“Join the Mod Squad: Enhance Your Moderation Skills”
Fri, 4:00–5:15 pm, Assembly
Ever go to a panel and spend your time thinking, “With a good moderator, this would be a much better panel?” We will review several ways to be that good moderator, offer tips and tricks, and generally work on improving WisCon’s already high standards for panel moderation. We strongly encourage you to attend this panel if you are moderating at WisCon, especially if it’s your first time. It’s also a great experience if you ever have, or think you ever will, be a panel moderator anywhere.
“Imaginary Book Club”
Sat, 10:00–11:15 am, Room 634
Each of five panelists presents a review of an imaginary book, and other panelists discuss the books, arguing improv-style. Possible books: Gardner Dozois’s anthology of voicemail-focused speculative fiction; Joanna Russ’s long-lost vampire romance; “Monitor (Lizard)” by Cory Doctorow and David Icke.
“The Xenogenesis Panel”
Sat, 1:00–2:15 pm, Conference 4
Octavia Butler’s groundbreaking Lilith’s Brood trilogy (Xenogenesis) explores many issues, in both science and social realms. The exploration of genetic engineering and medical enhancements in sexual and reproductive technology is remarkably prescient. These books also address sexism and racism, among other issues.
“The Doctor is a Jerk”
Sat, 2:30–3:45 pm, Room 629
The Doctor is a hero and a champion to many, but often times he’s also a jerk. He seems to vacillate between these two poles at random, but there may be a method to this characterization. We’ve seen many examples of this in both Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat’s tenures in the New Who as well as in the original run. In this panel we’ll explore some of the Doctor’s more questionable actions and whether the writers and producers are engaging in unconscious skankitude or failing at ambiguity.
“Moderating 201”
Sun, 2:30–3:45 pm, Conference 5
So you’ve been to the Moderating 101 panel, and you know how to get a panel up and running. You’ve modded a couple panels, even. But now you want the advanced class. How do you further define the panel in the pre-Wiscon email? How do you handle a panel that is going off the rails? How do you shut up That Panelist who is taking other people’s time to answer? How do you handle audience members who don’t raise their hands? How do you remember to tell people the panel hashtag? Come learn and collaborate about what to do about it.
