Minn-StF Wiki - User contributions [en]

Moderator Tip Sheet

2023-03-26T01:27:15Z

Katieclapham: /* Section 3: GETTING STARTED */

;The Minicon Moderator Tip Sheet
by The Minicon 25 Programming Committee, Sharon Kahn, Co-Chair

''Disclaimer: These guidelines and suggestions are the distillation of a series of brainstorming sessions. In other
words, this document was originated by committee. So if it waffles, backpedals and blatantly contradicts itself, that's
just the way it goes. The project was started and organized by 1990 Minicon Programming Co-Chair Sharon Kahn, and involved many people's input. Dave Romm volunteered to take the mass of
data, add his further input, organize and format it for the Mac, and give it to Sharon for final revision. What you see
here is Dave's file, adapted to html, not Sharon's final, though changes were slight. ''
:Copyright 1990, 1995 by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society, Inc.

== Preamble ==
Presumably, you are looking at this document because you are
planning to originate a programming item, moderate it, or
both. If you are entering this process sometime after Section
1, it is strongly suggested that you find out what the
originator of the panel had in mind, and what, if anything,
has been communicated to the panelists so far.

==Section 1: DEFINING THE PANEL==

===TOPIC===

Exactly what is the point? Be specific. Come up with a 1-3 sentence description that will leave no doubt in the mind of all the panel participants what they will be talking about. This description will also appear in the program book.

===PURPOSE===

Why are you doing this? To inform? Entertain? Showcase a GOH? Spark a group discussion? Stir up a controversy? It has been suggested that there are only two possible purposes for a panel: to inform or to entertain (with the best panels, of course, accomplishing both.)

===TITLE===

There seem to be 3 general approaches to titles:

1. Explicit: "Collaborations: How It's Done, Why We Shouldn't Do It, and Why We Keep Doing it Anyway"

2. Clever: "Worldcon Envy: Does Size Matter?"

3. Hybrid: "Lime Jello, Myth or Reality: The Origins of Fannish Legends"

The entire topic is surprisingly controversial, actually. But everybody agrees that titles should not be overly generic, for instance "Women in SF" or "Fantasy or Science Fiction?" The more specific the better.

===SIZE===

Experts suggest an ideal panel size of 5 including the moderator, rarely fewer than 4 or more than 6. Remember, 60 minutes divided by 5 panelists means 12 minutes for each person, assuming the audience doesn't participate (ha!).

===FORMAT===

Now you know what you are doing and why, let's talk about format.

* Panel, Discussion Group, Debate, Free-for-all? This should be decided on far enough in advance to put in the program book.

* Question Policy: Audience questions can be encouraged throughout or only taken during designated question period(s). Be sure to make the policy clear to all panelists (and then to the audience during the panel).

* Facilities: Do you need a large room, a small room or an intimate space? Will you be seated behind a long table, around a round table or just chairs facing an audience? How many microphones will you need? Do you need special equipment like a slide projector or overhead?

===CONSIDER MODERATOR STYLE===

There is no single "best" way to moderate a panel. The style you use depends not only on your personality, but the topic and purpose of the panel, the personalities of the panelists, and what happens when the bullets start flying. In Section 3, you will find a list moderator styles that have been observed in action at conventions that are now history. We had fun identifying these and we hope they provide food for thought.

==Section 2: PRE-PANEL PREPARATION==

===MAKE YOURSELF A CRIB SHEET FOR USE DURING THE PANEL===
Including but not limited to:

* Panel title, 1-3 sentence description.

* At least 3 questions that can be asked during the course of the panel. A starter question or two and then keep several emergency questions handy.

* Panelist names and pertinent info about each (names of books, etc.)

===READ SOMETHING BY EACH PANELIST===
If possible. If not, at least know their latest book or a recent accomplishment.

===TALK WITH THE PANELISTS BEFORE THE CON===
If possible. Let them know if you will be gathering in the Green Room before the panel.

===MEET WITH THE PANELISTS AT THE CON===
Either one by one or in a group. The Green Room is available for this purpose. If you can't meet in the Green Room, at least spend a few seconds before you convene to introduce yourselves.

===IN THE GREEN ROOM===

* Review panel description, purpose and format with the participants.

* If you haven't already, introduce yourself and each other.

* Check with the participants: Anything you've thought of since we last talked? Anything in particular I should ask? Anything to avoid? Get preferences and suggestions.

* Pick up your panel's table tents before your panel.

* If panelists seem to need warming up, try out one of your questions on them. If they're shy, feed them several questions so they can think about their answers for a while.

* There are refreshments in the Green Room which participants can take to the panel.

* Relax.

==Section 3: GETTING STARTED==

===Stop off at the Green Room.===
Pick up the table tents for your panel, and maybe some water.

===Arrive on time.===
A few minutes early is ok. If you're arriving from the Green Room, arrive all at once; it really impresses the audience.

===Sit down.===
If possible, arrange the tent cards yourself so the panelists are where you want them. Feel free to move people if they've beaten you to the seating arrangements. You may choose to sit at the end of the row of panelists instead of in the middle. It will make it easier to keep an eye on everybody.

===Start the panel===
Establish rapport with the audience. The traditional opening is "Hello? Hello? Is this mike on?" If it is, smile and continue. If it isn't, turn it on (or otherwise make arrangements to be heard).

===Identify yourself===
and briefly describe the panel.

===Introduce panelists===
referring to your notes as needed.

===Give the ground rules===
("If this goes according to plan..."). Be sure to address Question Protocol (questions taken any time or only during specified question period)

===Throw out the first question.===
Think carefully about who to address it to! The first questioner will set the tone for the panel. Some possibilites: The most senior GoH, the person with the most experience, the quietest person on the panel, the person who orginally proposed the idea for the panel, the person most likely to set the tone you are striving for. Play out the question, giving everybody a chance at it.

==Section 4: FINISHING UP==

===Finish on time!===

===Give a 5 or 10 minute warning===
When time is running out. Issue a summing-up question. If you have to interrupt the last person, do so. "I'm afraid we're out of time. Thank you all for coming."

===Thank the panelists for participating.===

===If a discussion is still raging===
Suggest that the discussion can continue in Krushenko's (or any open site, including the consuite or the bar).

