W. Scott Poole, an associate professor of courses such as “Monsters in America” at the College of Charleston, brandishes his geek cred by showcasing movie-monster figurines such as the vampire Nosferatu and classic horror movie posters throughout his office. He attributes society’s newfound favorable view of geek culture not only to “Star Wars” but also to underlying factors such as the changing economy, including the shift from an industrial and manufacturing economy to a computer and data-driven one.
