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How Comic Fans & Shops Are Stereotyped
brumgrunt writes "Why do TV shows, such as 30 Rock, The Simpsons, Heroes, and Everybody Loves Raymond, persist in so ferevently stereotyping comic book fans and stores? Den of Geek has pulled together eight examples, with video evidence to back them up ..." Minus one point for doubling up on Malcolm in the Middle. Plus 10 points for referencing Spaced, which I hope you all have seen.
Wost... article... ever.
It may be a stereotype but if you walk into most comic book/anime stores and look around at the people in them, the vast majority will match up to the stereotype.
It's human nature to want to feel better than someone else. It's the "us versus them" mentality that pervades our culture. Geeks/nerds versus "normal" people is only one facet of the problem. It's seen everywhere, from Republicans versus Democrats, urban versus suburban versus rural, and black versus white.
Sadly, I don't think there's a whole lot we can do about it.
Why do TV shows, such as 30 Rock, The Simpsons, Heroes and Everyone Loves Raymond, persist in so ferevently [sic] stereotyping comic book fans and stores?
Well, the article didn't help me answering that question, it just illustrated the stereotype.
... even when they've become your boss. Other stereotypes hurt: i.e. "Math is hard."
... although perhaps there's not much to break down.
My guess would be (1) because it's funny and (2) even someone like myself who spent tons of time in a comic book store get a kick out of it. A lot of other stereotypes like hair brained teenage cheerleader will catch you a lot of criticism in the media. Those geeks you make fun of in high school? The ones that are hyper obsessive with social disorders that spend more time in their room reading than anywhere else? Those are the people running a lot of stuff today. So I guess it's ok to make fun of them all you want
I do wish this article had broken down the social stigma it has associated with it though
My work here is dung.
Folks get stereotyped on television? You don't say?
I've never seen athletes stereotyped as bumbling morons.
I have never seen good looking women stereotyped as airheads.
I have never seen Christians stereotyped as clueless and out of touch.
I have never seen factory workers stereotyped as beer guzzling, bowling addicted rubes.
I have never seen Southerners stereotyped as trailer trash.
I have never seen rich folks stereotyped as constantly stepping on and using others.
Comic book folks are the only ones stereotyped on TV. Call your congressman.
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I was shocked that The Big Bang Theory was not mentionned. When it comes to stereotypes, geeks and comics, it should be the reference show. In particular "Captain Sweatpants" who so much looks like the typical comics reader ... :p
Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons (to name one) is not a caricature. He's a real guy. I've met him. He lives in most comic book shops. He will make fun of you for liking the wrong comics, he will make fun of you for buying the wrong set of dice. He is the alpha nerd, and he's not going to let you forget it.
AFAIK, I'm still banned from the Laughing Dragon in Dallas because when I was 12 years old, I suggested that I liked DBZ better than Akira.
In Soviet Russia jokes are formulaic and decidedly non-humorous.
You insensitive clod!
Seriously though, attempting to legitimize them as "Graphic Novels" is just spin and makes you look more ridiculous. I will confess privately that I liked the original Hellboy comic (Note: notice no attempt to spin it as a "Graphic Novel"!) Its a comic.
Slashdot's rate-of-post filter: Preventing you from posting too many great ideas at once.
U.S. Manga Obscenity Conviction Roils Comics World
In an obscenity first, a U.S. comic book collector has pleaded guilty to importing and possessing Japanese manga books depicting illustrations of child sex abuse and bestiality.
Christopher Handley, described by his lawyer as a "prolific collector" of manga, pleaded guilty last week to mailing obscene matter, and to "possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children." Three other counts were dropped in a plea deal with prosecutors.
The 39-year-old office worker was charged under the 2003 Protect Act, which outlaws cartoons, drawings, sculptures or paintings depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and which lack "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." Handley's guilty plea makes him the first to be convicted under that law for possessing cartoon art, without any evidence that he also collected or viewed genuine child pornography. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Keep that cartoon coochie identifyably 18!
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
Often times comic shops perpetuate their stereotype, but as far as service goes, I've never had an issues. They are manned by people who are genunnely interested in the product they are selling. Now walk down to the record store and you get something pretty different. They tend to have no interest in selling you anything, are disinterested and view your purchases with comtempt, but they are cool kids so we forgive them.
