Minicon45 Programming: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 12:49, 21 March 2010
Minicon 45 - Programming Brainstorm Page
Good news, everyone - it's not too late to volunteer for panels. Almost all panels have room for at least one panelist. It's time to remove the items that are clearly not going to happen this year - I'm working on that right now.
To volunteer for a panel, please send an email right now to programming at minicon45 dot mnstf dot org.
Links
- Last Year's Ideas - some were used, some weren't.
- Minicon 45 Official Home Page
- Minicon44 Programming
- Sheraton Bloomington room capacities
Science & Technology
Ask a Scientist
A panel of Leading Experts in various scientific fields does Q&A.
Astronomy with Children
This is a class for adults who are interested in teaching astronomy to children. Topics will include how to create an analemma on the ground in a sunny yard or on a ceiling in a sunny room, building a safe sun viewer, how to make and use a Sky Wheel, and how to find a person's real sun sign, light pollution intro for children, a telescope buying guide, and where to go for a free astronomy experience. I will also give my take on how to get into amateur astronomy: go to a free star party, join a club, before spending money!
Total Eclipse in China
We went to China last summer, July 22, 2009, to view the longest total eclipse of the 21st century. We were more or less rained out, but I have many beautiful photos of China, including a few photos of the eclipse. Special attention will be paid to preparing for the eclipse, choosing a super portable telescope, equatorial drive, specially modified camera. Also, thousands of China vacation photos, emphasis on ancient astronomy, with some stories about touring and shopping. Finally, a little rather unusual trip advice.
The Space Program in the Obama Years?
The Obama administration has recently suggested some strategic and budgetary changes for space exploration, in and out of NASA. Will these changes fly through Congress? What are the good points and the bad points? Room for another panelist
Writing/Being a Writer
Do I Know Enough Science to Write Science Fiction?
What if you were never all that big on science in school, but you love the genre and want to break in? How do you educate yourself? Is it possible to learn how to write hard SF by reading lots of hard SF? How much science do you need for the soft stuff? Are there tricks for disguising your lack of knowledge in a way that doesn't make you look incompetent? [Insert joke about shoddy science in successful movies/TV shows here]
Playing the God Card
How do you introduce gods into your work without pushing the human characters into insignificance? Does it matter if they are "real" (e.g. members of the Greco-Roman pantheon) or products of the author's imagination? Can deities play a role beyond gigantic projections of human characteristics? What makes divinities so attractive to fantasy authors? Why do readers find them so compelling?
Including Disabled People In Fiction
How is disability presented in movies, book and TV? What are some of the best examples, and what makes us change the channel or press the eject button? How can publishers and authors make media more friendly and accessible to disabled fans?
YA and Genre
In addition to the traditional genres, "young adult fiction" is often considered a genre in and of itself. But there is clearly a lot of (unlabeled) genre fiction with the YA library. Is there something about the nature of YA that makes genre fiction more acceptable/legitimate for this age group?
Writing Cross-Genre
Cross-genre fiction is coming popular at the same time that many new sub-genres are being defined. What is there about SF today that calls for ever more specific categories while also inviting blurring of those boundaries?
One might say the whole point of genre is to help bookstores/libraries/etc know where to shelve your book, and cross-genre books are notoriously difficult to categorize. And if no one knows what to do with your book, it probably won't sell well. So why write cross-genre fiction? What is the appeal?
The Flight of the Female SF Author
From Asaro to Zettel, female authors that used to stock the science fiction shelves are now almost exclusively writing fantasy. What are the reasons behind the mass migration? Are there new women coming into the genre, or will our daughters find the SF section filled solely by men?
Science Fiction
Wheel of Time from the Younger Point of View
The Wheel of Time series certainly was not created as Young Adult fiction, but many young people do in fact love these books. What makes this series work so well as YA fiction?
How Brandon Got the Gig: Finishing the Wheel of Time
Robert Jordan (James Oliver Rigney) died before completing the last part of his magnum opus, the Wheel of Time. How did Brandon Sanderson wind up being the guy to carry forward the work on the final book of the series? What were the hopes and fears of fans of the WoT when the announcement was made? (And what was the Minnesota fannish connection involved?)
The Year in SF
Our yearly roundup of what's great in SF&F.
Who Wants to Live Forever?
Extending the human lifespan for centuries, even to the threshold of immortality, is an eternal human dream and a popular subject for speculative fiction. But there's always a catch, isn't there? The difficult implications of extended lifespans range from boredom to loneliness to raving insanity. On the other hand... you don't have to die!
Borges as Science Fiction
Jorge Luis Borges wrote some wonderful, mind-bending fiction. One of his stories was an inspiration for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Where have his stories taken us?
Fannish & Miscellaneous Topics
Almost all of the panels in this section could use at least one more panelist. The ones in red are in mortal danger of being dropped.