===Announce the next panel.===

==Section 5: MODERATOR STYLES==

We present these as examples for your consideration. Most modera-
tors combine elements of more than one style. The style used for
any panel depends on the personality of the moderator and the
interaction of the participants.

===EVEN-HANDED===
Keeps things moving, involves everyone, facilitates discussion without taking sides or expressing opinions. A good even-handed moderator can moderate a panel on a topic he knows nothing about and isn't even interested in.

===NURTURING===
Much like even-handed, but even more so. Especially attentive to quiet panelists who need to be drawn out and encouraged to enter the discussion.

===PARTICIPATING===
Joins in the discussion and expresses opinions, but without taking over or dominating the panel. At times, panel may appear to be a round-table discussion with no one moderating. However, the moderator is in fact leading the discussion, raising questions, encouraging participation by everyone and dealing with interruptions. This style is difficult to pull off. You must be
able to split yourself into 2 people--the moderator and the participant. Do not call on yourself more often than any other participant.

===TIGHTLY REINED===
A moderator who naturally tends toward Participating Moderator trying very hard to function as an Even-Handed. Produces tremendous dramatic tension as audience
waits for moderator to crack.

===QUESTIONING===
Intensely interested in the topic, but hasn't made up his mind how he feels about it yet and is hoping to gain insight into the subject (frequently a difficult or controversial one) by questioning the panelists.

===PROVOCATIVE===
This moderator believes that life is a bit dull without conflict. Specializes in questions like, "I sense that you may have some disagreement with the last speaker," and "You aren't going to let him get away with that, are you?"

-------------------------------------------------------------
Not to be too judgmental or anything, we do hope you avoid
elements of the following styles:
-------------------------------------------------------------

===IGNORANT===
Not only knows nothing about the topic of this panel or the people on it, he didn't even know he was moderating it until about 5 minutes ago. (Best solution is to admit your ignorance ["But I find the topic fascinating!"] and get the panelists to suggest appropriate questions, perhaps when you have them
introduce themselves.)

===FAILS TO PACE THE PANEL===
Runs dull topics into the ground, interrupts discussions just as they're getting interesting, lets one panelist dominate the time, doesn't prompt reticent speakers, cuts off panelists in mid-sentence but lets audience
loudmouths run on forever, etc.

===OUT-OF-IT===
Too sleepy (or otherwise underbrained) to pay attention. Calls the panelists by their wrong names, misremembers their books, gets the topic of the panel wrong and/or is still trying to get in the last word from the previous panel.

==Section 6: THE ART OF MODERATING==

===Prepare in advance===
But go with the flow. Don't be afraid to alter your original plan radically if it seems like a good idea. But do have a plan. Maybe more than one.

===Keep the level of energy high.===
Be aware when a question or topic has run its course and be prepared to change direction.

===Play devil's advocate===
if things get dull.

===Refer to your prepared questions===
when you need a new topic.

===Watch the audience.===
Start taking questions if too many hands are up; pick up the pace if people start to fidget (or leave).

===Repeat questions from the audience===
Especially if the room is large.

===Pay attention to the panelists' answers===
Ask follow-up questions if appropriate.

===Pay attention to the people farthest from you===
They may be participating less. Seat shy or quiet panelists close to you.

===Pay attention to body language.===
Watch for signs of impatience, annoyance or general disagreement with the last speaker (frowns, muscle tension, leaning forward, leaning backward, folding arms across chest). If a light bulb suddenly goes on over someone's head, call on them quick before they forget the idea!

===Use body language.===
Lean forward slightly and make eye contact to encourage a shy panelist. To cut someone off politely: lean back, catch their eye. If that doesn't do it, slowly reach toward the mike.

===Prompt the audience===
if necessary. Lead the applause or laughter, but squelch any which goes on too long.

===Remember: The audience didn't come to see you.===
Sometimes the moderator's main job is to stay out of the way. This happens more often than you might think.

===Be firm.===
Don't lose control of the panel or audience.

===Have fun.===
Encourage the panelists to have fun too. If the panelists enjoy themselves, so will the audience.

==Moderator Emergency Kit==

WHEN THE CONVERSATION GRINDS TO A HALT
---------------------------------------
"Let's open the panel to questions from the audience."

"What's the greatest challenge for you in your work right now?"

"Is there anything we're leaving out here that needs to be addressed?"

"What's the biggest controversy in this area?"

"What's the greatest misconception people have about...?"

"How did you handle this problem when you were working on... (insert book title or character name from author's work)?"

"What made you decide to tackle this subject?"

"Speaking as a (person not normally involved in this area), what's your perspective?"

"What's the question you are most tired of hearing, and what would you like to say about it so you never have to answer it again?"

"What question do you think doesn't get asked enough, and how would you address it?"

Ask another person on the panel the question.

Ask a follow-up question.

Ask a different person to comment on another panelist's answer.

SQUELCHING THE PANEL
--------------------
"Excuse me, but we have wandered far afield..."

"Getting back to the original topic..."

"That would be a good subject for another panel."

"Excuse me, but we haven't heard from (reticent panelist) in a while."

"Let's take a question from the audience."

SQUELCHING THE AUDIENCE
-----------------------
"No comments from the peanut gallery."

"In order to make the best possible use of our panelists, we're only taking questions from the audience, not statements."

"We're only taking statements from the audience, not questions."

"Oh, let's not always see the same hands."

"Thank you for your interesting suggestion. You may be right."

"You're making some rather broad generalizations."

"Ok, ok, I think I understand the question. Now, which of our panelists wants to handle it?"

"Would someone in the back please call hotel security."

MODERATOR MANTRAS
---------------------------------------
- It's only an hour.

- This has never killed anyone yet.

- I do not have to go home with this person.

- It's okay to do this -- I'm the moderator.

- Hey, this is a nice looking tablecloth!

