So many panels, much moderation, oh Andraste kick me in the ass now. But if you wanna see the whole shebang, here’s the full Wiscon Schedule [Grid format] Panel moderators are denoted with [M] below.
Destroying the Mythos Around Female Gamers and Games for Women
Friday 2:30 pm University B / Ann Lemay, Ceri Young, KJ, Tanya DePass [M] & Kate Lansky Panel Hashtag: #FemaleGameWriters
There is a continuing false perception that video games are thoroughly dominated by male gamers and male developers. However data disproves this fallacy. This panel will discuss the actual demographics of gaming, and how to buck the idea of “appealing” to women with old stereotypes and tropes. I.E women are all casuals, and games like FFXV with an all male cast supposedly appeal to women for a change. We’ll also look at how narrative can drive an audience to or away from a game series such as Mass Effect, Dragon Age, etc.
Queer Eye for Sci-Fi Friday 4:00 pm Assembly Panel Hashtag: #QueerEyeForSciFi
Mark Oshiro [M], Jennifer Cross, Tanya DePass, & Suzanne Walker
There is a long and complex history of queerness in science fiction, from queer-coded villains in pulp novels to the more diverse spectrum of characterization in the last decade. Join panelists as they discuss the history of queerness within the genre, both the good and the bad.
Finn is Not Your Son Saturday 12:00 am Assembly Panel Hashtag #FinnIsNot
Mark Oshiro [M] Tanya DePass, Maia Mrkvicka
Characters of color are often reduced to the background, de-centered even when they have a prominent place in a film, game, book, etc. There’s a trend of calling characters “my problematic son” or “my helpless child.” When applied to characters of color that are already pushed to the side, this turns to a trope of infantalizing non-white characters. How do we stop this? How can we talk about characters of color without calling them children?
You Can’t Force Load A Canon Saturday 8:30 am Caucus Panel Hashtag: #NoForceloadCanon
Tanya DePass [M], Sunny Moraine, Mark Oshiro, Saathi P.
Let’s have a discussion about fan entitlement across all forms of media. It isn’t just limited to games. Why are some fans this way? Does it harm a fandom when fans go beyond head canon into demanding their ship become canon? (Inspired by this post: http://tmirai.tumblr.com/post/155653724789/rant-on-fan-entitlement-shipping)
Following and Friendship: Social Media Etiquette for Fans
Saturday 10:00 am Capitol A Panel Hashtag: #SocMedFanEtiquette
Tanya DePass [M], Michi Trota, Caitlin Rosberg, Kelly Sue DeConnick
When our faves share their thoughts and give us a peek into their personal lives, it’s enticing to engage as much as possible, but when we’re one of their thousands of followers and they’re likely to receive several notifications at once, where should we draw the line? As creators and creatives, the tenuous balance between being approachable and setting boundaries can take a huge emotional toll on us. How do we encourage fan interaction while holding a reasonable amount of space for ourselves to exist as humans? This panel will explore the nuances of being an inclusive, friendly internet community while still being respectful of the privacy and dignity of people with large public platforms.
There is No ‘Ideas Guy’: Actual Jobs in the Video Game Industry Sat. 7:30 pm Conf. 1
Tanya DePass [M], Maurice Broaddus, Ann Lemay, Ceri Young Panel Hashtag: #JobsInVideoGames
People from a wide variety of career paths collaborate to make video games, including producers, programmers, directors, artists, and writers. However, the mythic ‘Ideas Guy’—the lone visionary genius at the center of a project—simply doesn’t exist. In this panel, video game developers will discuss their jobs and other jobs in the industry—and offer an inside look at how games are made.
F*ck You Pay Me: Equally Compensating Marginalized Creators Sunday 1:00 pm Caucus
Jennifer Cross [M], Ariela Housman, Suzuanne Walker Panel Hashtag: #FckYouPayMe
“Do It for the exposure! Aren’t you just grateful to have this opportunity?” Too often, marginalized creators are thrown these aphorisms as compensation for their hard work and creativity instead of receiving financial compensation for their endeavors like their privileged counterparts. In this panel, we’ll discuss the importance and obligation of equal compensation for equal work. We’ll also discuss the benefit of outreach, and how that’s led to opening geek culture markets to creators and consumers who don’t look or think like the “good ol’ boys.”
When Fandom Ain’t Fun: A Frank Talk by QPOC Sunday 2:30 pm Assembly
Mark Oshiro [M], Jennifer Cross, Katherine Cross, Tanya D Panel Hashtag: #WhenFandomAintFun
Queer fans of color are often left out, pushed out, and talked over in our chosen fandoms. A lot of times the discourse becomes more about hurt feelings than actually listening to those affected by the racism and racist actions.
Decentering Whiteness in Fandom Sunday 10:00 pm University C
Tanya DePass [M], Mark Oshiro, K. Tempest Bradford
A more in-depth look at how whiteness is always the focus in fandom, fan works in particular. How POC characters are forgotten, written out, killed off by fandom so their white faves who do no more than glance at each other can be together in fanon bliss. How do we de-center the narratives built around minor white characters and problematic faves versus existing POC characters? A hard topic and not for those who think this doesn’t happen.
