Northeast Ohio’s Arthur Chu gained national attention for becoming an 11-time Jeopardy! champion in March. Now he’s capitalizing on that fame to champion what he refers to as “nerd culture.”
Chu, who also blogs for The Daily Beast, will present a lecture, “Revenge of the Nerds: Sex, Race, and Rage in Nerd Culture,” at Case Western Reserve University. The event is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in Ballroom B of Tinkham Veale University Center.
The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required online.
Shannon B. Lundeen, PhD, director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and assistant professor of bioethics and an adjunct associate professor of philosophy, met Chu in June when they were guests on WCPN-FM 90.3 ideastream’s popular radio program, The Sound of Ideas.
“Arthur was no longer ‘just’ a Jeopardy! celebrity, but had begun using his fame to speak out on Twitter and in the blogosphere about the racism and sexism prevalent in gaming, sci-fi and nerd culture,” she said.
“This is what landed him in the studio at ideastream that day,” she said, “and what prompted me and fellow university staff members to invite him to speak about masculinity and nerd culture, serving as an inspiring role model and thought leader for the CWRU community.”
Chu’s talk is presented by CWRU’s Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, Office of Greek Life, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Office of Residence Life and Services, Residence Hall Association and Upper Class Community Council.