It is definitely safe to say, that a vast majority of us haven’t really been to any major public gatherings for some time… for obvious reasons. But with vaccines now readily available and caseloads dropping all over the United States… the world is gradually starting to reopen and bring live events and conventions and gatherings back into the forefront of our minds and lives and for proof… just look at what your city is doing when it comes to their regular comic conventions and by way of the announcements that are starting to come forth… such as the one that came about earlier today. For it was just announced that Lake Street Dive is coming to Red Rocks Amphitheater on Sunday May 8, 2022.
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Which really does speak to a return to normalcy, but it should be noted that there is more to this announcement beyond Lake Street Dive gracing Denver with their talented presence. For their concert will also serve as the centerpiece event to SeriesFest 8. Which is a convention that celebrates television, that will kick off shortly after the concert with in-person events. Reinforcing the fact that life about to quickly return to the days of old, and that folks in Colorado are in for one heck of a musical treat and well… here are all the details on this show and some details on SeriesFest 8, alongside information on how and when to get tickets to this epic concert… courtesy of SeriesFest.

‘SeriesFest, the award-winning international television festival, has revealed Lake Street Dive will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, May 8 as its signature Centerpiece event for SeriesFest: Season 8, A Celebration of Episodic Storytelling.  Standalone tickets for SeriesFest’s Centerpiece Red Rocks event will go on sale Friday, March 25 starting at 10am MT. American Express® Card Members will be able to purchase standalone tickets for the Red Rocks event before the general public beginning Wednesday, March 23 at 10am MT through Thursday, March 24 at 10pm MT. Festival badges granting access to the entire world-renowned Television Festival are now on sale at seriesfest.com.
 
“Our Centerpiece Benefit Event at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre has always been a highlight for us as we get to bring together the television industry and the Denver community for a one night only curated celebration of TV and music,” shares SeriesFest founders Randi Kleiner and Kaily Smith Westbrook. “We are thrilled to be returning to Red Rocks for the first time in two years with our headliner, Lake Street Dive. These wave-making creatives truly embody the spirit of our festival and are sure to give a dynamic show.”
 
Since forming in 2004, Lake Street Dive have matched their sophisticated musicianship with a fearless refusal to limit their sound. As shown on their most recent album, 2021's critically acclaimed Obviously, the Boston-bred band also possess a keen talent for combining sociopolitical commentary with immediately catchy pop gems. With their current lineup comprised of founding members Rachael Price (vocals), Bridget Kearney (bass), and Michael Calabrese (drums) -- as well as keyboardist/vocalist Akie Bermiss and touring guitarist James Cornelison -- Lake Street Dive continue to create joyously soulful rock & roll with equal parts ingenuity, intelligence, and irresistible abandon.
 
SeriesFest: Season 8, May 5-11 in Denver, Colorado, includes six days of in-competition screenings, panels, workshops, as well as never-before-seen sneak peeks and television premieres. Programming details, including the screening at Red Rocks ahead of the musical performance, will be announced in the coming weeks. 
 
SeriesFest: Season 8 is presented with generous support from the following sponsors: Once Upon a Time, Brownstein Farber Hyatt Scheck, Denver Film, Xfinity, Visible, Royal Bank of Canada, UnReal Media, Dilletante Productions, Caz Matthews Fund.
 
ABOUT SERIESFEST
SeriesFest is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling. With year-round educational programs, initiatives supporting underserved voices, and professional development opportunities, SeriesFest inspires, educates, and connects a worldwide community of creators. Every year, SeriesFest culminates in a highly curated and celebrated Denver-based festival and marketplace. Dedicated to showcasing innovative episodic content, the annual festival also includes a musical performance and network screening at the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre, in-competition independent pilot screenings, panels, workshops, live reads, parties, and network television premieres.
Follow @seriesfest on Twitter’

As the world continues to move back toward some semblance of normalcy, we are starting to see more special events pop up in our local towns and Tinseltown for that matter as well. For slowly but surely, premieres and live events are coming back to Hollywood and last night was host to one of note for Nerds That Geek.
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For the stars assembled in Los Angeles, to celebrate the new STARZ series Shining Vale, and well… we here at NTG are happy to share a recap of the evening’s events, along with some photos of this celebration… courtesy of STARZ.

