Professor to speak on history of “geek culture”

Dr. Ruth McClelland-Nugent, associate professor of History and interim director of Women’s and Gender Studies, will speak on “21st Century Nerds: The History of Geek Culture” at AgamaCon, a second annual convention beginning Friday in Aiken.

The panel interview and question and answer session will be recorded as part of a live podcast by Dave Dorow at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, at the H. O’Dell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken, S.C. The session will cover nerd culture, gaming, gender representation and the moral panic and distrust of geek culture induced from the anti-Dungeons and Dragons attitude of the ’70s.

AgamaCon, short for Artists Gamers and Anime Members Association Convention, is a grass-roots convention for geeks, gamers, artists, anime and cartoon lovers, writers, reenactors, comic fans, model and trading card collectors, cosplayers in the CSRA.  Friday and Sunday day passes are $15. Saturday day passes are $25. The cost to attend all three days of events is $40. Youth, senior and military discounts are available. Learn more at agamacon.com.