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, 13 Feb 2012 22:30:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nerdium Perpetuus - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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

]]> By: Cynthia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15914 Cynthia Thu, 11 May 2006 15:42:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15914 Kaleberg - It was President Garfield, not President Harding, who devised the Trapezoidal Proof(1876) of the Pythagorean Theorem. Unfortunately, after serving less than four months in office, Garfield was shot by a disgruntled office seeker while boarding a train to Washington. Subsequently, Garfield died several months later from a severe infection due to this gunshot wound. Like Garfield, Harding also died in office. I will only comment that our country needs more leaders with strong mathematical skills. Kaleberg – It was President Garfield, not President Harding, who devised the Trapezoidal Proof(1876) of the Pythagorean Theorem. Unfortunately, after serving less than four months in office, Garfield was shot by a disgruntled office seeker while boarding a train to Washington. Subsequently, Garfield died several months later from a severe infection due to this gunshot wound. Like Garfield, Harding also died in office. I will only comment that our country needs more leaders with strong mathematical skills.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15913 Clifford Thu, 11 May 2006 06:31:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15913 Kaleberg:- Love Jules Verne. Nice points you make. Love dumplings too (what?.... click on Kaleberg's name...). Belizean:- Yes!! Good example. <a href="http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/hollywood/diehard/diehard.htm">Link here.</a> (I thought it was the characters of both Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson who solved it, but I don't recall accurately, perhaps.) -cvj Kaleberg:- Love Jules Verne. Nice points you make. Love dumplings too (what?…. click on Kaleberg’s name…).

Belizean:- Yes!! Good example. Link here. (I thought it was the characters of both Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson who solved it, but I don’t recall accurately, perhaps.)

-cvj

]]> By: Kaleberg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15912 Kaleberg Thu, 11 May 2006 04:37:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15912 Has anyone read any Jules Verne? How about Mysterious Island with Cyrus Smith, engineer, Yankee and action hero? There were a lot of fighting engineers in the Civil War, and all of them were Yankees. Granted, Captain Nemo was a great villain, and an action hero in his own right. (Magneto was probably based on Nemo). It is interesting that science and engineering are becoming popular again. I know that the 1850s and 1860s were high points in the 19th century, and there was a radio and airplane vogue back in the 1920s and 1930s, (Didn't President Harding get caught up in the Pythagorean theorem craze as well as the Teapot Dome scandal)? The 1960s and 1970s were low points. I think it takes a mix of troubled times and a sense of technological promise for combining action and technological heroism. Sometimes brawn is seen as sufficient, but other times it takes brains and brawn. Has anyone read any Jules Verne? How about Mysterious Island with Cyrus Smith, engineer, Yankee and action hero? There were a lot of fighting engineers in the Civil War, and all of them were Yankees. Granted, Captain Nemo was a great villain, and an action hero in his own right. (Magneto was probably based on Nemo).

It is interesting that science and engineering are becoming popular again. I know that the 1850s and 1860s were high points in the 19th century, and there was a radio and airplane vogue back in the 1920s and 1930s, (Didn’t President Harding get caught up in the Pythagorean theorem craze as well as the Teapot Dome scandal)? The 1960s and 1970s were low points.

I think it takes a mix of troubled times and a sense of technological promise for combining action and technological heroism. Sometimes brawn is seen as sufficient, but other times it takes brains and brawn.

]]> By: Belizean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15911 Belizean Thu, 11 May 2006 00:28:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15911 <blockquote>... what I'm talking about is the next level: Headliner action heroes in the big blockbusters doing mathematics and physics.</blockquote> Bruce Willis solved a nice math problem in <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i>. The water jug scene.

… what I’m talking about is the next level: Headliner action heroes in the big blockbusters doing mathematics and physics.

Bruce Willis solved a nice math problem in Die Hard with a Vengeance. The water jug scene.

