Baris Representation

This idea came from the fact that Mark wanted us to drive inspiration from social groups that we are a part of. My mind immediately jumped to skateboarding. At the time, COVID-19 was fresh in my mind so I decided to add a futuristic wild west approach. I had been watching videos on how to turn tshirts into facemaks, so my head went to that direction. I chose a Thrasher t-shirt because it communicated my skateboarding well. Next, was the wheels, I took them off my skateboard, cleaned them and then used them as goggles. The final result ended up making me look more like a post apocalyptic looter than a skateboarder but I think it fits the tone of COVID-19 at the time.

1. “Everyone creates stereotypes. We cannot function in the world without them.” (S. Gilman)

1a.Write down your personal interest in this group? What are you curious about? How do you relate to this group (positive of negative); do you want to be part of it, do you admire them, are you more negative about them?

My personal interest in the social group, the Geeks is that I relate with them. I feel as though if I was born 40 years ago, I would be one of them. I find the fact that this group’s existence is also defined by the age they lived during pretty interesting. I feel very positive about Geeks, I share several interests with them too.

1b. What are the assumptions you have (or had) about the ‘social group’? Where did you get these from? How were they debunked or confirmed?

Many of my assumptions about geeks come from pop culture and knowledge that I have accrued over my lifetime.

2. Signifiers that stereotype: Objects and their meaning

2a. Which existing stereotypes have you found about your group? Describe them:

Smart, badly dressed, bad posture, un-manly, male, bad haircut, not good with women, shy, annoyed, busy, good with technology, introverted.
Fragmentation and Fetishized: Which objects (e.g. food, products, clothes, part of the body) are used to stereotype with?
Upper body, face, glasses, computers, posture, pens and pencils and braces.

2b. Fragmentation and Fetishized: Which objects (e.g. food, products, clothes, part of the body) are used to stereotype with?

Upper body, face, glasses, computers, posture, pens and pencils and braces.

2c. Where did you find them? In which shape, form or media (jokes, sayings, news, tv, politics, shops, education,…)

Geeks can most easily be found in television shows: "Family Matters", Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter - "The Big Bang Theory", Cookie - "Ned's Survival Guide", Freddy - "iCarly", Dwight Schrute - "The Office", Milhouse van Houten - "The Simpsons", Chuck Bartowski - "Chuck".

3. The effect of stereotypes: Power and discrimination

3a. Who spreads these stereotypes? What’s their intention?

We all spread stereotypes, but it would mostly have to be television shows. For the sake of entertainment and comedy normal human characteristics have to be turned up to 11 to be entertaining and funny.

3b. Did you find examples of discrimination, ongoing conflicts, historic events or other injustices where stereotypes are used to control or overpower you ‘social group’? Describe/show what happened?

One type of discrimination that I see in the world of the geeks is that mostly all of them are male. The word geek rarely applies to a female person.

3c. Have you found examples where your ‘social group’ is reversing the stereotype; using the known stereotypes and appropriating them for their own cause? (see more Hall, 5.1: Reversing the stereotype).

Yes, there are several entertainers on the internet using their geeky persona to gain a following.