Is smart really the new sexy?

"Smart is the new sexy," CBS proclaims this statement in order to broadcast their television show, The Big Bang Theory. However this statement is meant with a touch of irony and sarcasm. Do we honestly believe CBS thinks that smart really is the new sexy? This show encompasses every possible stereotype of the intelligent, yet nerdy type. The men on this show are extremely smart - but even more so, extremely awkward. Stereoptypes of these men included peanut allergies, Star Wars, online worlds, and the inability to talk or interact with females. I felt these stereotypes were over the top, and it didn't just go that way for the smart nerds. Characters on the show that were not geniuses were displayed as unintelligent, generally good-looking, "bimbos" who spent their time partying. Not to mention that guys were the only ones to be seen as geniuses. We see this stereotype throughout television and film - and we usually see these "dorky" geniuses played as males. Sometimes it is painful to watch the interactions these guys have with other people or their choice of fashion.

On the other hand, these guys sometimes creep into the "aww they are so cute" role. As female viewers, we gain sympathy for these men and see their quirky and almost cute sides. The nerds are usually overly nice men who just can't seem to find a good girl who understands them. As a viewer, girls feel sympathy and might even wish for a guy like this. However, in real life - chances are if a guy is really this awkward - they don't stand a chance finding love. Can smart really be sexy? Of course. People want someone who is intelligent - but people also want someone who is confident, easy to talk to, and sexy. This exists, but who really wants to watch someone on T.V. who has all these qualities we wish we had? Playing the nerd role adds humor and wit for our viewing pleasure. We learn to love these characters and I do believe the media has lived up to their statement: turning smart into sexy.

The Dark Genius

Edmund Emil Kemper III is a serial killer who is known as the "Co-ed killer". Kemper's first kill was the shooting of his grandmother and grandfather in 1963, when he was only 15 years old. Kemper admitted to police that he "just wanted to see what it felt like to kill Grandma," and that he killed his grandfather because he knew he would be angry at him for what he had done to his grandmother.

In the early 70's, Kemper began his killing streak once more. He preyed on young female hitchhikers - shooting, strangling, and stabbing them. Kemper decapititated all of his victims and dissected many of them. He cannibalized some of his victims, slicing off body parts and cooking their bodies. Kemper dissected and saved body parts for sexual pleasure and often kept body parts as "keepsakes". After killing a victim, Kemper often engaged in sex with the corpse, even after is had been decapitated.

"Even when she was dead, she was still bitching at me. I couldn't get her to shut up!" - Kemper said of his mother. Included on his list of victims, was Kemper's mother. He killed his mother early one morning on Easter weekend. He entered her bedrom carrying a hammer and a large hunting knife, which he called "General". After smashing her head, he slashed her throat, cut out her larynx, severed her head, and had sex with the corpse.

It is said that Kemper had always had a terrible relationship with his mother. His mother was a violent woman who would humiliate him and made him sleep in a locked basement. It is alleged that she suffered from a borderline personality disorder.

As I researched Edmund Emil Kemper III, I found such shocking and disturbing information. Aside from his brutal and perverse killings, he was deranged as a young boy. Stories say he had buried his pet rabbit alive, and then decapitated and kept it's head. He used to act out his own death through mock executions. He fantasized about killing his sister and his teacher. Through research, it is also found that Kemper had a "near genius IQ" of 136, Kemper was a bright child, but displayed sociopathic and passive-aggressive behavior. His IQ is borderline "genius", but I still feel this story plays into the whole dark genius idea. All of the information is relevant to a full story, however I find it amusing that his IQ has enough relevance to be mentioned several times in research studies. I feel that if Kemper had an average IQ level, this fact would not be important enough to be mentioned. However, it plays into the whole idea of a "brilliant killer". I find that the media enjoys this type of story, and find it makes a more interesting story.


An interview with Edmund Kemper


Sources:

• http://www.geocities.com/prophet31_/kemper.html
• http://www.serialkillers.nl/edmund-kemper/edmund-kemper.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Kemper
  

A Beautiful Mind

As we watch A Beautiful Mind we continuously learn more and more about John Nash. At the start of the movie we see John Nash as a mathematician genius attending an Ivy League school. He is surrounded by other genius types, but his intellect is apparent to be more pronounced. A Beautiful Mind and Pi deal with similar characters - both John and Cohen are gifted mathematicians who also have serve anxiety and schizophrenzic disorders. However, our perception of the characters greatly vary. In A Beautiful Mind, we are eased into John's mental illness - rather than being aware of it from the get-go. It allows us to fall in love with his character, and learn about him as a person. His relationships seem healthy and natural. John always said that "people didn't like", and I thought he was being a bit sarcastic or modest. Little did I know, the majority of his relationships had been make-believe. In Pi, we are aware of Cohen's ill-mental state and obsession for mathematics. We know nothing more about him than this, so it is hard to relate and understand the character.

A scene from A Beautiful Mind that immediately reminded me of Pi, was when John Nash was being chased from the Russians. This chase scene was similar to where Cohen is being chased off the subway. This was my first clue that John's mental state may not be completely balanced. The shot of the scene, and absurdness led me to question the realness of William Parcher.

