Abstract
Introduction: The geek community in Acapulco has developed collective responses to the impacts of climate change and socio-environmental disasters, particularly after Hurricanes Otis (2023) and John (2024). Methods: A qualitative approach from the social sciences was adopted, combining ethnographic observation and analysis of interactions in physical spaces and digital platforms, with an emphasis on cultural practices and community dynamics. Results: Support networks, solidarity actions, and symbolic reconstruction processes were identified that strengthen community resilience and the social fabric through links, shared narratives, and emerging forms of organization. Conclusions: Urban subcultures are relevant actors in contexts of socio-environmental crisis, capable of generating everyday alternatives and resilience strategies in the face of vulnerability scenarios.
Keywords
urban subcultures, community resilience, socio-environmental disasters, Acapulco
INTRODUCTION
Acapulco, a coastal city on the Pacific Ocean, has historically been vulnerable to natural phenomena such as earthquakes and hurricanes. This condition has prompted multiple studies on risk and vulnerability. However, much of this research and the resulting public policies tend to homogenize the experiences of the population, without addressing the differentiated responses that emerge from specific social groups. Among these, the geek community, made up of people who share interests in pop culture, anime, video games, and other alternative expressions, has been systematically invisible in disaster response and recovery frameworks.
This study proposes to analyze the resilience strategies developed by the geek community in Acapulco in response to the impacts of hurricanes Otis and John. Far from assuming a passive stance, this group has deployed creative and collaborative practices that include support networks in physical and digital spaces, community organization, and the use of technologies for recovery and prevention to generate innovative solutions.
The main objective of this project is to propose an inclusive and culturally sensitive prevention strategy that recognizes the dynamics of the geek community and integrates them into risk management and recovery frameworks. Through a participatory and creative approach, the aim is not only to document their collective responses and experiences, but also to raise awareness among public and private institutions of the importance of including these groups in disaster adaptation and response processes.
The climate crisis from a comprehensive perspective
The climate crisis cannot be understood solely from the perspective of the natural sciences, as it is intrinsically linked to social, political, and economic dynamics. This human-environmental problem reflects how human decisions have generated global, invisible, and unevenly distributed risks, as Beck (1998) points out in his concept of the "risk society." Industrialization, excessive consumption, and technological expansion have created a series of dangers that are beyond the control of traditional institutions, revealing a profound environmental injustice.
For Giddens (2010), climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a structural problem that requires transformations in institutions and public policies. These transformations must anticipate damage before it becomes irreversible, underscoring the need for intergenerational responsibility in the face of the crisis. In this sense, climate change is not an isolated natural phenomenon, but a direct consequence of the modern development dynamics that we have promoted.
Latour (2004) reinforces this view by proposing a politics of nature that integrates natural phenomena as political actors in interconnected networks, where humans, technologies, and ecosystems interact. Climate disasters are therefore manifestations of complex systems in which human decisions play a decisive role.
From a Latin American perspective, Leff (2006) criticizes the dominant view of nature as an exploitable resource and advocates a reconfiguration of the relationship between humanity and the environment grounded in ecological justice, respect for local knowledge, and sustainability. This perspective questions the foundations of modern development and promotes more inclusive and ethical models.
In short, the climate crisis is not an isolated or accidental phenomenon, but a direct consequence of human actions, the product of an unsustainable development model. Recognizing this crisis as a human-environmental crisis implies acknowledging the need for comprehensive solutions that address social justice, equitable mitigation and adaptation, and the incorporation of local knowledge into risk management.
Disasters: A social construct?
The theory of the social construction of disasters, proposed by Hewitt (1983), argues that disasters are not mere natural events, but social phenomena that emerge from the interaction between natural factors and pre-existing social structures. This view challenges the traditional conception of disasters as unpredictable events, showing that social, political, and economic conditions determine communities' vulnerability. In this context, Lavell (1993) and Oliver-Smith (1995) emphasize that disasters are not only the result of natural phenomena but also depend on factors such as poverty, inequality, and inadequate public policies, which amplify their impact.