----

==Moderator Preparation Sheet==

Name of Panel

Day, Time, Room

Description

Panelist Intros (including yourself)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Starter Questions

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Emergency Questions and notes

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Moderator Tip Sheet

2023-03-26T01:24:41Z

Katieclapham: /* IN THE GREEN ROOM */

;The Minicon Moderator Tip Sheet
by The Minicon 25 Programming Committee, Sharon Kahn, Co-Chair

''Disclaimer: These guidelines and suggestions are the distillation of a series of brainstorming sessions. In other
words, this document was originated by committee. So if it waffles, backpedals and blatantly contradicts itself, that's
just the way it goes. The project was started and organized by 1990 Minicon Programming Co-Chair Sharon Kahn, and involved many people's input. Dave Romm volunteered to take the mass of
data, add his further input, organize and format it for the Mac, and give it to Sharon for final revision. What you see
here is Dave's file, adapted to html, not Sharon's final, though changes were slight. ''
:Copyright 1990, 1995 by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society, Inc.

== Preamble ==
Presumably, you are looking at this document because you are
planning to originate a programming item, moderate it, or
both. If you are entering this process sometime after Section
1, it is strongly suggested that you find out what the
originator of the panel had in mind, and what, if anything,
has been communicated to the panelists so far.

==Section 1: DEFINING THE PANEL==

===TOPIC===

Exactly what is the point? Be specific. Come up with a 1-3 sentence description that will leave no doubt in the mind of all the panel participants what they will be talking about. This description will also appear in the program book.

===PURPOSE===

Why are you doing this? To inform? Entertain? Showcase a GOH? Spark a group discussion? Stir up a controversy? It has been suggested that there are only two possible purposes for a panel: to inform or to entertain (with the best panels, of course, accomplishing both.)

===TITLE===

There seem to be 3 general approaches to titles:

1. Explicit: "Collaborations: How It's Done, Why We Shouldn't Do It, and Why We Keep Doing it Anyway"

2. Clever: "Worldcon Envy: Does Size Matter?"

3. Hybrid: "Lime Jello, Myth or Reality: The Origins of Fannish Legends"

The entire topic is surprisingly controversial, actually. But everybody agrees that titles should not be overly generic, for instance "Women in SF" or "Fantasy or Science Fiction?" The more specific the better.

===SIZE===

Experts suggest an ideal panel size of 5 including the moderator, rarely fewer than 4 or more than 6. Remember, 60 minutes divided by 5 panelists means 12 minutes for each person, assuming the audience doesn't participate (ha!).

===FORMAT===

Now you know what you are doing and why, let's talk about format.

* Panel, Discussion Group, Debate, Free-for-all? This should be decided on far enough in advance to put in the program book.

* Question Policy: Audience questions can be encouraged throughout or only taken during designated question period(s). Be sure to make the policy clear to all panelists (and then to the audience during the panel).

* Facilities: Do you need a large room, a small room or an intimate space? Will you be seated behind a long table, around a round table or just chairs facing an audience? How many microphones will you need? Do you need special equipment like a slide projector or overhead?

===CONSIDER MODERATOR STYLE===

There is no single "best" way to moderate a panel. The style you use depends not only on your personality, but the topic and purpose of the panel, the personalities of the panelists, and what happens when the bullets start flying. In Section 3, you will find a list moderator styles that have been observed in action at conventions that are now history. We had fun identifying these and we hope they provide food for thought.

==Section 2: PRE-PANEL PREPARATION==

===MAKE YOURSELF A CRIB SHEET FOR USE DURING THE PANEL===
Including but not limited to:

* Panel title, 1-3 sentence description.

* At least 3 questions that can be asked during the course of the panel. A starter question or two and then keep several emergency questions handy.

* Panelist names and pertinent info about each (names of books, etc.)

===READ SOMETHING BY EACH PANELIST===
If possible. If not, at least know their latest book or a recent accomplishment.

===TALK WITH THE PANELISTS BEFORE THE CON===
If possible. Let them know if you will be gathering in the Green Room before the panel.

===MEET WITH THE PANELISTS AT THE CON===
Either one by one or in a group. The Green Room is available for this purpose. If you can't meet in the Green Room, at least spend a few seconds before you convene to introduce yourselves.

===IN THE GREEN ROOM===

* Review panel description, purpose and format with the participants.

* If you haven't already, introduce yourself and each other.

* Check with the participants: Anything you've thought of since we last talked? Anything in particular I should ask? Anything to avoid? Get preferences and suggestions.

* Pick up your panel's table tents before your panel.

* If panelists seem to need warming up, try out one of your questions on them. If they're shy, feed them several questions so they can think about their answers for a while.

* There are refreshments in the Green Room which participants can take to the panel.

* Relax.

==Section 3: GETTING STARTED==

===Arrive on time.===
A few minutes early is ok. If you're arriving from the Green Room, arrive all at once; it really impresses the audience.

===Sit down.===
If possible, arrange the tent cards yourself so the panelists are where you want them. Feel free to move people if they've beaten you to the seating arrangements. You may choose to sit at the end of the row of panelists instead of in the middle. It will make it easier to keep an eye on everybody.

===Start the panel===
Establish rapport with the audience. The traditional opening is "Hello? Hello? Is this mike on?" If it is, smile and continue. If it isn't, turn it on (or otherwise make arrangements to be heard).

===Identify yourself===
and briefly describe the panel.

===Introduce panelists===
referring to your notes as needed.

===Give the ground rules===
("If this goes according to plan..."). Be sure to address Question Protocol (questions taken any time or only during specified question period)

===Throw out the first question.===
Think carefully about who to address it to! The first questioner will set the tone for the panel. Some possibilites: The most senior GoH, the person with the most experience, the quietest person on the panel, the person who orginally proposed the idea for the panel, the person most likely to set the tone you are striving for. Play out the question, giving everybody a chance at it.

==Section 4: FINISHING UP==

===Finish on time!===

===Give a 5 or 10 minute warning===
When time is running out. Issue a summing-up question. If you have to interrupt the last person, do so. "I'm afraid we're out of time. Thank you all for coming."

===Thank the panelists for participating.===

===If a discussion is still raging===
Suggest that the discussion can continue in Krushenko's (or any open site, including the consuite or the bar).

===Announce the next panel.===

==Section 5: MODERATOR STYLES==

We present these as examples for your consideration. Most modera-
tors combine elements of more than one style. The style used for
any panel depends on the personality of the moderator and the
interaction of the participants.

===EVEN-HANDED===
Keeps things moving, involves everyone, facilitates discussion without taking sides or expressing opinions. A good even-handed moderator can moderate a panel on a topic he knows nothing about and isn't even interested in.

