Challenging the Nostalgic View of Progress

The snip discusses how the nostalgic view of progress often gets some facts wrong, such as the portrayal of science and technology in the 50s and 60s. Rather than being all positive as often depicted, popular culture of that era also included numerous horror movies showcasing the negative aspects of science and technology. Scientists were commonly portrayed as strange and important figures to be respected, but not someone one would want to be or marry. This contrasts with the nostalgic view that science and technology were universally celebrated in the past. The snip highlights a study revealing that while people acknowledged the importance of science, they viewed scientists as peculiar individuals. This false narrative, perpetuated through media, challenges the reality that in the 60s and 70s, being a nerd was not perceived as cool, as opposed to the current trend. The speaker expresses concern that this nostalgic narrative could be dangerous by fostering an inner authoritarian in some individuals.