The paradigm shift from a naturalistic to a social approach, beginning in the 1970s, made it possible to redefine the concepts of risk and vulnerability, which were no longer seen as attributes inherent to physical phenomena but rather understood as products of historical and structural processes. García Acosta (2004) developed this theoretical line in Latin America, emphasizing the relationship between disasters, political processes, collective memory, and the cultural dimension. In turn, Maskrey (1998) and Lavell (1999) proposed risk management models that integrate technical knowledge with popular knowledge, highlighting the importance of community participation.
The social approach has also made it possible to highlight that disasters do not affect everyone equally. According to Cardona (2001), the most vulnerable sectors, whether due to economic, geographical, or political factors, suffer greater losses and face greater obstacles in the recovery process. This analysis highlights the need to understand disasters as the result of the interaction between a natural hazard and pre-existing social conditions of vulnerability (UNDRR, 2015).
Finally, anthropology has played a fundamental role in the holistic understanding of disasters, not only by analyzing the physical damage, but also the social, cultural, and emotional meanings that they generate. According to Hoffman in an interview with Diaz (2017), anthropological studies highlight the resilience and agency of communities, allowing us to understand the symbolic processes that unfold before, during, and after disasters.
The social construction of disasters has transformed our understanding of these phenomena, recognizing them as deeply human processes whose vulnerability is determined by social, historical, and political decisions. This perspective has been key to the design of more inclusive and effective public policies in risk management.
Resilience: reconstruction beyond the physical
The concept of resilience has evolved from its origins in physics and ecology to become a key tool for understanding how communities cope, adapt, and transform after a disaster. In the context of Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (CDRM), community resilience refers not only to the ability to withstand the impact of extreme events but also to the capacity to rebuild the affected social, emotional, and cultural fabric.
The social sciences recognize that resilience is not a return to normality, but a dynamic process that can generate structural transformations. Yncera (2019) highlights its collective and contextual nature, influenced by access to resources, social cohesion, and support networks. For its part, the UNDRR (2015) defines resilience as the ability to adapt and transform in the face of risk, with an emphasis on participatory and sustainable solutions.
In countries such as Mexico, post-disaster recovery, as in the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017 or Hurricane Otis (2023), has followed different trajectories, determined by structural and organizational factors. These processes underscore that resilience depends not only on infrastructure but also on recognizing local knowledge, cultural identities, and community practices that strengthen responses to crises.
In this sense, proposing innovative intervention strategies implies considering resilience as a profoundly social process, in which communities, including subcultures such as geek culture, articulate their own responses that deserve to be made visible, integrated, and empowered to move towards a more just and transformative recovery.
City, subcultures, and disasters: rethinking intervention from the margins
Within the analysis, it is essential to understand the city not only as a physical or territorial space, but also as a symbolic construction shaped by social, cultural, and affective practices (Reguillo, 1996). The city is the scene of multiple narratives, tensions, and exclusions, where meanings of belonging, visibility, and power are contested. According to Harvey (1998), contemporary urbanization has deepened processes of social fragmentation, weakening neighborhood ties and limiting collective responses to emergencies.
This fragmentation affects specific sectors unevenly, particularly those that do not fit into the normative frameworks of the dominant culture, such as urban subcultures. Far from being marginal deviations, these should be understood as legitimate forms of symbolic and cultural organization. From Geertz's (1987) perspective, subcultures are systems of shared meanings, with their own aesthetics, codes, values, and ways of life, that allow for the construction of identity and a sense of belonging. In Latin America, these subcultural expressions respond to contexts of inequality, exclusion, and resistance, functioning as cultural alternatives that give meaning to the urban experience.
In the context of disasters such as the one Acapulco experienced after Hurricane Otis, subcultures, such as the geek community, can play a crucial role. Their capacity for spontaneous organization, use of public space, and emotional bonds can become forms of community resilience that are not recognized institutionally. By including them in risk management and recovery strategies, innovative proposals can be developed that articulate networks of care, communication, and action grounded in cultural diversity.
