Finally, you capture everyone’s attention. As you begin to tell your story that you have been patiently withholding for what seems like forever, you see your friend glance out the window. Another finds Instagram infinitely more interesting than you. And another is suddenly overcome with a look of sympathetic pity as your story begins to wane. Blame it on being awkward. It’s easy enough. Make one social faux paus, and it is instantly remedied by the proclamation of the phrase, “I’m so awkward.” Awkwardness has often been described as a painful time in one’s life, filled with angst, being picked last in gym class and The Smiths on repeat. It’s a period that many would like to shove in some dusty corner in the back of their memories, hoping to never relive again. As we make our way through the murky waters towards adulthood, there are bound to be some bumps in the road (or maybe the road doesn’t exist at all- the road is actually just a valley of unavoidable boulders that never end). It’s a lovely combination of attractive physical changes, unruly emotions appearing at the most unreasonable times and perhaps a few mental breakdowns here and there. Yet, we are told there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Someday, I was promised, your hair will stop frizzing and you will actually find clothes that fit properly (will it ever end?). Maybe someday you will be able to interact with fellow human beings in a normal social setting. But perpetually awkward Ionians need not fear for much longer-for being slightly awkward is now slightly cool. Or rather, it is extremely cool. The poster girl for this movement is the character Jess of the overwhelmingly popular FOX sitcom, ‘New Girl,’ as portrayed by the undeniable Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel’s character proclaims in the pilot episode, “Well, I guess I just can’t hide my crazy,” whereupon her equally stereotypical roommate Schmidt replies, “I don’t think you’re trying that hard.” Deschanel was pinned with this nerdy-awkward-hipster girl image from the start of her career. She became the darling of the indie film scene, quietly rising to the top as the atypical girl who didn’t fit in. In ‘New Girl,’ this image is emphasized even more than before. ‘New Girl’ glorifies the girl that may be the only one laughing at her jokes and will dance by herself in a corner of the bar if she has to. And supposedly, in today’s society, that means she’s offbeat and uncommon. But are these girls so uncommon anymore? Deschanel exhibits a much quirkier form of awkwardness in ‘New Girl,’ where it’s considered strange and unconventional to have knowledge of the Lord of the Rings and burst out into song when associating with members of the opposite sex. But despite these quite primal and male-influenced interpretations of what the ideal girl should act like, these characters have repeatedly come to triumph their awkward ways- which is something new. Emma Stone portrayed an equally ‘offbeat’ teen in “Easy A,”where a clever bookworm attempts to break out of her stereotype by churning the rumor mill in an attempt to be “bad.” Stone’s character slips several times in her attempts to quash her socially unacceptable behavior, such as when she spends hours dancing to an automated greeting card or when she rambles about the benefits of eating lobster to her date. Stone’s character actually progresses quite far in her efforts to climb the social ladder, but in typical Hollywood fashion, she realizes that it is much better to be yourself-even if that means being a tad awkward every now and then. Being awkward isn’t just a girl’s club either. Two words say it all-Michael Cera. Men like Cera are revered as cute and sensitive. Their lack of social skills becomes attractive and adorable. The physicists of “The Big Bang Theory,” are coveted for their quirky mannerisms. Suddenly, being overtly intelligent, but desperately awkward is the key to having millions of women fawn over you. It seems as though it is only a matter of time before being awkward loses its kitschy charm. Just as the hipster had its moment of fame, the now-glorified girl in the corner may not be as unique as she once was. And while it may just be another product of Hollywood, what shines through is the fact that these girls (and guys) are allowed to continue being themselves despite their somewhat packaged personalities. The girl picked last for dodge ball has finally scored.

To contact The Ionian’s Mackenzie Mennucci, e-mail her at [email protected]