‘The stars were shining for STARZ’s premiere event celebrating the new horror comedy “Shining Vale” on Monday, February 28 at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.
 
The world-renowned cast in attendance included Emmy Award® nominee Courteney Cox, Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Greg Kinnear, Academy Award® winner Mira Sorvino, Gus Birney, Dylan Gage and Merrin Dungey. Co-creator and executive producer Jeff Astrof, as well as guest stars Emmy Award® nominee Judith Light, Alysia Reiner and more, were also in attendance.
 
On the heels of their hilarious reunion at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, Sorvino’s “Romy And Michele” co-star Lisa Kudrow, who starred alongside Cox in “Friends,” also came out to celebrate. Others in attendance included Cox’s daughter Coco Arquette, Jimmy Kimmel and his wife Molly McNearney, “Heels” star Mary McCormack and her husband Michael Morris, “Power Book II: Ghost” star Daniel Sunjata and Amanda Anka, among many others. SAG Award winner Ariana DeBose also attended the post-screening reception.
 
The evening began with a bustling red carpet, followed by a screening of the premiere episode, which was received with a roaring round of applause. The celebration then continued with a reception at No Vacancy.
 
“Shining Vale” premieres with two back-to-back episodes Sunday, March 6 at 10:20pm ET/PT on STARZ. New episodes premiere every Sunday.’

It truly is an amazing time to be a fan of television. Because not only are dynamic shows hitting the airwaves left and right, but networks and the internet are creating new ways to connect fans to their beloved franchises and shows. Because now, fans can swing by their favorite social media platform and see what their favorite stars have to say about their work, and maybe catch a glimpse of some on set shenanigans from the network. Plus, since those same stars and official accounts are so eager to engage with the fans and give them a genuine taste of a world they crave... sometimes fans are allowed to remotely enjoy exclusive events, such as red-carpet premieres.

In fact, the cast of the Power Universe on STARZ appreciates its fanbase so much, that last night Twitter and the ‘Gram were ablaze with images and stories from the premiere of Power Book IV: Force and well, we here at Nerds That Geek would like to the keep the wonder of this premiere going and connect you further to it... by way of a recap of last night’s event, and we’ve even got some images from the premiere for you to enjoy as well, courtesy of STARZ.

‘On Friday, January 28, STARZ celebrated the world premiere of “Power Book IV: Force” with a one-of-a-kind, star-studded intimate New York premiere on the rooftop of Pier 17.
 
The festivities kicked off with an afternoon screening attended by executive producer, Grammy Award winner Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and series star, Joseph Sikora, followed by a secondary screening in the evening.
 
Despite the New York snow storm, stars came out in full force to celebrate the premiere of the highly anticipated new spinoff in the “Power” Universe, including Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Primetime Emmy nominee David Schwimmer, Grammy Award winner Fat Joe, “Power” cast member and TV personality La La Anthony, “Power” alum Lucy Walters, reality stars Ice-T and Coco, fashion designer June Ambrose, actor Mack Wilds, actor Aldis Hodge, rapper Slick Rick, actor Eric West, influencer Achieng Agutu, rapper Dave East and singer Kranium, model Evan Mock, actor J.R. Ramirez, “Gossip Girl” star Eli Brown, model and entrepreneur Pritika Swarup and more enthusiastically watched the premiere episode from their individual pods. 
 
Jackson and Sikora welcomed guests who enjoyed the event from their own individual cabins overlooking the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Shipped in from Chicago, the trademark blue mustang, a signature of fan-favorite character Tommy Egan (played by Sikora), was stationed on the rooftop for an epic photo-opp.
 
Upon entering their cabins, the hit music video for “Power Powder Respect,” the “Power Book IV: Force” theme song performed by 50 Cent, Jeremih and Lil Durk, and directed by Eif Rivera , was showcased. Attendees screened the Chicago-based series premiere episode while snacking on local-style hot dogs and Garrett’s popcorn and sipping signature cocktails, including Jackson’s Branson VSOP. 
 
