To some the year 2016 will be forever marked by the dramatic US election, Brexit, or even the Zika virus. For others, perhaps 2016 will be remembered as the year that Leo finally snagged that Oscar, and Kim Kardashian was robbed. Despite these events, and thanks to new entertainment, 2016 was also the year of the nerd.
Hamilton the Musical kick-started this trend in late 2015, but ultimately rose to incredible fame in 2016. The celebration of a man who wrote the other 51 encouraged hard workers, history buffs, and acknowledged the greatness that is theatre, a nod to theatre geeks all over. Hamilton made it cool to learn about the history of the Constitution and our founding fathers. In fact “the Hamilton Mixtape” spread these messages further, opening up the wonders of theatre, history, and hip-hop to so many.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the new release from renowned author J.K. Rowling again reinforced the supremacy of the nerd. It is no question that the Harry Potter series has been deemed a classic by readers of all ages, but this hardcover play further reveals the prevalence of wizard wannabes. The public excitement surrounding its release encouraged other fans to use their voice, making Harry Potter trendy.
Similarly to Harry Potter, the Star Wars franchise is loved and cherished by many. The success of Rogue One as the fourth highest grossing film in 2016, makes Star Wars more attainable and accepted. Paired with the tragic loss of Carrie Fisher, which sparked thousands of social media posts about the influence of both Fisher and her beloved character Princess Leia, Star Wars fans grew had no fear in speaking about their love, and likely grew in number.
No longer are nerds defined by stereotypes of glasses, suspenders, and tall socks. Nerds are everywhere. I am a nerd. You probably are too. And I can only attribute my pride in that statement to the successes of 2016. Will nerds continue to reign in 2017?