Game Theory - Through the Prisoner's Dilemma, and BEYOND
Game theory as an approach to the study of human behaviour has become a scientific metaphor for a wide range of human interaction. Forget the computer models, lets try some game theory games on some unpredictable humans! Come discuss and play some finite number of zero-sum and non-zero-sum games.
The Fannish Community Center
The suggestion has been made: Should we have a fannish community center in the Twin Cities? What could we use such a thing for? What are the next steps, if we want to take them?
Recursiveness in Science Fiction That's About Recursiveness
The first rule of Mime Club is "Don't talk about Mime Club." Enter the hall of mirrors to discuss some favorites in fiction about fiction, games about games, movies about movies and other stuff about itself. Is it the novelty of the genre that allows us to enjoy self-aware entertainment, or is it the other way round? What does it all mean? Is this postmodern, or should we discuss that tomorrow?
The Evil Librarian Panel
Our author GoH has written a book called "Alcatraz vs.the Evil Librarians," so this seems like as good a time as any to do a librarian panel. Really, I'm more interested in how the role of the librarian is transforming as libraries are mutating into destinations and byways on the Information Superhighway. But with the possibilities that offers for global domination, I'm sure we can work the "evil" angle in there somewhere.
Secrets of the Sheraton Bloomington
Some of us have been attending conventions at the Rad South Sheraton Bloomington for decades. We've played hotel tag in the stairways, made friends, gotten married, experienced life-changing firsts. Some of our younger members may even have been conceived here. Let's celebrate this architectural fixture in our fannish lives. Remember watching the sun come up from Mr. C's on the 22nd floor? Does anybody know where the time capsule is hidden? What is the weirdest place we've ever found a sleeper?
The Snob in Every Fan
Given the common dismissal of our favorite genre, you might think that fans would be a little more accepting of others. But, let's face it - we all have (types of) books that we look down on. What kinds of fiction get ignored or marginalized by fans? Why?
Disability Self Care and Fandom
How do you balance the demands of your disability - be it energy, medication schedules, battery life, whatever - with your desire for the Full Con Experience™? What specific modifications could fandom make to create a more accessible environment? What does fandom get right and why do we stay involved?
Jewish Mothers in Fandom
No reason, except that one of my favorite Jewish mothers is going to be here for Minicon and she'd be great on this panel. Anybody else? Best case: Jewish mothers and children of Jewish mothers on the panel with their respective children/mothers in the audience. Think of the audience interactions!
Books You Don't Expect to Get Back
What books do you buy over and over to give away to your friends? What's the best gift book you have ever received?
Booze and Science Fiction
Alcohol has a special place in s.f. fandom (smoooooth) and has also played a key part in a surprising amount of classic s.f. and fantasy. Anybody remember "A Bicycle Built for Brew?" Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster anybody? An associated workshop or lab for this panel has also been suggested. There are several directions that this could take: a workshop on creating (and more important, naming) new mixed drinks; serious discussion of single malt scotch (preferably with samples); or a panel of con bartenders sharing their favorite stories.\
Encouraging Readers and Fans
What can we do to introduce SF and fandom to others? Do new readers need fandom? Is fandom still relevant? Do we need a Fandom 2.0?
The Importance of Food
Food can tell us an immense amount about a world or a culture. It can tell us about trade routes and taboos. It can tell us about rituals, love, and death. What role does food play in speculative fiction? in fandom?
Mad Social Scientists
Who says chemists & physicists are the only ones who get to have any fun? A discussion of the powers of the social sciences to wreak havoc and destroy the world.
How to Get Laid at Minicon
Our traditional neofan panel.
Media
All of the panels in this section could use at least one more panelist. The ones in red are in mortal danger of being dropped.
Doctor Who and the Forest of the Stolen Timey-Wimey Monster Planet
As of 2010, Doctor Who has a new production team, a new companion, high profile writers and a new Doctor. Which of the announced changes are we most looking forward to? What other changes would we like to see? Which of the classic series episodes will be referenced in the 2010 season? Which Which was worse - "The End of Time" or "Daleks in Manhattan"?
Avatar - Cinema Event of the Year or Festival of Plagiarism?
James Cameron's high-tech sci-fi cinema baby has finally been delivered, and it's a blockbuster. But its reception among s.f. fans has been decidedly mixed. The plot and theme strike some as iconic and deeply moving, where others see it as trite and derivative. Cameron has been accused of plagiarizing everything from "Dances With Wolves" to Poul Anderson's famous novella, "Call Me Joe." Enthusiasts have declared that this movie redefines the cinema experience so deeply that a decade from now 2D will be as retro as black and white. Others are less enthusiastic, especially the ones throwing up in the aisles. What do you think - cinematic breakthrough or a just a big yawn?