===NURTURING===
Much like even-handed, but even more so. Especially attentive to quiet panelists who need to be drawn out and encouraged to enter the discussion.

===PARTICIPATING===
Joins in the discussion and expresses opinions, but without taking over or dominating the panel. At times, panel may appear to be a round-table discussion with no one moderating. However, the moderator is in fact leading the discussion, raising questions, encouraging participation by everyone and dealing with interruptions. This style is difficult to pull off. You must be
able to split yourself into 2 people--the moderator and the participant. Do not call on yourself more often than any other participant.

===TIGHTLY REINED===
A moderator who naturally tends toward Participating Moderator trying very hard to function as an Even-Handed. Produces tremendous dramatic tension as audience
waits for moderator to crack.

===QUESTIONING===
Intensely interested in the topic, but hasn't made up his mind how he feels about it yet and is hoping to gain insight into the subject (frequently a difficult or controversial one) by questioning the panelists.

===PROVOCATIVE===
This moderator believes that life is a bit dull without conflict. Specializes in questions like, "I sense that you may have some disagreement with the last speaker," and "You aren't going to let him get away with that, are you?"

-------------------------------------------------------------
Not to be too judgmental or anything, we do hope you avoid
elements of the following styles:
-------------------------------------------------------------

===IGNORANT===
Not only knows nothing about the topic of this panel or the people on it, he didn't even know he was moderating it until about 5 minutes ago. (Best solution is to admit your ignorance ["But I find the topic fascinating!"] and get the panelists to suggest appropriate questions, perhaps when you have them
introduce themselves.)

===FAILS TO PACE THE PANEL===
Runs dull topics into the ground, interrupts discussions just as they're getting interesting, lets one panelist dominate the time, doesn't prompt reticent speakers, cuts off panelists in mid-sentence but lets audience
loudmouths run on forever, etc.

===OUT-OF-IT===
Too sleepy (or otherwise underbrained) to pay attention. Calls the panelists by their wrong names, misremembers their books, gets the topic of the panel wrong and/or is still trying to get in the last word from the previous panel.

==Section 6: THE ART OF MODERATING==

===Prepare in advance===
But go with the flow. Don't be afraid to alter your original plan radically if it seems like a good idea. But do have a plan. Maybe more than one.

===Keep the level of energy high.===
Be aware when a question or topic has run its course and be prepared to change direction.

===Play devil's advocate===
if things get dull.

===Refer to your prepared questions===
when you need a new topic.

===Watch the audience.===
Start taking questions if too many hands are up; pick up the pace if people start to fidget (or leave).

===Repeat questions from the audience===
Especially if the room is large.

===Pay attention to the panelists' answers===
Ask follow-up questions if appropriate.

===Pay attention to the people farthest from you===
They may be participating less. Seat shy or quiet panelists close to you.

===Pay attention to body language.===
Watch for signs of impatience, annoyance or general disagreement with the last speaker (frowns, muscle tension, leaning forward, leaning backward, folding arms across chest). If a light bulb suddenly goes on over someone's head, call on them quick before they forget the idea!

===Use body language.===
Lean forward slightly and make eye contact to encourage a shy panelist. To cut someone off politely: lean back, catch their eye. If that doesn't do it, slowly reach toward the mike.

===Prompt the audience===
if necessary. Lead the applause or laughter, but squelch any which goes on too long.

===Remember: The audience didn't come to see you.===
Sometimes the moderator's main job is to stay out of the way. This happens more often than you might think.

===Be firm.===
Don't lose control of the panel or audience.

===Have fun.===
Encourage the panelists to have fun too. If the panelists enjoy themselves, so will the audience.

==Moderator Emergency Kit==

WHEN THE CONVERSATION GRINDS TO A HALT
---------------------------------------
"Let's open the panel to questions from the audience."

"What's the greatest challenge for you in your work right now?"

"Is there anything we're leaving out here that needs to be addressed?"

"What's the biggest controversy in this area?"

"What's the greatest misconception people have about...?"

"How did you handle this problem when you were working on... (insert book title or character name from author's work)?"

"What made you decide to tackle this subject?"

"Speaking as a (person not normally involved in this area), what's your perspective?"

"What's the question you are most tired of hearing, and what would you like to say about it so you never have to answer it again?"

"What question do you think doesn't get asked enough, and how would you address it?"

Ask another person on the panel the question.

Ask a follow-up question.

Ask a different person to comment on another panelist's answer.

SQUELCHING THE PANEL
--------------------
"Excuse me, but we have wandered far afield..."

"Getting back to the original topic..."

"That would be a good subject for another panel."

"Excuse me, but we haven't heard from (reticent panelist) in a while."

"Let's take a question from the audience."

SQUELCHING THE AUDIENCE
-----------------------
"No comments from the peanut gallery."

"In order to make the best possible use of our panelists, we're only taking questions from the audience, not statements."

"We're only taking statements from the audience, not questions."

"Oh, let's not always see the same hands."

"Thank you for your interesting suggestion. You may be right."

"You're making some rather broad generalizations."

"Ok, ok, I think I understand the question. Now, which of our panelists wants to handle it?"

"Would someone in the back please call hotel security."

MODERATOR MANTRAS
---------------------------------------
- It's only an hour.

- This has never killed anyone yet.

- I do not have to go home with this person.

- It's okay to do this -- I'm the moderator.

- Hey, this is a nice looking tablecloth!

----

==Moderator Preparation Sheet==

Name of Panel

Day, Time, Room

Description

Panelist Intros (including yourself)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Starter Questions

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Emergency Questions and notes

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-03-05T15:34:27Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

===Asian Influences in YA Fiction===

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Great Things in Small Packages - Small Press and Indie Publishing in F&SF===
What the small press publishing scene like in sf/f/h? Where can you find out about books you might like to read? How about submissions? Pros and cons of small press publishing?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom..

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Poetry in Orbit ===
Group poetry reading. If you would like to participate, please let us know!

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==

===Individual Readings===
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

===Author Smorgasbord===
Mini readings from a variety of authors.
A way both for authors to share a small snippet of their work, and for readers to hear from a larger array of authors in an hour.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Tales of the Old Gamesmasters ===
Circle your chairs, kids, we're going to tell you some stories. And if you have been running a role-playing game from time immemorial you might like to join the panel.

