"Speculative Fiction Against Colonialism" - Sheraton Ames
Thursday, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Colonialism pervades much of speculative fiction. But post-colonial literary movements rejecting this worldview, including Afrofuturism and Indigenous futurism, are gaining more steam in the genre. We will examine these works and their significance. Panelists: Gabriela Santiago, Rob Callahan (mod), Justin Grays
"Avoiding Tokenism in Comics & Sci Fi Characters" - DoubleTree Plaza 1
Thursday, 10:00pm - 11:00pm
Creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. Tokenism, even when unintentional, is what leads to adding "diversity" for the sake of diversity. How do we engender true diversity in Sci Fi/Comics? Panelists: Justin Grays, Nat Morse-Noland(mod), Kerry Peterson, Jim Soos, Ian Truitner
"Diversity, Class Systems, and Equality in Science Fiction" - DoubleTree Bloomington
Friday, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
When writing sci-fi, the world shifts. Examples of acceptable democratic societies or functional systems in real life are sometimes reversed or broken down. Is this simply not trying hard enough? Shock value? Does diversity matter in a sci-fi setting? Panelists: Lana Rosario (mod), Emilie Peck, Justin Grays, Peregrine Johnson, Gregory Parks
"50 Shades of Blackface" - DoubleTree Atrium 7
Friday, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
The desire for realism is high in the cosplay community, but when does it go to far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate a character of a different race? Is it necessary? What is the difference between looking like another race and another species? Panelists: Justin Grays, Stephanie Stensland (mod), Sarah Molasky, Morgan Strickland, Charlene Holm
"Androids, AI, And Gender Theory" - DoubleTree Plaza 3
Saturday, 10:00pm - 11:00pm
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary and play with gender fluidity in a way that implies gender is not essential or passive but a construct in which one must actively participate. How do these narratives translate to other contexts Panelists: Jamie Riedesel (mod), Susan Willson, Nat Morse-Noland, Justin Grays
"Steven Universe as Queer Space Opera" - DoubleTree Edina
Sunday, 9:30am - 10:30am
We will explore how the alternative relationship styles and structures, as well as the growth and character development in Steven Universe work to queer the traditional concepts of Space Opera. Panelists: Justin Grays (mod), Ryan Alexander, Bri Donovan, Jesse Haller, Lara Richardson