In the evening, Jackson and the cast, including Joseph Sikora, Isaac Keys, Gabrielle Ryan, Shane Harper, Kris D. Lofton, Anthony Fleming, Lucien Cambric, Jeremih, Ahmad Ferguson, Phil Donlon, Guy Van Swearingen and Barton Fitzpatrick reunited to mark the special world premiere. Executive producers Mark Canton and Shana Stein were also in attendance.
 
“Power Book IV: Force” premieres Sunday, February 6 across all STARZ platforms. New episodes premiere every Sunday.’

Even if you have no idea who Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) is, most will recognize his work. He’s definitely well known for his paintings like The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Blossoming Almond Tree. However, it’s worth noting that van Gogh also has drawings, watercolors, graphic works and letter sketches. Overall, his ability to create mesmerizing scenes with repetitive swirls, strokes and intense colors, particularly in his paintings, are utterly unique unto him. He produced thousands of works throughout his life and in less than 10 years, he created almost 900 paintings yet only sold ONE before his death in 1890. WOW!! A tragic story overall, Vincent, who lived in poverty the majority of his life, died from an infection following a self-inflicted gunshot wound after years of struggling with mental health issues. *SIGH* Fortunately, his art lives on as he is now viewed as one of the most influential artists in history. And, as a longtime fan, I was ecstatic to see that this exhibit made its way to the Denver Metro area. I wasted no time planning a November trip from Grand Junction for an unforgettable birthday adventure and I’m here to give you the rundown on one heck of an homage to my favorite artist. So, here we Gogh! *WINK*
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Background:
Beginning in the 2000s, the first immersive van Gogh experience took place in Europe and has since spread to several major cities across the globe. Including New York, Dubai and Toronto. Each display, is tailored to the venue and creates an entire enveloping experience using pixels, sounds, mirrors and light. All have designated benches and circles on the floor to not only help with social distancing, but to create several spaces where one can stop to enjoy the surroundings. Other artists have been featured as well, but none are as popular as van Gogh. I mean… DUH!!! LOL.

The original exhibit was created by Annabelle Mauger then later picked up and mastered for the masses by digital art expert Massimiliano Siccardi from Italy. Siccardi’s work is supported by composer Luca Longobardi’s – known for mixing classical and contemporary music – while Vittorio Guidotti serves as Creative Director of Animations. More on the artists and exhibit co-founders and producers can be seen here. Let’s move on to the Denver exhibit, shall we? Which was created by Emmy and Tony Award-winning designer, David Korins. 

Denver:
Located at the Lighthouse Denver (3900 Elati Street), the site is just west of the River North Art District, and is visible from the interstate and fairly easy to get to. Even for me… the one who hates driving in the city… lol!!

The work boasts over 60,000 frames of video using 500,000 cubic feet of projections and 90,000,000 (YES, MILLION!!) pixels. Some exhibits have multiple rooms, and even stairs, to move to and from. Denver in particular has two single level rooms. One has all the projections towards the surrounding walls. In the other, the projections cover everything from the walls to the floors AND YOU and it’s AWESOME!! There are various mirror towers and displays as well allowing the images to reflect making the rooms seem bigger and the pixels bolder. A spectacular display of color and emotion fill each room. Video and photos are supplements, but have nothing on the in-person experience. Even my review and slide show, though helpful, scarcely compares!

In addition, the sound composition greatly enhance the visuals and it’s absolute bliss to watch the scenes morph. Taking you through various periods of creativity for van Gogh, each sequence drifts from a small starting point and evolves into a fully immersive piece of art. The colors are amazing and at times, it feels like the pixels are actually paint moving across canvas. It’s mesmerizing, soothing and all encompassing. Especially in room two were everything is covered. Even if you’re not a huge fan of van Gogh, the visuals are just too good to miss!! And with a VIP ticket, you can stay and soak up this experience as long as you like. Which is exactly what I did… LOL!!

To explain further, this was my first time seeing a collection of van Gogh’s works and continually, I was overcome with awe inspiring delight as each frame fade from one to the next. Even in the moments of quiet and darkness, I was moved while still digesting what I had just seen. The swirls and brush strokes dance and slide across the walls. The flowers grow. The grass waves. The crows fly. In short… I was absolutely and utterly God smacked into oblivious exhilaration!! And while surrounded by strangers in the dark, I silently wept out of jubilation!!