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

''After noting that people seem a little confused by the title, I propose changing it to "Evolving Methods of Storytelling." The future isn't here yet, but new avenues for storytelling are emerging right now. -- sharon''

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-26T00:49:51Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

===Asian Influences in YA Fiction===

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom..

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==

===Individual Readings===
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

===Author Smorgasbord===
Mini readings from a variety of authors.
A way both for authors to share a small snippet of their work, and for readers to hear from a larger array of authors in an hour.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-19T15:12:03Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom..

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==

===Individual Readings===
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

===Author Smorgasbord===
Mini readings from a variety of authors.
A way both for authors to share a small snippet of their work, and for readers to hear from a larger array of authors in an hour.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-19T15:10:47Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom..

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==

===Individual Readings===
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

===Author Smorgasbord===
Mini readings from a variety of authors.
A way both for authors to share a small snippet of their work, and for readers to hear from a larger array of authors in an hour.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T06:25:28Z

Katieclapham: /* READINGS AND SIGNINGS */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==

===Individual Readings===
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

===Author Smorgasbord===
Mini readings from a variety of authors.
A way both for authors to share a small snippet of their work, and for readers to hear from a larger array of authors in an hour.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T06:07:43Z

Katieclapham: /* 23 and Us, Part Two */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this technology taken society? Where has it helped, and where is it disruptive?

There are new directions to take this topic, such as medical DNA testing, including viral (Covid-19) as well as human testing. Anybody up for further exploration of this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:35:55Z

Katieclapham: /* Build a Filter Box */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

This would need someone to coordinate it.

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:18:30Z

Katieclapham: /* MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:17:50Z

Katieclapham: /* SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.

===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the item about Food Chemistry.

=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===
How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:09:38Z

Katieclapham: /* SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry.

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:08:59Z

Katieclapham: /* Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
This could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry.

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T05:02:12Z

Katieclapham: /* Fabric Swap and Discussion */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

Note: For this to happen, we need someone to coordinate it.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
I'm not sure this could make a whole panel, but could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T04:46:45Z

Katieclapham: /* The future of Transportation */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
I'm not sure this could make a whole panel, but could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The Future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T04:45:59Z

Katieclapham: /* SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
I'm not sure this could make a whole panel, but could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

=== The future of Transportation ===

From solar powered cars to self-driving cars, we are getting nearer to the transportation models in futuristic stories. What technology is coming down the pipeline? How green is the new tech? How do changes in transportation change the social landscape? What are the legal ramifications of self-driving cars? What tension exists between the needs/desires of manufacturers, insurers, and users, including disabled persons?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-11T03:46:08Z

Katieclapham: /* READINGS */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== Avoiding Tokenism in SciFi/Fantasy ===
When writing a story, creating actual diversity requires a great effort to avoid unintentionally tokenizing your characters. We will examine common mistakes and discuss ways to create diverse characters without tokenizing them.

=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

=== Gender & AI ===
Androids & AI in sci-fi disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

=== Governance in a Settled Solar System ===
As humanity settles the Solar System, what sort of government(s) will we see? Will there be a single systemwide government despite the long travel times involved? Will each planet, habitat, or settlement have its own government? What sorts of governments will these be? Democracy is not a given.

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Raceface: Cosplay and Cultural Competency ===
Desire for realism is high in the cosplay community - when does it go too far? Is it okay to change skin tone to emulate characters of other races? What’s the diff. in emulating race & species? This will be uncomfortable; there’s a nix on tangential subjects.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Build a Filter Box ===
How to build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box to purify the air and help protect against COVID.
[https://aghealth.ucdavis.edu/news/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-box-fan-air-filter-covid-19-and-wildfire-smoke]

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS AND SIGNINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
=== ChatGPT Takes the World by Storm ===
How can we NOT talk about this? Suddenly ChatGPT is everywhere! People playing with it on Twitter, teachers panicking over plagiarism, AI specialists shouting "This isn't really AI, it's just a very advanced language processor!" (an argument they have clearly already lost, as Google and Microsoft try to shoulder each other out of the way in announcing their very own AI Search Engines). What's really happening here? Did the Singularity suddenly arrive through the back door? [sharon]

=== 23 and Us, Part Two ===
Four years ago we did a rollicking panel on the new wrinkle in ancestry research just as recreational DNA testing was hitting the big time. Some of the panel participants are wondering if it's time for an update, now that the technology is settling into the mainstream. By now, I think everybody knows somebody that has had their family rocked by surprise revelations from DNA testing, and just last year another horrific cold case was solved right here in Minnesota with forensic genealogy. Where else has this disruptive technology taken society? Anybody up for revisiting this fascinating topic?

===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.

===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
I'm not sure this could make a whole panel, but could be folded into the next item about Food Chemistry [sharon]

===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

=== Is it Time to Go Green? ===
With wind and solar energy finally reaching the economic tipping point and new government programs subsidizing electric cars - is it time to make the leap? Are you one of the local fans that are finally putting solar panels on your house? Do you love your electric vehicle and want to share your tips on finding free charging stations? Let's talk about it!

=== A Modern Look at Generation Ships ===

As Humanity heads out into interstellar space, each trip with take decades if not centuries. What sort of ships will these be? How will they have to be constructed so they can support human life for these prolonged periods? Is truly 100% recycling even feasible?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Supernatural Park: A Podcast Exploring The World For Creatures of Mythology and Folklore ===
Probably a presentation, but could be a panel if other kindred spirits volunteer.

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-04T18:19:40Z

Katieclapham: /* NOT YET CLASSIFIED */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==
===Longtermism===
Longtermism is the idea that we are at least as obligated morally to ALL future humans as we are to present humans, and that we currently live at the most important moment ever in human history - for the first time, we are capable of destroying ourselves. Mistakes made today could lead to permanent civilizational collapse, or even human extinction. What should we be doing? Panel will reference Longtermism books like _What We Owe the Future_ and _The Precipice_, and movements based on Longtermism ideas, like Effective Altruism and 80,000 Hours.

