When something goes from being loved by a select group to being embraced as part of the mainstream, there are good things and bad. Generally speaking, going mainstream means easier access, greater variety and a level of acceptance. But it can also mean dumbing down and over saturation.  

Anyone under the age of 25 has been lucky to live their entire life with increasing elements of geek in the mainstream. For many in that age bracket, geek is the norm. But for those of us of an earlier generation (or two), it’s been fascinating to see how geek has spread among the “norms”. It’s allowed so many fandoms to flourish as they are introduced to those who never knew they existed. And, of course, as entertainment and production companies see popularity grow, they’re more than happy to provide more shows, movies and plenty of merch to satisfy demand.

Of course, there’s always a downside when this happens. There are some properties and fandoms that have been dumbed down or sanitized for mass consumption (check out the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen movie for a prime example).  And then there are things that “poke fun” at geekdom, but are much more of a “laughing at” than “laughing with” result (like the horrendous Big Bang Theory, where a character stating a simple fact related to a fandom elicits a laugh as if it were a joke in itself).

Overall, though, geek becoming mainstream has made me happy. I don’t have to hunt for obscure sci-fi or fantasy tv shows, or hope that some small-time superhero movie might show in the local independent theater. Plus, I get to see book and comic characters I love come to life on television and the big screen. It’s pretty satisfying being a geek right now.