From beginning to end, the runtime is less than 40 minutes and because people constantly come and go, you can move freely to see different angles and projections. Of course, you’re also welcome to find a spot and stay there. Though, I highly recommend moving around. At the very least, even the most basic ticket price will allow you to watch one full run from each room.

Wrapping up, I’ll leave you with some pros and cons as well as recommendations to improve your visit and of course… a SLIDE SHOW!!  

Pros:
Starting with the obvious… the biggest pro is that the exhibit is absolutely stunning!! I mean… seriously, I literally cannot say this enough. In fact, because you can often enter in the middle of a run, I stayed through multiple sessions to get photos, move from room to room and to simply just bask in awe at the changing scenes.

Open to all ages and running 7 days a week, excluding major holidays, makes planning quite convenient. And with multiple price points available – Basic, Premium or VIP, I would certainly classify this exhibit as fairly budget flexible. The Premium is a sweet spot for flex timing/perks and a limited edition poster and the use of the special edition cushion. But VIPsters, amongst getting the other Premium perks, can keep the cushion along with a souvenir laminate card. HECK YEAH!!!

There are also other ways to enjoy the experience beyond the average daily ticket choices including Date Night Packages and Yoga Classes. NEAT!! Plus, groups of 10 or more can receive a discount.
Next, beyond the already provided benches, there are also extra chairs to use upon request and the cushions, work great as well!

The gift shop is packed full of items for one to commemorate their experience. Though, the prices can be pretty steep overall. You can also spy something and shop online for it later. I opted for the Exhibit Catalogue, a pair of socks, a mousepad and some magnets. WOOT!!

Cons:
With the lowest price for off peak tickets at $39.99 and peak at $54.99 plus taxes and fees for each, some have criticized the price of the exhibit. Also, I went to this exhibit twice within a few days of each other and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference from peak to off peak. It was busy and full of people the entire time. Additionally, as noted above, the gift shop is wildly expensive. My mouse pad, though quite large, was $14.99 plus tax. For a mouse pad?? YIKES!!

Also, if you indulged in the higher priced packages, be aware that some of the extras, like the seat cushion, have run out at various times. The company will email you when your gift is back in stock, but they are not equipped to mail items. This means, if you traveled from outside Denver, someone will need to pick the piece up for you or you lose out. And because there are no refunds on ticketing, I will assume there are no partial refunds either.*WahWah*

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Immersive van Gogh Experience.

Recommendations:
1. Though it’s possible to do so, do not just show up!! Get your tickets in advance rather than directly at the box office. This will allow you to plan better and hopefully avoid peak times. It also affords you the time to see what type of ticket you want – Basic, Premium or VIP.

2. Keep in mind, the building – formerly the Regency Hotel – is also a housing unit for Assembly Student living. Therefore the main parking lot is reserved for tenants. Exhibit parking is just inside the street entrance on an unpaved, dirt only lot which can be tricky for disabled, elderly, etc., especially in wet weather. Consider dropping off those who have difficulty walking at the main entrance. Which, by the way, is on the far side of the building from parking.

3. Even though 5 and under are free, I would not recommend bringing babies or even really small children. Though I did see full families, space is limited and things like strollers appeared difficult to manage, especially in the dark. And speaking of the dark, this may prove somewhat problematic for the elderly, disabled and/or those with spatial awareness difficulties. Additionally, if you’re at all prone to motion sickness, the large landscapes, changing themes and bright lights can be disorienting so be cautious. Plan ahead by using anti-motion sickness aids such as non-drowsy chews or motion bands. Also, those prone to seizures from bright and/or flashing lights should avoid the exhibit or visit with extreme caution.

4. And finally, keep in mind the sound can be rather loud and intense. As noted in the FAQs, along with everything else discussed here, ear plugs are available at the gallery. Though, it does not say whether they are free or not so it’s probably best to bring your own as a precaution.