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-02-04T18:16:12Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

===Peeps Funeral / Memorial===
The man who invented Peeps died recently. Would anyone be interested in organizing a memorial table with a diorama, or perhaps a procession of peeps dressed in black crepe paper tuxes and black gowns?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-23T05:21:28Z

Katieclapham: /* MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

===Wednesday!===
Not the day of the week… the TV series. Discuss the show, the characters. Have they changed over time from other Addams Family shows? What do you love about the new show? Did anything not live up to your expectations?

===Sandman - Original vs Screen and Audio Adaptations===
How well did the TV series reflect the original? Get your Squee on for all things Sandman...

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-23T04:44:31Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

===Male Authors, Female Protagonists===
What are some issues when men write women characters? What can they do better? What should they include, and what should they leave out? How to "Get it right"? How can you tell when it is "right", and when it is glaringly wrong?

===Easter Eggs in F&SF books and stories===
Easter Eggs have become part of modern TV and movies. Do they also have a place in SF Literature? Why or why not?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-23T04:34:29Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot chose to continue using it/its. It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with universally accepted non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? Is advanced science really just a form of magic? Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing; some got their start there. Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? How is fan writing different from professional writing? How do you interact with your fans through fan fiction? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters?

=== Fan Fiction and “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

===Minicon Costuming, Past and Present===
The Masquerade / Costume contest has undergone many changes over the years. It has been a big production, with it's own sound and stage crews, and it has been a small event for children. It has seen amazingly crafted costumes, and also "make-your-own at the con" style costumes. Come see some of the best and the strangest from over the years!

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Martha Wells, Ada Palmer, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations? Should we be worried about the current trend of corporations participating in government?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===
AI? Autonomous drones? So many directions we could go with this.

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged.

===Martha Wells Q&A ===
Our Author GoH answers questions from the audience.

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==
If you would like information about scheduling an author reading, please also let us know if you’d like a 30 or 60 minute time slot, and if you’d like information about what you’re reading in the description.

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, the cooperative worldbuilding of fan fiction, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The Multiverse Goes Mainstream ===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. It seems like Everything has its own alternate world these days. Does this really represent a new way of thinking? What would Einstein think?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

=== Portable Gaming ===
With the most recent entries into portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, how has portable gaming changed, or has it at all? Have these devices changed how people think of a "gaming laptop"? What games lend themselves to screen sizes? What accessories are a "must" for these consoles?

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:21:19Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

'''[http://mnstf.org/minicon56/ Minicon 56 (2023)] will take place April 7-9, 2023, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.
Our Guests of Honor are: Author Martha Wells, Artist Sara Felix, Fan Greg Ketter'''

== THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS ==
Which doesn't mean it isn't still Under Construction. This is just the first pass as of 5pm, January 7, 2023. --- sharon

=== READ THIS FIRST ===
Here's the programming ideas that we have so far. Some of them may actually become programming items, especially if YOU volunteer for them! But there's still plenty of time to suggest new items or tweaks to the existing ones. We welcome your input!

Have a programming idea to suggest? See something you'd like to volunteer for? Shoot us an email at
'''programming@minicon56.mnstf.org.
'''

==CONVENTION==

===Opening Ceremony===
Welcome to the convention! Meet the Guests of Honor! Find out about the weekend's events! Share the love!

===Closing Ceremony===
A chance to recap and reflect on what this year's Minicon has been, including a traditional assassination.

===How to Host a Room Party===
What do you need to host an excellent room party? Do you need a theme? Are chips and dips sufficient? What do you need from the con, and what does the concom need from you?

===Moderators and Panelists Workshop===
Tips on being an excellent panelist or moderator. First half for panelists, second half for moderators.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==
=== ‘The Untamed’ Geek-Out===
The Untamed is a Chinese live-action drama that started as a “phone novel” in China. It has spread worldwide, mostly through its popularity in fan fiction. There is a Chinese graphic novel, three seasons of an animated show (subtitled) and, now, a print publication of the English translation. We’re all big fans. (OK, actually we’re all obsessed with it.)

=== Writing Non-Gendered Characters===
A discussion of the difficulties of using the English language without using gendered pronouns or descriptions. Ada Palmer has postulated a world where mention of gender is obscene. Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot stories hide the biologic gender of both protagonists. And, of course, Murderbot has no recourse except to be a thing (“it”). It is difficult to write without pronouns? Should SF have come up with new non-gendered pronouns? Or we could just argue about whether we see Murderbot as male or female.

===Educating Science through Fiction===
Science fiction plays a prominent role in shaping the public opinion of science, especially among children, teens, and young adults. As creators, what is our take on the most effective ways to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and researchers?

=== Worldbuilding in Fantasy vs Science Fiction===
The Murderbot Diaries and Martha Wells’ fantasy books feature complex, detailed worlds. Is there a difference between creating an SF universe and a fantasy world? (Or is advanced science really just a form of magic?) Are advanced scientific societies necessarily more advanced socially?

===Pets or Pests===
The creatures in F&SF are sometimes treated as beings (equal to us), sometimes as beloved pets, sometimes as annoying pests. They can be viewed as characters, companions, pets and pests, feral, and wild. How does that choice affect the story? What if a different choice had been made?

For example, fire lizards in Pern are depicted primarily as wild or pets. What if their primary role had been that of pests? How would that change the story? In the Liaden series, the cats are pets, but there are glimpses that they might actually be background characters.

Are there stories where the critters change their role over the course of the story? How does this transition affect the story?

=== Psychoanalysis for Robots===
Can robots be mentally ill? Certainly robots are not neurotypical, but can they get depressed? Psychotic? Does the ability to process more information prevent or lead to autism? Do they have to malfunction to be unhappy? Let’s do psychological analyses of our favorite robots.

=== LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F===
Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

=== Archive of Our Own===
The platform for writers of fan fiction won the Hugo for Other Forms, at the Helsinki, Finland WorldCon. Anybody know anything about the history of fanfic, the beginnings of AO3, who writes for AO3? And, perhaps the biggest question, why?

=== Professionals Writing Fan Fiction===
How is fan writing different from professional writing? Do you read fan fiction about your own characters? Do you need to hide your identity when writing fanfic? Some professional writers are quite open about their fanfic writing, some got their start there.

