This weekend kicks off the third year of Seattle’s GeekGirlCon, a convention celebrating “the legacy of women contributing to science and technology; comics, arts, and literature; and game play and game design.” It is very much an event by the fans, for the fans, and we had a wonderful time last year. A couple of us are returning to the convention where Geekquality first found its roots, and rather than the usual list of links for you, we thought we’d highlight some of the programming that’s caught our attention.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
Besides going to GeekGirlCon for fun and education, we’re very excited that our Managing Editor Tanya will also be joining Jarrah Hodge, Mary Czerwinski and moderator Jamala Henderson to talk Star Trek and feminism during their panel Is Star Trek a Feminist Utopia? (Sat, 6:30pm, RM302) We hope some of you can make it!
There are a multitude of panels for those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We’re most excited about Best Of Both Worlds: Careers Where STEM Meets the Humanities (Sat 12:00pm, LL3), when Hsiao-Ching Chou, Nazila Merati and Suzette Chan will discuss opportunities for combining a love for fine arts and physical science. Also at noon is Edible Astronomy, a hands-on demo demonstrating the formation of the universe using things you can find in your kitchen! (Sat 12:00pm, RM204) The astrophysicists will be back in the afternoon for Ask the Astronomers (Sat 1:30pm, RM302) and we’re also looking forward to Making Science Fun: For Girls, Boys, and Everyone (Sat 2:00pm, RM 301) with Alice Enevoldsen and Holly Csiga.
Saturday also kicks off with a bang with two discussions we won’t be missing in room 303. First is Deconstructing the Mary Sue Myth, what promises to be an interesting conversation about the “Mary Sue” character trope and what it really means when it comes to discussing and creating female characters. Panelists include television screenwriter andproducer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, actress and author Amber Benson, and author Sarah Kuhn (Sat 10:00am, RM303). Following that is Race in Costuming and Performance with Chaka Cumberbatch, a well-loved professional cosplayer who will discuss concepts of appropriation, as well as race representation in cosplay and character creation.
Other programming of note for Saturday:
- Octobriana, the Black Heroine, and Wonder Woman: A Comic History (Sat 11:00AM, RM302)
- Changing Culture in Mainstream and Alternative Spaces (1:00PM RM303)
- Female Characters in Game Design (Sat 2:00PM LL2)
- Anything That Loves: Comics Beyond “Gay” and “Straight” (Sat 2:00PM RM303)
- When Music, Gender & Disability Intertwine (Sat 3:00PM RM303)
- Creating Inclusiveness in the Geek Community (Sat 3:00PM LL3)
- Black, Latina, Girl and Geek: A Tale of Acceptance (Sat 3:30PM RM302)
- 20 Years of Myst (Sat 5:00PM LL3)
- Fan Studies: Past, Present, and Future(s) (Sat 5:30PM RM302)
- Fat Girl: Fan Girl (Sat 6:00PM RM301)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 20
You’ll probably find us spending quite a bit of time in the DIY Science Zone on Level 3, a whole area where you can work side-by-side with scientists and science teachers. Not only does this look like an informative and fun area, there will be prizes! When not wandering around the gaming rooms and the artist and exhibitor halls, we’ll be parking it in the hall that will become combined rooms 301 and 302 on Sunday. 12:00PM will be a Spotlight on Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and currently on Showtime’s Ray Donovan). Stay put in the hall for the 1:00PM Spotlight on Kelly Sue DeConnick, comic book writer and editor whose work on Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble has earned her many accolades.
Other panels we will try to catch on Sunday:
- The Changing Role of the Character of Color (Sun 10:00AM RM204)
- Geek Girls in Higher Education (Sun 10:00AM LL2)
- Geek Girl Jobs: The Women of EMP Museum (Sun 11:00AM RM303)
- #1ReasonWhy: Play to Win (Sun 2:00PM RM 301/302)
- QUEER GEEK!: Women in Gaymer Communities ( Sun 4:00PM LL2)
- (Re)creating Female Sexuality in Comics (Sun 4:00PM RM 204)
We hope to run into some of you at the convention!
