I’m attending WisCon this weekend! Here’s my panel schedule. The full schedule for WisCon and the Science Fiction Research Association Conference is here.
The Once and Future Badass: Historical Women Who Inspire, Challenge and Unsettle Us
Kate Bachus; Victoria Janssen; Madeleine E. Robins; Patty Templeton
Fri, 2:30–3:45 pm, Senate A
From “Badass Women in History RPF” as a Yuletide fandom to tumblrs like historicalheroines and the Reconstructionists project, fans have a hunger for (re)discovering and celebrating women who go to extremes to Get Shit Done. Who are our favorite Badass Women in history, past or present? How do they conform to or subvert (or perhaps blatantly blast to smithereens) current tropes about “strong” women in fiction and the news?
Join the Mod Squad: Enhance Your Moderation Skills
Christopher Davis [moderator]; Gerri Balter; Alan Bostick; Liza Furr; Victoria Janssen
Fri, 4:00–5:15 pm, Conference 4
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.
The Role of People of Color in Urban Fantasy
Jackie Gross [moderator]; Victoria Janssen; Daniel José Older
Sat, 8:30–9:45 am, Conference 1
Urban Fantasy is often lauded for the large number of women writers in the genre. Yet, despite being set in the inner city (real or fictional) the presence of POC is often limited to the Magical Negro, Wise Indian, Sketchy Gypsy, or other dehumanizing stereotypes. How urban can fantasy be when it centers on white/white-passing leads and POC appear largely as plot devices or servants (sexual or otherwise) to white leads? Let’s talk about race in urban fantasy and the erasure of POC from the places where they are living in these alternate realities.