Conclusion:
I absolutely fell in love with this exhibit and would definitely visit again in any area it might be. I have certainly day dreamed about what other venues might hold and there are plenty of pictures and videos online. Additionally, when purchasing tickets, you’re asked what other immersive experiences you might be interested in. I chose Dali and Escher. What will you choose??

As you move through the pictures, you will see shots from various angles in both rooms as well as outside the exhibit. Note the Date Night seating – located in room 2 – as it gives you an excellent wall/floor view as well as a corner and entry way to compare and contrast between the two rooms. Though this seating cannot be accessed, it’s in the open and the angles can still be viewed by anyone. For me, the entryways were my favorite spots because the visuals ran between them creating a shared yet distinctly separate experience. It was fun to peer between the two AND to watch the visuals climb up the corners!!

As a final reminder: Things like lights, sound and darkness may pose problems for certain individuals. Parking may be tricky too, especially at peak times. With my recommendations in mind, step outside your comfort zone if you can. For, “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” – Vincent van Gogh

Enjoy!!!

Sometimes you need a little feel-good moment in your day and we've got one to share with all of you! Because on Tuesday, 8/17/21, Ted Lasso star Cristo Fernández, who plays Dani Rojas on the show, had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at Mexican Heritage Night at the Dodgers/Pirates game.

So please enjoy Cristo just having a blast and celebrating the wonder of the night as he embraces the majesty of ‘Baseball is Life’

A time-honored tradition that fans of popular culture love through and through, is the red-carpet premiere. Because there is something just magical about seeing our favorite stars congregate with joy on their faces as they prepare to share what they’ve poured their souls into with the rest of the world. But sadly, only a few of us ever get to attend such events, but thanks to the wonder of the internet, we are slowly getting a taste of what these events are actually like and today… we here at Nerds That Geek would like to share a little recap and some images from one such event.

For last night was the Los Angeles premiere of the new STARZ series, Heels, and well… courtesy of STARZ and Getty Images Photographer Michael Kovac, here is a look at how the night went.

‘The stars stepped out of the ring for STARZ’s Los Angeles Premiere Event celebrating “Heels,” a new wrestling drama starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig.

In attendance were “Heels” cast members Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, Mary McCormack, Chris Bauer, Alison Luff, Kelli Berglund, Allen Maldonado and James Harrison, as well as Executive Producer & Creator Michael Waldron, Executive Producer & Showrunner Mike O’Malley and Executive Producer & Director Peter Segal. Jeffrey Hirsch (CEO, STARZ), Alison Hoffman (President, Domestic, STARZ), Samantha Offsay (SVP, Original Programming, STARZ), Jon Feltheimer (CEO, Lionsgate), Kevin Beggs (Chairman, TV Group, Lionsgate) and Sandra Stern (President, TV Group, Lionsgate) also joined the cast to celebrate the series premiere.

Additional attendees included “Blindspotting” cast members Daveed Diggs, Candace Nicolas-Lippman and Rafael Casal, as well as star of “Run The World” Corbin Reid and former pro wrestler Christopher Daniels.

The evening began with an outdoor red carpet in Downtown Los Angeles, which was followed by a special screening of the premiere episode. The episode was introduced by STARZ CEO, Jeffrey Hirsch, Executive Producer & Creator, Michael Waldron, and Executive Producer & Showrunner, Mike O’Malley. During his remarks, Hirsch praised the cast, proclaiming “It’s very rare that we put together a cast that we’ve been able to put together that has the physicality to pull off what they’re able to pull off with the emotional acting that you’re about to see tonight. Congratulations to the cast and crew, you did a phenomenal job. This show is so unique and so special and we at STARZ are so excited to bring it to the world.” On his excitement for the series premiere, Waldron said, “Anybody who has spent any time in this crazy, chaotic, artistic, beautiful world knows wrestling is real. And now, so is ‘Heels.’” Wrapping up the introductory remarks, O’Malley thanked those in attendance for their support, saying “We are rejoicing in the fact that we work in an industry where people write stories like this and we get to make them, we get to make a living doing it and working with great people.” 
The episode was received with a roaring round of applause. The town of Duffy was then brought to life at a lively, outdoor after party with wrestling-event style food including popcorn and pretzel bites, specialty cocktails, music, mingling and even a wrestling ring photo opp. 