=== “Ficable” Moments===
An exploration of what makes a book or show open as a launch point for fan fiction. Is it a large cast of interesting characters? Lots of plot holes or moments of ambiguity? Or is it places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored? Which shows/books are the most “ficable”? Are there good shows/books that do not lend themselves to fan fiction?

=== Chinese Stories===
A discussion of books, stories, and television coming out of China, in honor of 2023 WorldCon in ChengDu, China. There are dozens of Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian writers, for both the adult and YA audience. The Chinese epic, Journey to the West got a modern abridged translation. The graphic novel ''American Born Chinese'' is being made into a movie. And Chinese dramas are streaming on YouTube and Netflix.

=== Restoring the Tower of Babel===
The landmark fantasy, Babel by R.F. Kuang asserts that “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.” It might be true that, since the fall of the Biblical tower, no one has been able to truly communicate. Let’s discuss the book, along with the concept of language as a barrier to communication. Can we properly translate another language? Can we truly understand each other just with words?

=== Writing the Twin Cities===
There are stories that are of particular interest to the Twin Cities, that either take place here or represent a unique way of thinking.

=== Noir in F/SF===
The hard-drinking, mostly-outcast detective working from a dingy office somewhere in the low-rent district, and barely getting by, never really went out of style. Though they no longer have to be male, right? Or a detective? What are some old and new examples of noir? What is the attraction of the noir story?

=== “Oh my God, It’s full of stars?”===
There are moments in science fiction that send chills down your spine, as the universe suddenly opens in front of you. What books inspired this sense of wonder in the past? But it seems, these days, that stories happen mostly in bleak dystopias. Is there still a sense of wonder? Where can you find it?

=== Humor in genre fiction===
A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

=== Retelling Court Intrigue Stories===
Many fantasy and science fiction stories take place in societies modeled after Courts and Kings and Swordsmen. Or, rather, they are modeled after the stories we have heard about such things. Which books use these ideas? Do they have to be fantasies? Which authors provide the most inspiration (Dumas, Austin, etc)?

===Changing Worlds===
How have current events and changing social norms affected what we expect from fictional worlds? This panel was proposed for the 2020 Minicon, and seems even more relevant in 2023.

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==
===Midwestside Story: The Archival Movie!===
Long ago at a Convention not very far away, there was a production called Midwestside Story. Come see footage of that historic event.

=== Genre Bookselling Over the Decades===
Specialty bookstores have had a nearly unrecognized effect on the genre. How have they contributed to the field? Why hasn’t anyone noticed? What are the benefits and pitfalls of genre bookselling?
(Sara worked at Crime and Space in Texas, so could be on this too.)

=== What’s in the basement?===
Lurking beneath the store on 38th Street is a basement bigger than the store. It’s totally packed with . . . who knows what. Contrary to popular belief, Neil Gaiman never lived there, and multiple requests to move in down there have been denied. What treasures might be down there? Or what monsters might emerge from the hearts of books?

=== What’s in the Porn Section?===
Graphic novels with adult content have been a frequent target for politicians looking for easy public outrage. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has provided some protection against censorship of adult comics and prosecution of the comic shops that sell them. What is still available? How can we ensure continued access to stories some consider objectionable? Free XXXenophile comic for appropriately aged attendees.

=== Amazon is Evil===
One-stop, on-line, instant availability of everything seems like a great idea. But booksellers have a particular dislike of Amazon, since it began with a stated intent to put actual bookstores out of business. How are they doing this? Do we want to stop them? Once Amazon is the source of everything, will they control our desires?

=== Are Corporations the Future of Nations?===
As corporations accrue more power and financial influence, the world seems to be drifting toward corporations as governing agencies. Multinational corporations are organizing to explore space. This drift is being noticed by science fiction writers such as Ada Palmer and Paolo Bacigalupi. (Who else?) Is the galaxy going to be populated by nations or by corporations?

=== Neurodiversity in F/SF===
Neurodiverse characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where are they? Are they getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

===The Ethics of Robot Soldiers===

===Risk Assessment in the Modern Age===

How well do we assess risk? How accurate are our risk assessments, and what distorts them?

Examples are many: Covid and RSV risks and precautions, Monkey pox risk to different groups, airline travel vs automobile, food safety, crime.

Panelists pick one or two current risks and discuss in depth.

===Aging Fannishly, or The Next Step===
How do we cope with the challenges of aging? Mobility, hearing, and eyesight issues, and feeling overwhelmed by Too Much Change can interfere with our fannish lives. Agism is a nasty prejudice. What do we wish younger fans knew about older fans? What are the assumptions on each side?

===The History of Filk===
The history of Filk in story and song.

===RUNE Lives!===
Writers, reviewers, and artists are needed to keep this fine fannish tradition alive. Come hear about our clubzine in print and find out how YOU could contribute.

===Convention Travel Tales===
Come hear about What Happened on the way to or from a con and add any offbeat stories you have.

===My First Convention, or What Not To Do===
One person’s first con involved a broken bathroom door, a room full o' fans getting by cheaply, AND a broken bed. Oh, and one person who'd been up all night announced to a roomful of sleepy people that the sun had just come up. He was not defenestrated, but it WAS close. Tell us your stories!

===Stories from Convention Volunteers===
You just know there are some incredible experiences to hear about. Come listen, then share yours. And if you don't volunteer, find out how you can contribute to fandom.

===The History of Minicon===
Share stories of Minicon through the decades.
How has the con ( and fandom) evolved? When did it become more mainstream? What happened to the hotels??!

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do fans like to do and what makes these activities fannish? Did you know that fanzines are still around?

===The Power of Play===
The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

===A Minnesota Worldcon===
This has been talked about since Minneapolis lost the bid for the 1973 worldcon -- and kept running bid parties for the fun of it. Is a worldcon here possible? What are the pros and cons?

== ART and CRAFT ==
=== Designing and making the Hugo and Lodestar Awards===
The famed Hugo rocket design has been the same for ages but, each year, the WorldCon committee choses a different artist to design a unique base. Sara Felix has designed two of these, and has also designed several Lodestar Awards. Come see a presentation by our Artist Guest of Honor about the awards and the design process. With photos!