Recognizing subcultures as social actors means going beyond the homogeneous approaches that dominate urban planning and post-disaster intervention. It means understanding that the city is experienced from multiple perspectives and that the margins also build social fabric.
The history of geeks in Acapulco
The geek community is made up of enthusiasts of comics, anime, video games, and pop culture who, since the 1990s, have sought spaces to express themselves and connect, despite being considered a stigmatized group. Its origins lie not in large conventions or social networks, but in small, low-profile gatherings, such as the radio program Comando Cómics and pioneering events where cosplay and geek identity began to take shape informally. For more than a decade, this community remained scattered and marginalized until 2010, when conventions were institutionalized, and physical and digital meeting points were created, strengthening their cohesion.
Geeks face processes of stigmatization, exclusion, and self-segregation, not as signs of apathy, but as strategies of protection and cultural affirmation in the face of social prejudices and exclusionary norms. Their experience shows that, far from being mere entertainment, geek culture is an engine of solidarity, social agency, and resilience, particularly empowered by digital networks that facilitate organization and mutual support.
Working with this community is relevant because their identity and practices offer an innovative and culturally sensitive approach to social intervention in vulnerable urban contexts. Recognizing their ability to create spaces for emotional support, self-management, and collective action opens new avenues for strengthening resilience and social inclusion in Acapulco.
METHODS
Research from and with the geek community in Acapulco
The research adopted a qualitative ethnographic approach, seeking to understand, from within, how the local geek community faces, interprets, and responds to disasters. Rather than analyzing from the outside, the study focused on recognizing the cultural codes, narratives, and support networks specific to this urban subculture, integrating them into a participatory social intervention strategy.
Ethnography was chosen as the central tool, understood as a sustained immersion that allows the meanings and practices of social actors to be captured from their own perspective (Apud, 2013). Given the symbolic and affective nature of geek culture, this methodology enabled us to build trust (rapport), foster horizontal dialogue, and document both visible interactions and shared codes in both physical and digital contexts (Taylor & Bogdan, 1987).
In addition, complementary techniques were integrated, including participant observation in key geek spaces, semi-structured interviews with active participants in the culture and in post-disaster recovery efforts, surveys to capture immediate emotions and narratives, and content analysis of social media (mainly Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp). On these platforms, the geek community organizes, communicates, and creates emotional bonds.
This methodological combination responds to the need to highlight the symbolic, emotional, and community dimensions as key aspects of post-disaster recovery processes.
Case study: the geek community of Acapulco
The pilot case focused on the geek community in Acapulco, understood as a glocal urban subculture, that is, with both local and global ties, made up of people of different ages who share an affinity for anime, video games, comics, science fiction, and other similar cultural expressions (Fischer de la Vega, 2021). This group organizes and participates in conventions, themed cafes, cosplay events, and social media activities.
This community was selected for its capacity for spontaneous organization, its active presence in both public spaces and digital environments, and its potential to create its own forms of resilience. As Bourdieu (2011) points out, these practices constitute an alternative cultural capital, capable of generating meaning and structure in contexts of crisis. Furthermore, subcultures such as geek culture operate as symbolic spaces of belonging, identity, and resistance in situations of exclusion (Martín-Barbero, 2000).
In summary, the methodological strategy enabled us not only to investigate recovery from the perspective of a specific cultural group but also to design innovative intervention proposals in which culture, affection, and community organization serve as tools for reconstruction beyond the material. This research proposes that cultural diversity should occupy a central place in risk management and post-disaster recovery.
RESULTS
The research identified that the geek community in Acapulco, often perceived as marginal or disconnected from social problems, has excellent organizational, communicative, and emotional potential in emergencies. In the wake of Hurricane Otis and subsequent climatic events, this community emerged as a relevant actor in collective recovery processes, using its own cultural references as tools for coping and action.
The process began with spaces for dialogue and trust, both physical and virtual, which fostered the recognition of geek identity as an integral part of resilience processes. Through discussions, workshops, and activities at Friki Plaza, experiences, emotions, and knowledge regarding disasters were gathered. Collective SWOT analysis identified strengths such as creativity, a sense of community, and digital skills, as well as specific needs in mental health and prevention. At the same time, an exploratory survey revealed participants' genuine interest in getting involved in risk management processes through their own content.