“Heels” premieres Sunday, August 15 on STARZ.’

So, as you can see, it was a magical and fun filled night, one filled with thunderous applause for a series that is going to knock your socks off and hopefully, this taste of Hollywood life only gets you more excited for the premiere of this transformative and powerful drama.

​Graphic Literature has not always garnered the respect of literary circles, often termed juvenile, sophomoric, or simplistic. But any of us who have picked up a copy of Persepolis, Maus, or Watchmen know the compelling power of the medium of graphic novels and thanks to the important work of organizations like Pop Culture Classroom these works are being recognized for their critical legitimacy. This year saw a myriad of important new works of Graphic Literature and the time has come for Pop Culture Classroom to announce the 2021 Excellence in Graphic Literature (EGL) Awards!
 
Selected by advisory boards and juries made up of diverse, experienced, and informed members of publishing, librarian, and educational professions, the EGL Awards celebrate the best in fictional and nonfictional graphic novels and comics. These awards help educators and librarians identify high quality graphic literature in order to bring them into diverse educational settings. They also help publishers of graphic novels increase their sales and growth potential specifically with libraries and schools. The EGL Awards also help parents, Pop Culture fans, and other discerning readers discover new compelling, expertly crafted stories in the exciting medium of Graphic Literature. 
 
The 2021 ELG Awards Book of the Year is Displacement, a poignant exploration of Japanese internment camps in San Francisco through the personal lens of an unwitting time traveler who experiences the injustice of internment alongside her own grandmother. Written and illustrated by Kiku Hughes (Macmillan Publishers), Displacement is a powerful addition to the ELG Awards pantheon of Book of the Year winners. 
 
The ELG Mosaic Award honors works of Graphic Literature that showcase diverse voices and highlight stories about and from different ethnicities, nationalities, belief systems, genders, and sexual orientations. This year’s Mosaic Award winner is The Magic Fish, written and illustrated by Trung Le Nguyen (RH Graphic – Random House Children’s Books Imprint). The Magic Fish is an exploration through fairy tales of sexual and racial identity which follows Tiến, a Vietnamese boy struggling to come out to his immigrant parents. 
 
The ELG Awards also recognized the following works in Children’s, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction categories for 2021:
 
Best in Children’s Fiction - Bear, Written by Ben Queen and Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Boom! Studios)
 
Best in Children’s Non-Fiction - Black Heroes of the Wild West, Written and Illustrated by James Otis Smith (TOON Books)
 
Best in Middle Grade Fiction - Snapdragon, Written and Illustrated by Kat Leyh (Macmillan Publishers)
 
Best in Middle Grade Non-Fiction - Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World, Edited by Erin Bried (Knopf - Random House Children’s Books)
 
Best in Young Adult Fiction - Displacement, Written and Illustrated by Kiku Hughes (Macmillan Publishers)
 
Best in Young Adult Non-Fiction - The Mars Challenge, Written by Alison Wilgus and Illustrated by Wyeth Yates (Macmillan Publishers)
 
Best in Adult Fiction - Invisible Differences, Written by Julie Dachez and Illustrated by Mme. Caroline (Oni Press)
 
Best in Adult Non-Fiction (Co-Winners) - Phollan Devi: Rebel Queen, Written and Illustrated by Claire Fauvel (NBM Graphic Novels AND Year of the Rabbit, Written and Illustrated by Tian Veasna (Drawn and Quarterly)
 
Here at Nerds That Geek we seek to celebrate stories in all their varied and wonderful forms, and we are so excited to see the diverse, heartfelt, and earnest art being created in Graphic Literature today. It’s important that awards like these exist. It’s important that Pop Culture Classroom and organizations like it spotlight Graphic Literature with awards and recognition because it is a genre that is very much on the rise, and it produces truly moving works of art. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for this year’s Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards, we are so excited to see what comes next for you all!