=== Make Your Own Tiara===
Sara Felix hosts a workshop in which everyone gets a kit to make a simple tiara, with extra bits to make it their own. Probably we will also hear about how to make tiaras, what supplies are needed, and where to get them. Bring your own projects or (Buy a kit for 15 dollars.)

=== Crafting and Creativity===
The world of Fine Arts seems to elevate some media over others. Our Artist Guest of Honor works in resin, inks, and tiaras. How do you choose an artistic medium? When does something usually called a “craft” become Art? Are some media meant for “letting go” while others demand complete control?

=== Parenting and Creativity===
Having kids, of course, forces parents to redesign their entire lives and all of their priorities. Not to mention, they’re a huge distraction. How does one maintain an artistic career, or even hobby, once their lives have been rearranged?

=== Creating with your Kids===
Parents and their kids talk about teaming up to do a fannish/artistic pursuit.

===Fabric Swap and Discussion===
Bring your leftover or never used fabric for swapping. Share stories of how you use up scraps and pieces. Other than traditional fabric stores, where are some good places to find interesting bits to work with? What is your favorite YouTube channel for fabric ideas? How much is too much? Bring your extra bits and swap for other people's extra bits.

== PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS ==

=== Greg Knows Everybody===
Really, he does. Name just about any F/SF author from the past fifty years, and Greg will almost certainly have a story. He can start with Harlan Ellison, RA Lafferty, Julia Adams (who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon’s love interest), and Joe Lansdale. Requests will be encouraged. (This would be instead of an interview, I think)

===Martha Wells Interview===

=== The Fellowship of the Woosters===
A reading from Mike Ford’s legendary story starring Bertie Wooster as Strider, for which a typed manuscript was recently unearthed at DreamHaven. Greg can’t read it because he’ll laugh too hard.

===Instant Stories===
Panelists will create stories based on prompts from the audience.

==READINGS==

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==
===Ask a Scientist===
A selection of scientists answer questions from the audience.
===Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines===
Real headlines from articles that you don't want to read! "Scientists Hatch Bold Plan to Save Humanity From Supervolcano," "Selfies can now Diagnose Cancer," "Automated Cloud Security In Four Steps," "19 shocking food facts, you'll never want to eat again," "Is clickbait killing science journalism? The answer will shock you!"

===Ask an Expert Who Can’t Get A Word In Edgewise===
Really smart people who normally get overshadowed by their more outspoken compatriots share their expertise.
===Caffeine: Different Effects in Different People===
===Food Chemistry===
How does food nourish us on a chemical level? How does it affect our brain chemistry? What are some issues with food today vs issues 100 years ago? Can lab designed foods be healthy?

===Gardening in Climate Change===

How is climate change affecting what you plant in your garden? Is your climate zone changing? If so, is that killing your favorite plants? Is it opening the way to plant things that you couldn't grow before? Are new weeds, and new insects moving in?

Is gardening to augment your pantry becoming necessary, or is that just a trend? Will food forests take off? If so, who has access to the food?

===Volcanoes===
Geologists and aficionados geek out about volcanoes.

== MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING ==
=== Storytelling in games===
Games are stories. In video games, the player becomes the protagonist of a story that at least seems to be controlled by the player. But the best games are written to guide the player’s choices along the intended story line. How do they do this? What games have the best stories? How does the player contribute to the story?

=== Music in Video Games===
The use of orchestrated music in video games has possibly inspired a whole new generation of musicians. Which games have the best or most elaborate sound tracks? How does music add to the game experience?

=== Future methods of storytelling===
Some of us are used to getting our stories in some published form, like magazines or novels. But there are many other ways to tell stories. We will discuss live storytelling, video and board games, manga and graphic novels, and anything else we can think of except, possibly, interpretive dance.

=== The New Golden Age of Comics===
Supposedly there is renewed interest in the Golden Age of Comics, with new releases of old titles. What was the Golden Age of Comics? Which are your favorites? Is there really something new happening, or is it just a marketing ploy?

=== The Multiverse in Popular Culture===
There’s a lot of action in alternate universes these days, what with the whole Marvel Multiverse thing. Where else can we find alternate worlds? Does it represent a new way of thinking? Did Einstein change the way we think about the universe?

===SF/F Shows and Movies We Think You'd Like===
Recommend Shows and movies from the last year.
The last part could involve obscure shows and movies from any year.

== NOT YET CLASSIFIED ==

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:20:30Z

Katieclapham: /* Changing Worlds */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:19:37Z

Katieclapham: /* Volcanoes */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:18:24Z

Katieclapham: /* Gardening in Climate Change */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:17:00Z

Katieclapham: /* Food Chemistry */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:15:28Z

Katieclapham: /* Ask a Scientist to Respond to Knuckle-headed Clickbait Headlines */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:13:10Z

Katieclapham: /* Fabric Swap and Discussion */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:11:10Z

Katieclapham: /* Risk Assessment in the Modern Age */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T02:03:16Z

Katieclapham: /* Pets or Pests */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T01:58:04Z

Katieclapham: /* Professionals Writing Fan Fiction */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T01:54:12Z

Katieclapham: /* Educating Science through Fiction */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T01:52:00Z

Katieclapham: /* MEDIA, COMICS, GAMING */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T01:49:29Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-10T01:43:26Z

Katieclapham: /* CONVENTION */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T07:11:05Z

Katieclapham: /* Professionals Writing Fan Fiction */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T07:09:20Z

Katieclapham: /* The Fellowship of the Woosters */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T07:08:13Z

Katieclapham: /* Creating with your Kids */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T07:06:40Z

Katieclapham: /* Crafting and Creativity */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:28:38Z

Katieclapham: /* NOT YET CLASSIFIED */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:26:16Z

Katieclapham: /* THE MINICON 56 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is OPEN FOR BUSINESS */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:19:58Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:17:22Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:15:24Z

Katieclapham: /* PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T06:10:46Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T03:28:42Z

Katieclapham: /* ART and CRAFT */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T03:26:58Z

Katieclapham: /* LITERATURE AND WRITING */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T03:21:25Z

Katieclapham: /* FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST */

M56 Programming Brainstorm

2023-01-09T03:16:10Z

Katieclapham: /* PARTICIPATORY and INTERVIEWS */