]]> By: Cynthia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15863 Cynthia Wed, 10 May 2006 20:27:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15863 I just ran across an article in my local newspaper about a T.V. show called "Numb3rs". Oddly enough, David Krumholtz - the actor who stars as the show's math genius states that in real life "science and math were a huge obstacle for me...to the point that I never got it". Just curious: Have any "math-bent" viewers detected any flaws in the math formulae that this "nerd-cool" prodigy concocts in order to predict the actions of various criminals? I just ran across an article in my local newspaper about a T.V. show called “Numb3rs”. Oddly enough, David Krumholtz – the actor who stars as the show’s math genius states that in real life “science and math were a huge obstacle for me…to the point that I never got it”. Just curious: Have any “math-bent” viewers detected any flaws in the math formulae that this “nerd-cool” prodigy concocts in order to predict the actions of various criminals?

]]> By: adam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15864 adam Wed, 10 May 2006 19:54:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15864 A.J., check out what the 'bad movie physics' section of intuitor.com has to say about Swordfish. A.J., check out what the ‘bad movie physics’ section of intuitor.com has to say about Swordfish.

]]> By: DrNathaniel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15865 DrNathaniel Wed, 10 May 2006 18:51:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15865 I think this is sad. The reason then main character is doing the technical stuff isn't that they think it's cool.. it's becaue they <em> want to write out the nerd </em>. Why introduce a whole new character to just write down one equation, or to hack the computer? He's ugly and unpopular and no body understands the things he's saying anyway. So let's just let the cool character do it, only the cool character is to cool to pay any attention or think about it.. they just sort of grok their way through it as though it were a slow-motion ninja fight. Or something. Dammit, I want Scotty back! --Nathaniel I think this is sad.

The reason then main character is doing the technical stuff isn’t that they think it’s cool.. it’s becaue they want to write out the nerd .

Why introduce a whole new character to just write down one equation, or to hack the computer? He’s ugly and unpopular and no body understands the things he’s saying anyway. So let’s just let the cool character do it, only the cool character is to cool to pay any attention or think about it.. they just sort of grok their way through it as though it were a slow-motion ninja fight.

Or something.

Dammit, I want Scotty back!

–Nathaniel

]]> By: A.J. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15866 A.J. Wed, 10 May 2006 18:44:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15866 I can't believe no one's mentioned Swordfish: The hero is a computer hacker! On the other hand, it might not qualify as an "action movie" because the villain gets the girl in the end. I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Swordfish: The hero is a computer hacker! On the other hand, it might not qualify as an “action movie” because the villain gets the girl in the end.

]]> By: Moshe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15861 Moshe Wed, 10 May 2006 17:12:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15861 Seems to me the next frontier is having that technical assiatant revealing herself to be the real hero, putting the likes of Mr. Cruise in their proper place, maybe then I'll even go watch those movies...(yes, it is unlikely, one can dream). Seems to me the next frontier is having that technical assiatant revealing herself to be the real hero, putting the likes of Mr. Cruise in their proper place, maybe then I’ll even go watch those movies…(yes, it is unlikely, one can dream).

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/comment-page-1/#comment-15862 Clifford Wed, 10 May 2006 16:02:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/05/09/the-rise-of-the-nerd/#comment-15862 Friends, we need to raise our game here. Let's not go over old discussion and examples.....This is not about examples of people using computers in the movies to save the world. (Nor is it about archeologists firing a gun and swinging across ravines.......) As I said in the post, that is establishment now in even the biggest of the blockbuster movies.... (except James Bond... even in the modern films he seems technically challenged....can't do anything without Q. Hmmmmm maybe that will change with the new relaunch?)... ... what I'm talking about is the next level: Headliner action heroes in the big blockbusters doing mathematics and physics. cheers, -cvj Friends, we need to raise our game here. Let’s not go over old discussion and examples…..This is not about examples of people using computers in the movies to save the world. (Nor is it about archeologists firing a gun and swinging across ravines…….) As I said in the post, that is establishment now in even the biggest of the blockbuster movies…. (except James Bond… even in the modern films he seems technically challenged….can’t do anything without Q. Hmmmmm maybe that will change with the new relaunch?)…

… what I’m talking about is the next level: Headliner action heroes in the big blockbusters doing mathematics and physics.

cheers,

-cvj

]]>