I’ve gotten behind on This American Life podcasts because my train rides have been taken up with Nerdist episodes. This is foolish and shameful, of course, because any day now I will run into Ira Glass who will surely offer me All The Jobs if only I can competently discuss the latest episode of TAL or at the very least Planet Money.
Anyway, I found an episode about conventions and having recently been to my first sci-fi/nerd/pop culture convention ever, I was very intrigued. While 2/3 of the episode is not so much about these kinds of conventions (and they managed the whole hour without even mentioning a star trek or sci-fi or comic books) the first act was an interesting examination of pop culture/media obsession. It follows a man who traveled across the country to a Dark Shadows* convention and the things that happen when such a number of people with such a passion for something strange get together.
This is something that interests me more and more as I become entwined in nerd culture. Give the episode a listen and let us know how you feel about conventions and other nerd gatherings!
-BB
*Now making it’s (ironic?) resurgence.
Plan 9 Burlesque 