Simon Pegg

In defence of geek culture

   Simon Pegg suggested that fandom was infantilising society – but people
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   Pondering retirement from geekdom ... Simon Pegg at the launch of his
   film, Man Up.

   [ ] Pondering retirement from geekdom … Simon Pegg at the launch of his
   film, Man Up. Photograph: Hannah McKay/EPA

   Few things hurt more than being called childish, which is why last week
   was an upsetting one for fans of Simon Pegg. The actor and film-maker’s
   claims that geek culture has dumbed down society left many people
   feeling hurt and betrayed. I mean, isn’t escapism the whole point of
   cinema – especially the kind he often makes?
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   “Sometimes [I] feel like I miss grownup things,” he continued. “And I
   honestly thought the other day that I’m gonna retire from geekdom.”

   He didn’t (and so far hasn’t). And in response to the outcry, Pegg took
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   the praises of Tomorrowland – a movie that shares the name of a Disney
   theme park (and is also influenced by Disney’s vision of utopia). Pegg
   isn’t wrong about our zest for “geek culture” or for the franchises of
   our youths or even our misplaced priorities in terms of pop culture
   over social awareness. (That’s something we all need to work on.) What
   Pegg is wrong about is the importance of fandoms – for everyone.

   Geek culture has spread and engulfed us all. In a subculture once
   (seemingly) reserved for sci-fi, it now encompasses shows as diverse as
   The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and The Simpsons. Once a specialist
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   twist in Dallas.

   Because that’s the thing: geek culture itself isn’t new. It has always
   existed in various forms before we saw fit to name and define it. For
   some of us, escapism through pop culture provides an outlet that we
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   now the folks at McCann-Erickson.)

   But regardless, there’s nothing wrong with an inclusive geek culture –
   or even an extended adolescence. Without it, we wouldn’t have anybody
   to write movies and TV in the first place.