The testimonies collected show that, after Hurricanes Otis and John, the community found emotional refuge in its geek culture. Fictional characters, readings, video games, illustrations, and symbolic coexistence with these references served as therapeutic tools. Instead of seeking formal psychological care, many young people processed the trauma through creativity, reaffirming their collective identity as a form of support. These practices also generated a shared narrative of the disaster, reinforcing emotional bonds and strengthening the sense of belonging.
The response to the hurricanes showed a clear evolution in the forms of participation. While Otis provoked spontaneous, unstructured reactions in the face of John's support, networks were consolidated, and, in Erick's case, which was not anticipated, preventive actions were put in place in advance. This progression reflects a process of collective learning, in which the community moved from emotional reaction to organized action. This strengthening led to greater risk awareness, the acquisition of technical skills, and a growing commitment to prevention.
One of the most significant achievements was the creation of the Frikis y Desastres (Geeks and Disasters) group on Facebook, which quickly became a mutual care network, a space for sharing experiences, an information channel, and a platform for digital activism. There, preventive recommendations were shared in accessible language, testimonies were documented, and collective initiatives were coordinated.
In addition, collaborative audiovisual content was developed in which the members themselves narrated their post-disaster experiences, linking them to their geek identity. These videos, disseminated on social media, raised awareness among other social sectors and built collective memory through emotion and creativity.
Training workshops were promoted in collaboration with strategic allies, including the Inter-American University for Development, Acapulco Campus (UNID), addressing topics such as the visible impact and historical context of disasters, as well as the use of technological tools such as Windy for climate monitoring. These activities consolidated technical knowledge, youth empowerment, and the articulation between popular culture and education for prevention.
The geek community in Acapulco has not only been a victim of disasters, but also a protagonist in its recovery. By recognizing and leveraging their cultural identity as a legitimate resource, it was possible to design innovative, culturally sensitive, and emotionally meaningful intervention strategies. This model demonstrates that it is possible to build community resilience from the symbolic, digital, and collective, opening replicable paths for other urban communities in vulnerable situations.
CONCLUSIONS
This research demonstrates that Acapulco's geek community, often stigmatized and socially invisible, has the organizational, emotional, and creative potential to cope with disasters. Based on hurricane analysis, it was identified that this urban subculture was not only a victim of the disaster but also an active agent in the recovery process.
The study is based on a comprehensive view of the climate crisis as a human-environmental phenomenon. It addresses disasters from their social dimension, recognizing that risk and vulnerability are unevenly distributed. In this context, the proposal focuses on a culturally sensitive, site-specific intervention that incorporates marginalized groups into prevention, response, and reconstruction strategies.
Through methods such as digital ethnography, participatory workshops, and social media analysis, forms of resilience based on geek identity were made visible. The use of cultural references, digital narratives, illustrations, and audiovisual content not only allowed for the channeling of trauma but also for the creation of support networks, the activation of self-management processes, and the generation of preventive content adapted to the language and codes of the community.
The creation of the Frikis y Desastres (Geeks and Disasters) Facebook group, the production of collaborative videos, and the organization of training workshops are concrete examples of how this community has articulated its participation from a symbolic, emotional, and collective perspective. These practices become innovative social intervention strategies that can be replicated in other vulnerable urban contexts.
In short, this research suggests that integrating geek culture into risk management and post-disaster recovery policies is not only possible but necessary. Recognizing its organizational capacity and its own forms of reconstruction provides a more humane, inclusive, and compelling vision of community resilience, strengthening the link between culture, sustainable development, and social transformation.
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Declarations
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Authorship contributions
Conceptualization: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas
Formal analysis: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas
Research: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas
Methodology: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas
Writing – original draft: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas
Writing – review and editing: Cecilia Gabriela Ruz Ramíre; Dulce María Quintero Romero; Manuel Ignacio Ruz Vargas