With the unprecedented oddness that is 2020, we could all use just a little pick me up. Sadly, this year has seen a lot and it’s only April. Yet there have been plenty of silver linings. While Denver Pop Culture Con announced earlier this month that it would be delaying until November, many have been left feeling out of sorts and concerned. Coronavirus has literally taken over nearly ever slice of media, and it’s hard to go a day without hearing about it. Many are left either not working or working from home, schools have been canceled and moved to online, and some amazing things have been postponed. So, what are we all to do in these trying times? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I have been using this time to catch up on some amazing works of literature. Personally, I’m reading Good Omens, which is also an amazing show on Amazon! Now is a wonderful time to get lost in a book, graphic novel, and even get the kids into it! Amidst all the oddness of our lives that is 2020, things have never been more optimal for finding a little reprieve from a good story. After all it’s stories that lift our spirits, give us hope, and inspire us in hard times.
 
With all that, Pop Culture Classroom has announced its winners for the 2020 Excellence in Graphic Literature! Who doesn’t love a good graphic novel? This award honors the best graphic novels in both fiction and nonfiction. There are many categories that books can win, which just goes to show how dedicated Pop Culture Classroom is to expanding its reach across genres and ages. These awards are a prestigious affair that any author and artist should be proud to take part in. These published works have been reviewed by a wide panel that look at many aspects of a graphic novel in order to truly decide what deserves a nod but know that all the amazing novels submitted for the award are worthy of a read. These novels also cover a wide range that deal with topics such as sexuality, faith, family, self-identity, self-acceptance, and so much more. Graphic novels have not always been considered to be an important part of literature, but thanks to organizations like Pop Culture Classroom, the graphic novel is finally getting the recognition it deserves. 
 
This year’s EGL Book of the Year winner is White Bird: A Wonder Story by R. J. Palacio. This is a beautiful story that takes place in France, during the Nazi invasion, following a young Jewish girl in hiding. This beautiful coming of age story showcases how truly important empathy is, and how acts of kindness are often the most courageous. Emotionally provoking and stunning, this novel definitely deserved the title of Book of the Year.
 
The Mosaic award is dedicated to novels that revolve around different nationalities, ethnicities, diverse sexualities, genders, and even beliefs. Now, if ever there were graphic novels I wish to have had growing up, its these. This year’s winner is called Kiss Number 8 and it is by Colleen AF Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw. This is a novel I could have honestly used in my life at 16, let me tell you. It follows a teen who’s desperately trying to get their life balanced; between faith, family, and the struggles of sexuality, that’s not always an easy task. In the end this is a hopeful story filled with so many emotions, but the main lesson is self-acceptance. 
 
Now these are not the only award winners! Other winners include Akissi: More Tales of Mischief, by Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Spain for Best in Children Graphic Literature. Guts, a nonfiction graphic novel by Raina Telemeier won Best Middle Grade Graphic Novel alongside its fiction and Book of The Year counterpart White Bird: A Wonder Story. And while Kiss Number 8 is the Mosaic of the year, it is also this year’s fiction piece winner for The Best Young Adult Graphic Literature, while the nonfiction award in this category goes to King of King Court by Travis Dandro.  And lastly, the awards for Best Adult Graphic Literature award for fiction went to The Hard Tomorrow by Eleanor Davis and A Fire Story by Brian Fries took this award for nonfiction.
 
With so many different categories, topics, and options, it’s good to see how Pop Culture Classroom has strived to push literacy across ages. The stereotype that graphic novels are for preteens has long since been dispelled with PCC’s dedication and hard work. Graphic novels are a growing art form that can convey so many topics just as much as any normal novel. Often times a graphic novel can go further than its conventional predecessor. There has always been an unspoken draw to comics that many have used to escape reality, which is why they are as popular now more than ever. Yet the graphic novel has often been written off as nothing more than a silly pastime. The shift in cultural acceptance and the growing number of graphic novels has been a warm welcome into society. Graphic novels have proved that they are more than just the comic strips of old printed for sheer entertainment. They have tackled the most difficult of topics and reached out to the world to let people know, they’re not alone. To see such a diverse range of topics covered in a variety of age appropriate material just goes to show that graphic literature is just as serious. It’s here to stay and it’s desperately needed.
 