John and Cohen are similar in ways that they both see the world in a series of mathematical formulas. They are driven to find solutions, have high anxiety, hallucinations, and are detached from reality.

In A Beautiful Mind we see that John grows old, stays off medications, but learns to live a healthy and fulfilling life with hallucinations. John's gift is still profound and he embraces it. Pi ends on a slightly similar note - where Cohen seems cured. However, Pi leaves much more for our imagination. We never really know if Cohen is rid of his anxiety - and if so, at what cost? Unlike John he seemed to push his gift aside. With such talent, it seems a shame to hide.

Pi π

Max Cohen is a man who suffers from a social anxiety disorder. π is filmed in black and white and through the director's eye - allows the viewers to feel the anxiety of the character.

Max is a gifted mathematician who relates nature and his every being around math and numbers. His gift is portrayed much more as a burden than anything else. He is extremely paranoid throughout the film and does not relate well with many people. Max suffers from screeching headaches and hallucinations. Pi depicts a young man who becomes so consumed with his gift, and shows no interest outside of it. This is unhealthy and will not allow a person to have a satisfying life. It reminds me of Bobby Fischer - and how he became utterly consumed with chess. Searching for Bobby Fischer was a much more uplifting, or light, movie - but I am sure they could make a movie about Bobby Fischer that could be protrayed in the same darkness.

This movie and class discussion has allowed me to realize that such gifts can act as a burden. Yes, Max is extremely intelligent and talented - but his mind does not let him use this gift for a greater good. Rather, his gift consumes him. He shuts people out around him, becomes narotic, and is obsessed with finding answers to his mathematical mysteries.

I never really thought that giftedness can act as a burden on someone. I recognized that someone who is gifted in an area may feel a burden because they are being held back, or cannot relate to other people in certain areas - however, this movie and character helped me to realize the more serious burdens that someone who is gifted may feel. I do also feel this paranoid, anxious personality is just as common in a person who does not contain these gifts - and rather this is a rare condition where "genius" meets "insanity". In the end of the film, it shows that Max has let go of his obsession with finding the meaning behind all numbers and patterns in nature - and finally is able to find some inner peace. I wonder if Max will ever really find peace? I'm also curious - had he actually lost his gift? When he was asked the little girl's math problem at the end - was he unable or has he decided to shut that part of his mind out?

Josh Waitzkin & Bobby Fischer

While watching Searching for Bobby Fischer, it was clear that the young boy, Josh Waitzkin, was very talented in chess. His character showed that he had clear gifts above the average child. In fact, his talents for chess were beyond that of many adults. Josh Waitzkin has a natural talent for chess, and with hard work and dedication - he was able to expand upon this gift.

Throughout the movie, Josh is often referred to as a "young Bobby Fischer". Bobby Fischer is famous for being a chess prodigy. He was an American chess Grandmaster and a World Chess Champion. We never do meet Bobby Fischer in the movie, but we find out that he is "hiding" throughout the years, only to play chess matches on occasion.

I liked the way Josh was portrayed in the film. Although he has an obvious gift, that is well above his peers, he is not necessarily looked at as abnormal or weird. I feel that he was able to live a healthy lifestyle, because he expanded his interests beyond chess. Josh was able to tap into other hobbies and interests growing up. He was encouraged to play sports and spend time fishing.

In the middle of the movie, it was obvious that Josh was feeling an overwhelming amount of pressure to win and to be the best. His hobby and interest in chess was no longer just that - and his father became very intense on his son's success. As a cause of this pressure from his father, his coach, his peers, and himself - Josh forfeit his chance of winning at the NYS Elementary Championship. He also showed signs of struggles in the classroom. His teacher mentioned that his social skills were in danger, and feared that chess was becoming too prominent in his life. His father felt that the teacher needed to acknowledge his gift. I can understand both perspectives here; as Josh does need to focus on other things besides chess. I feel that he shouldn't soley focus on chess, because he will lose interest in other activities and other people outside of those he interacts with while competing. Josh also needs to continue to do well in school and learn about other things. His teacher, however, does need to be sympathetic to Josh's needs and tap into his interests in school. She must make sure that she does everything she can to not let him get bored, slip through the cracks, or lose his social skills. I do believe that Josh was perceived as well-rounded in the film, and not as a typical social outcast - as he easily could have been portrayed. He was a kind young boy who cared about other people's feelings. Josh finally found a happy medium between chess and life outside of chess. Josh went on to win championships, practice extremely hard, and ultimately do what he loves.

Josh playing chess in Washington Square Park

A young Josh Waitzkin

Bobby Fischer

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

Well, this is a welcome message ... to you and to myself.   I usually stray away from completing the "about me's" on these types of things, but I took a leap and filled out some information about myself that may or may not be very interesting!  So go ahead, read up - b/c I can't promise how long I will be able to keep it before deleting.  I have no reason for this, besides some sort of neurotic vulnerability I possess.   

I look forward to start blogging during the span of this course.  I recently started my first blog that I use for my students and parents.