Let's say, hypothetically, that you walk into a comic book store. There are five people in there browsing comics. Four of those people are fairly normal looking folks who are just there to buy comics and leave. The fifth one is a large guy with poor hygiene who corners you and talks to you incessantly about whether or not Captain Kirk could have single-handedly taken out the Death Star, and seems oblivious to the not-so-subtle signals you're giving off as you try to back away.
Who are you going to remember? The four normal people, or the smelly dude who wouldn't leave you alone? Hell, *I* stereotype comic book geeks, and I *am* one. When I see them portrayed that way on TV, I usually get a laugh out of it, because I've met the exact sort of person they're portraying.
That said, I think the classic HOLY CRAP IT'S A HOT CHICK IN MY COMIC BOOK STORE thing is a bit overdone. There are plenty of hot chicks, my fiancee included, who like comics. (Oh yeah, there's another stereotype -- Slashdot readers are all single, right?)
Ya know, stereotypes exist for a reason; they're a fairly accurate portrayal of peoples' observations. Am I saying it's right to use them to pre-judge people? Absolutely not.
The article makes us really look like losers. The one thing that is more stereotyped than the comic book guy is the cheerleader. Save the cheerleader is both a catchphrase and an irony, because why does a girl who cannot be killed need saving, a la Buffy. Yet we continue to want her to be the damsel in distress. Bringing these two archetypes together was brilliant. It is the thing that Heros does that no one understands. Why do shows use stereotypes. Because most people are simplistic, and have trouble with multiple levels of meaning.
Rocko is equally brilliant in that it is a good depiction of early young adult hood, when one is forced to learn to live. It is not a pretty sight. It is full of lots of scared people who deal with their fears in different ways. Some by hiding in books, some by finding a new playmate every night. Either one of these is stereotyped and seen as reasonable when on is young. Being offended by Filbert says more about one's own issue rather than the character. I find the show hard to take sometimes, but it is because it is so real.
The rest of the most of these are simply too pop culture and too obvious to even give credence. Suffice it to say that we need to be secure enough with ourselves to not freak out anytime we are ridiculed. We do the same with people we do not understand, like cheerleaders.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
Sometimes, "Stereotypes are a real time saver," as The Onion put it. Growing up, Lee's Comics in Palo Alto, CA was my neighborhood comic book store. Working there from the early 90's, there was a guy named Jeremy. I remember vividly the day Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons was introduced (or shall I say, First Appearance). When I watched that episode, me and every other kid within a ten mile radius said, "Jeremy!"
After school the next day, me and my friends went in, ran to Jeremy and said, "Hey Jeremy, did you watch the Simpsons last night?" "Yes," he said groaning, and obviously tired of the question. Why was he tired? Because Jeremy looked exactly like Comic Book Guy - Beard, receding hairline, big rotund body always wrapped in shorts and t-shirts. Only difference was that Jeremy wore glasses.
Jeremy, Real Life Comic Book Guy, wherever you are now, I salute you. You were a huge impact on the lives of many kids in the 94306 zip code.
People just don't like being pegged.
One of my favorites:
Have someone tell a woman that "The typical female response to a statement about a typical female is 'I'm not a typical female'"
Either she'll kick you in the nuts, or her head asplode. Lulz either way (except for the speaker)
I walked into to different comic book stores, in two different states while being for the first time in the US, in February. There were exactly I imagined them! Huge piles of old comics, new comics, action figures, maniacal comic books guys (the one from Colorado told me he had 500.000 comic books at his home but he was nice, giving me a free '60 Action Comics incomplete issue as a bonus plus a 20% discount to a nice DC Comics Cover Girls huge album, since I've spent some bucks there). So, anything I I saw in cartoons and movies about comic book guys and stores is perfectly true. I'm not being sarcastic or mean here, I like comic book shops!
You insensitive clod!
Seriously though, attempting to legitimize them as "Graphic Novels" is just spin and makes you look more ridiculous.