To all the award winners of Pop Culture Classroom’s 2020 Excellence in Graphic Literature awards, we here at Nerds That Geek would like to personally congratulate and thank you for your continued dedication to the craft and the spreading of literacy in the most creative of ways. You are pioneers in uncharted territory carving the way for future generations who will one day look back at your brilliance with awe. You’re making a new genre of learning possible and helping those who struggle with all these life topics never feel alone. May you continue to inspire us all.

I have begun to take the natural pairing of baseball and Star Wars for granted recently. Not so long ago the juxtaposition of these two very different fan bases didn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. But as this pairing becomes more matter-of-fact it opens us up to further analysis of both as time, baseball and Star Wars move on, grow, and change. “Franchise fatigue” has become the subject of some debate these days; whether it even exists, if it does what constitutes that fatigue, and whether certain fan bases are experiencing it. 
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At its core, franchise fatigue is about over-saturation and diminishing quality. In film the franchises that bear names like Alien, Predator, Terminator, and even the MCU come under fire as they continue to roll out film after film with a dizzying frequency that gives viewers pause. We’ve come to expect a certain level of quality and spectacle as these massive stories evolve from film to film and as fan service and tired tropes rear their ugly heads more and more frequently, we begin to resent our movie-going dollars, hungry for surprises, for ingenuity. Perhaps no franchise is more beset by a passionate or perhaps presumptuous fanbase desperate to avoid fatigue than the Star Wars Saga. 

The Star Wars fan is unique in their very specific ideas about how story ought to progress, how tone should shift, and perhaps most juvenilely, how characters ought to evolve or fail to do so. We hadn’t started to discuss the notion of fatigue with regard to the Star Wars saga until after the release of the divisive Last Jedi film, but I would say that film serves as an example of the inevitability of that conversation. For better or worse, that film was different from what we had come to expect from our Star Wars films, it zigged when it should have zagged and it zigged so dramatically that it split the earth between members of its fandom. But it got us thinking about what the franchise was, what it could be, and how different our opinions of those ideas were in the fandom.

Now I could get caught up in the factors that contributed to the tabling of the slated Anthology films after the lukewarm reception and box office performance of Solo, a film that might very well be the first greatest casualty of franchise fatigue, and the, in my opinion, small-minded outrage inspired by Episode VIII, but that would lead us a bit off track. This is about Star Wars, but it’s also about Baseball. 

It would be strange to talk about franchise fatigue in relation to baseball. Or would it? I don’t think it’s too big a stretch to talk about Baseball as a form of storytelling. In fact, Baseball is a decades long story with its ebbs and flows, its shifting cast of players, and directing managers just like a film franchise. Just like Star Wars. I mean it is called “the show.” So why don’t we discuss fatigue as fans of baseball, the way we have begun to as fans of Star Wars? It’s not as if baseball fans are immune to over saturation or diminishing quality. The life cycle of any team season to season can fluctuate from hopeful optimism all the way through the seven stages of grief as poor management, underperforming prospects, or just plain bad luck radically alter the narrative of that franchise. So what is it that keeps us coming back to baseball after a season of disappointment, of these fatiguing circumstances? It’s distance certainly; having time and space enough to miss baseball helps. The new release every six months’ time frame that Disney had set out for Star Wars certainly contributed to fans experiencing fatigue. But more than that, the thing that keeps us coming back to Baseball, and ultimately the thing that will continue to bring us back to Star Wars despite fatigue, is nostalgia. 

I’ve said it before, as long as Disney is going to churn out new Star Wars films, I will be in the theater to see them. Doesn’t matter the quality, how bad the last one is, how silly the premise. And you know why? Because of that body buzzing exhilaration I feel in that theater the second I hear the opening flourish of the Star Wars Theme. It’s there for me every time and it takes me right back to being a little kid, sat a little too close to the TV, listening to my Dad reading me the opening crawl because I was too young to read it myself. It’s the same walking out and seeing the crisp lawn of the baseball diamond, every time I get that rush, that excitement, that little kid feeling that, “this is where baseball happens!” I believe that the power and purity of that feeling is what keeps us coming back to baseball year after year and I believe that same feeling is the secret to overcoming our franchise fatigue with Star Wars.