Profs and Pints Richmond presents: “Geek Chic,” on a once-stigmatized identity and its ascent into the realm of cool, with Greg Cavenaugh, a visiting assistant professor of rhetoric and communication studies at the University of Richmond who studies geek culture and developed a course on it.

We’ve heard for nearly a decade now that “geek is the new chic” and that geek interests such as anime, manga, and fantasy roleplay games like Dungeons & Dragons are no longer confined to self-identified “losers.” More and more celebrities have been coming forward to share their own geeky interests, and shows like The Big Bang Theory celebrate geek identity even while laughing at it.

It makes sense to ask: Is there even such a thing as “geek” anymore?  If so, what does that identity look like?

Nerd out on a discussion of the subject with Greg Cavenaugh, a proud participant in and scholar of geek culture who applies critical theory approaches to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

A lifelong fan of sword-and-sorcery epics and tabletop roleplaying games, Professor Cavenaugh has extensively researched the ways in which forms of performance and play overlap with real identities and cultural issues. He has developed a University of Richmond course in which students explore geek identity through participation in various geek communities.

Like his course on geek culture, his talk will explore the complex relationship between a once-stigmatized identity and the processes of communication and consumption that brought it into the public eye. He’ll discuss how in a culture dominated by streaming video, personalized news feeds, and TikTok clips, it has become easier to develop unique interests and to explore aspects of your identity that once would have received little cultural attention.  Many identities which were once treated as outsiders have become visible and popular, especially as the financial gains associated with these identities become clear.

Whether you are a fan of geek culture or simply “geek-curious,” this talk will help you better understand the power that various niche interests have and the ways in which stigma functions differently in a world where it is hard to determine just who or what is “normal.” (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.)