Although I agree with you 'cause the "graphic novel" label gets thrown at every comic under the sun, technically a graphic novel is a subset of all comic books; a graphic novel has the whole plot structure (rising action, climax, falling action) wrapped up in one book (or over the course of the series), whereas many other types of comics stretch the plot out over the course of an arc, and a few collective arcs can be combined into an overarching arc, and a comic series often has many overarching arcs. Basically "graphic novels" have one big climax. A good rule of thumb is: do all the chapters/books in this series tie into one big event (usually at the end)? if yes: graphic novel
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When I hear "Comic book" I think of a 20-30 page X-Men. When I hear "Graphic novel" I think of a ~150 page Scott Pilgrim book or a ~600 page Blankets. Graphic novels also usually have a definitive ending. I see that distinction.
I think the problem comes from people who are too worried about looking like a stereotype, too worried about looking childish -- so they sell graphic novels as a more mature, adult version of a comic. Which is totally false -- smart, mature comics with well written story arcs do exist, just like some childish graphic novels exist. These guys need to accept who they are and stop being so self conscious.
I also think this, like most other stereotypes, is just exacerbated by a small number of very loud people. None of the comic readers I know feel the need to defend themselves in such a silly manor.
That show completely makes the point that this guy misses. The male leads on this show are all completely stereotyped. They're completely nerdy and totally bonkers about comic books. And who cares? I don't. I think the show is funny. It does throw some of the stereotypes to the wind (some of the characters do get laid), but otherwise I like it for the fact that it makes fun of nerdy/geeky/whatever-your-favourite-label-is people, in a way that doesn't degrade them.
What a bunch of whiny idiosyncratic losers we are if we fail to laugh at ourselves once in a while... Go watch a Chris Rock standup or something, realize that sometimes laughing at your own stereotypes can be a good thing. Maybe if you stop bitching about it, people would like you more.
> no, yes, maybe (tagging beta)
Child exploitation depicted in Manga is no more ok than person on person violence depicted in literally any TV show is. The fact is that in the United States we get very crazy about certain types of inhuman, unethical or immoral behavior and totally ignore others.
Since I'm not willing to ban the depiction of all human violence, I find it unethical to ban the depiction of (however monstrous) human lust. How about you? Do you feel that the depiction or examination of a depiction of any immoral act is cause for legal recourse?
[Ego]out
He once impressed a girl... just to see how it feels.
He was created by a makefile... that he ran himself.
He once wrote some buggy code... for an entomologist.
He can sometimes make a fool of himself... dancing.
He has a best friend... because he likes to be unpredictable.
He is the World's Most Interesting Geek.
"I always use computers, and when I do, I prefer Linux."
Roughly half of the people I know who are big comic book fans fall into the stereotype. But the half that don't are pretty normal successful people, they don't need anyone's pity for a stereotype they don't fit. I, myself, just think comic books suck.
Saying "comic books suck" makes about as much sense to me as saying "music is stupid".
Comic books are not a genre, they are a vehicle for artistic expression, just like film, poetry, dance, sculpture, etc.
I don't care for most of the poetry I've encountered, and there's a lot of poetry out there that does absolutely nothing for me. (This fact saved me a lot of time when reading Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy.) That said, I wouldn't say "poetry sucks". If I couldn't find at least some poems I liked, it would be an indicator that I wasn't a very broad-minded person. Give any art form a chance, and odds are a few brilliant artists out there will connect with you.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
I have nothing to add. I just thought my sig belonged in this thread.
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Having a wife, I am sometimes forced to watch shows like Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker. In one episode, she tells the eager young women that one of the best places to pick up wealthy, unattached men is at comics conventions. I was a little surprised to hear it, but her logic made sense.
Yet somehow Moby Dick is considered to have literary value.
What about the Harry Potter books. They're wildly successful. What about Batman: Year One or The Dark Knight Returns? They're certainly a good read. They're certainly worthy of being in a collection. Does that make them of literary value? Or are they no longer considered literature when they're comics?
The whole "having value" concept is flawed. The Canadian government payed almost $2million a while back for "Voice of Fire", a five metre tall piece of blue canvas with a red stripe down the middle. What "value" does that have? It's all in the eye of the beholder, I guess.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Meanwhile, most of the rest of the world will say something sucks when most of the things that make up that something suck.
For example, I have said "television sucks" not because I think all television shows suck, or there is something inherently wrong with the medium. I said it because I think 99% of the shows on television are complete drivel, cater to the lowest common denominator, and glorify the damaged parts of society.
It's just a generalization, it is not meant to hold up in 100% of cases. I don't think it indicates narrow mindedness. It indicates loose use of language as is common everywhere.