting missed in all of this jolly fun: [...] […] In view of the discussion here and here, I feel I ought to remind readers of an earlier post entitled “The Rise of the Nerd” I wrote on the subject of nerds, geeks, the terminology, and the media portrayals. Somewhere in there is a serious point, which keeps getting missed in all of this jolly fun: […]

]]> By: cynic http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15920 cynic Mon, 15 May 2006 00:06:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15920 coming rather late to this one: no mention thus far of a real math-action movie hero - played by a real man, Rusty Crowe: John Nash in a beautiful mind. No shit, (modulo some air brushing of Nash's treatment of his fellow man and woman) a man at the edge, fighting for everything he holds dear, and doing some fairly top of the range math, with perhaps the first on-screen appearence of the Reimann zeta function (just before it becomes quite obvious that the Paul Bettany character is a delusion, and they incarcerate JN in the asylum). Then there was a Western CSI like program a few years back, called, I think, 'The Peacemakers', that featured a spot of least squares fitting in the title sequence. The name of the producer/script writer? Matt Witten. And he has been closely involved with the uber nerd superstar House (English, cute and crippled). So when they make a film about his big bro ('Dream of Fields', perhaps, and firing up Kevin Kostner's career), who are they gonna call? BTW Wasn't the math in 'Good Will Hunting' absolute shite, and quite the worst representation yet of our sorry craft on the silver screen. coming rather late to this one: no mention thus far of a real math-action movie hero - played by a real man, Rusty Crowe: John Nash in a beautiful mind. No shit, (modulo some air brushing of Nash’s treatment of his fellow man and woman) a man at the edge, fighting for everything he holds dear, and doing some fairly top of the range math, with perhaps the first on-screen appearence of the Reimann zeta function (just before it becomes quite obvious that the Paul Bettany character is a delusion, and they incarcerate JN in the asylum). Then there was a Western CSI like program a few years back, called, I think, ‘The Peacemakers’, that featured a spot of least squares fitting in the title sequence. The name of the producer/script writer? Matt Witten. And he has been closely involved with the uber nerd superstar House (English, cute and crippled). So when they make a film about his big bro (’Dream of Fields’, perhaps, and firing up Kevin Kostner’s career), who are they gonna call?

BTW

Wasn’t the math in ‘Good Will Hunting’ absolute shite, and quite the worst representation yet of our sorry craft on the silver screen.

]]> By: Theoretical Physics Goes Corporate | Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15893 Theoretical Physics Goes Corporate | Cosmic Variance Sat, 13 May 2006 08:49:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15893 [...] See also my recent observation of the appearance of equations being written by the lead in a recent blockbuster movie and you’ll get to thinking that my topsy-turvy reverse-universe I have fun imagining from time to time, where science is part of mainstream popular culture, is starting to become true. Well…. maybe not…but it is nice to imagine. [...] […] See also my recent observation of the appearance of equations being written by the lead in a recent blockbuster movie and you’ll get to thinking that my topsy-turvy reverse-universe I have fun imagining from time to time, where science is part of mainstream popular culture, is starting to become true. Well…. maybe not…but it is nice to imagine. […]

]]> By: Ed Minchau http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15892 Ed Minchau Fri, 12 May 2006 03:48:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15892 Oh yeah... Superman. Oh yeah… Superman.

]]> By: Ed Minchau http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15891 Ed Minchau Fri, 12 May 2006 03:47:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15891 Spiderman. Spiderman.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15919 Clifford Thu, 11 May 2006 19:55:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15919 Ruth Ellen...Thanks! Yes, that is a well-known and excellent feature of the series. But again...I'm talking about the cross-over phenomenon in modern blockbuster movies, not in television, where -yes- it has been for some time. The point is that there was a period of 20 years or more where the division of labour I discussed in the main post became the norm, and no-one could break out the mould, it seemed. Indeed, it was not always like that...but the modern blockbuster is an interesting phenomenon in itself, and so it is interesting to track the "crossover" in that context.... given the pressures the studios are under because they treat them like a high-stakes game, etc, ...as described above. Thanks. Cheers, -cvj Ruth Ellen…Thanks! Yes, that is a well-known and excellent feature of the series. But again…I’m talking about the cross-over phenomenon in modern blockbuster movies, not in television, where -yes- it has been for some time.

The point is that there was a period of 20 years or more where the division of labour I discussed in the main post became the norm, and no-one could break out the mould, it seemed. Indeed, it was not always like that…but the modern blockbuster is an interesting phenomenon in itself, and so it is interesting to track the “crossover” in that context…. given the pressures the studios are under because they treat them like a high-stakes game, etc, …as described above.

Thanks.

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: adam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15918 adam Thu, 11 May 2006 17:55:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15918 I'm a nerd and I'm proud. I’m a nerd and I’m proud.

]]> By: Ruth Ellen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15917 Ruth Ellen Thu, 11 May 2006 17:51:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15917 I've been watching re-runs, lately, of the TV series Mission Impossible. I'd noticed some interesting things for its time (late 60s to early 70s), among them that the engineering geek was black and, in addition, had a couple of episodes where he was the love interest (of interest because he's the geek, not because he's black). Then, later in the series, it turns out that the muscle guy has attained some engineering skills (never gains much in the way of acting skills, unfortunatley). And even during the first three years, when the woman member of the team was noted for sex appeal, she 1) plays a scientist in a couple of episodes (including a nuclear physicist), and 2)beats some guy up in an episode. So there was already some cross-over going on almost forty years ago. I’ve been watching re-runs, lately, of the TV series Mission Impossible. I’d noticed some interesting things for its time (late 60s to early 70s), among them that the engineering geek was black and, in addition, had a couple of episodes where he was the love interest (of interest because he’s the geek, not because he’s black). Then, later in the series, it turns out that the muscle guy has attained some engineering skills (never gains much in the way of acting skills, unfortunatley). And even during the first three years, when the woman member of the team was noted for sex appeal, she 1) plays a scientist in a couple of episodes (including a nuclear physicist), and 2)beats some guy up in an episode. So there was already some cross-over going on almost forty years ago.

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15916 Plato Thu, 11 May 2006 16:43:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15916 I just thought it had such a nice "ring" to it. :) <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115857/" rel="nofollow"><b>Chain Reaction</b></a> <blockquote>Eddie Kasalivich, an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, works as a technician for a scientific team that discovers an alternative, low-cost, pollution-free fuel source. When one of the chief scientists is murdered and the invention stolen, Eddie and physicist Lily Sinclair are framed for it and have to flee for their lives, with the FBI, CIA and other involved parties in close pursuit. Paul Shannon, Eddies mentor, is the director of a scientific company which - unknown to Eddie - has commercial interests in the invention. Eddie and Lily set out to find the stolen invention and hopefully clear themselves of the false charges</blockquote> I just thought it had such a nice “ring” to it. :)
Chain Reaction

Eddie Kasalivich, an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, works as a technician for a scientific team that discovers an alternative, low-cost, pollution-free fuel source. When one of the chief scientists is murdered and the invention stolen, Eddie and physicist Lily Sinclair are framed for it and have to flee for their lives, with the FBI, CIA and other involved parties in close pursuit. Paul Shannon, Eddies mentor, is the director of a scientific company which - unknown to Eddie - has commercial interests in the invention. Eddie and Lily set out to find the stolen invention and hopefully clear themselves of the false charges

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15915 Clifford Thu, 11 May 2006 15:46:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15915 ...and body armour. -cvj …and body armour.

-cvj

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