Genre in the Digital Age
At some level, one can consider the role of a genre label as a sorting system for bookstores and libraries - a way for readers to navigate their shelves. In this age of e-books and practically unlimited storage space, on-line publishers and "if you liked this, you might like..." lists, what is the role of genre? Are these categories more important than ever to help us sort through the onslaught of choices, or is speculative fiction losing thousands of potential readers by sticking to its genre label?
New Media & Successful TV
Especially with seasons of DVD-TV coming out fairly soon after the shows air, more or more people are "waiting and seeing" - do other people say it's good, will the series be renewed for a second season - before they watch a new show. But with viewer numbers so important for whether shows get renewed, how can we expect these shows to do well? What obligations do we have to support the shows we want to see?
Media fandom and disabilities
Talking about disabled people in movies & TV, whether anyone's ever gotten it totally right, and what things make us change the channel or press the eject button.
Waiting for the Next Issue
More and more canceled (or otherwise ended) TV shows are finding a second life in comics. How is this changing our understanding of these franchises? Are fans who don't read them missing out, or are fans who read them disappointed by what they're getting? Is there something missing from this format, or can comics bring us something that we couldn't get from more episodes of TV?
Hard SF on Screen
Is it possible to do hard SF on screen (big or small)? Are there franchises that are well-known for getting their science correct? Does a movie/TV show that tries to use hard SF lose a fraction of its audience - in other words, is dumbing down inevitable if a program is going to be accessible to a wide audience?
It's a Disaster!
Disaster movies often reflect the times in which they were made. From nuclear war to terrorism to eco-catastrophe, what do these movies tell us about ourselves? Do they help us deal with our fears or just make things worse?
Arts and Crafts
All of the panels in this section could use at least one more panelist. The ones in red are in mortal danger of being dropped.
Portfolio Review
Are you an aspiring artist? Come get your portfolio reviewed by our artist GOH. He'll discuss the weakness and strengths of your work, and what you need to improve. We could also integrate a small lecture on promotion and how to get jobs. [note: you don't have to volunteer for this in advance, but it would be nice to know if people are interested. Our Artist GoH proposed this one.]
Popup Books
Come and see some resplendent examples of the popup book art form, and learn what goes into the construction of these little masterpieces. Yes, we've done this several times before, but it gets bigger and better every year!
Paper Engineering
This year the paper-folding workshop gets its own time slot. Learn a little origami, cut out a snowflake, or make a folded-paper fortune telling machine customized for Minicon.
Oil Painting with Dan Dos Santos
Our artist GOH will show us how his work happens with a live demonstration of painting.
Visualizing Magic: The Gathering
From card to art -- how the process works.
Book Covers, Start to Finish
From commission to final art, what's it like to create a book cover? How do you work with an art director? Capturing the essence of a book visually can be a fascinating process.
New Images of Fantasy
How has fantasy illustration changed over the past few years? How has digital media changed the field, and what's it like to break in as a new artist? What cool things are new artists doing?
Concept Art
If you want to turn a script into a finished motion picture, you'll need concept art. Our artist GOH has worked in this field, and will let us know how the process works -- maybe even a demo, if we're lucky!
Arts vs. Crafts
For those who produce works of both sorts, what distinguishes art from craft? when does craft transcend its defining characteristics to be counted as art? Why do we distinguish art as a separate category? For those who specialize in one area or the other, how does craft improve art, art inform craft?
Gaming
The Social Contract: Making It Explicit
We've had a lot of discussion about the social contract -- the rules by which our gaming groups operate, whether unspoken or not. Too often, though, they remain unspoken until someone blows up, or stinks up, the game. How can we go about making sure everyone is on the same page regarding how we game together? Is such a thing even desirable?
Designing Your Own Game
A lot of us can't help but house-rule and fiddle with games. Many gamers want to take the next step and design our own games. How do you get started? How can you become rich and famous designing games?
Invasion of the German Games
German and European boardgames have become immensely popular in the past few years. What qualities do they share? Which ones are the best?
Blade & Crown: The Bandit Map
Bandits have been plaguing the area for years. Now, you have found a scrap of paper that seems to reveal the location of their base. Whether for fame, wealth, or just to do the right thing, you resolve to journey to the highlands and stop them. An RPG, played using the Blade & Crown system. GM: Rachel Kronick. Up to five players.
Retro Videogame Tournament
Psst... Don't tell anyone, but our Artist Guest of Honor, Dan Dos Santos, is a huge fan of old videogames. If we're lucky, he may bring his Atari in for a tournament.
Not Really Panels
Yoga for the Old and Decrepit
A workshop to teach yoga techniques adapted to make them accessible to people with physical limitations.
Costuming
Costume Doctor
Bonnie and Seven help you deal with good costumes gone bad, wardrobe malfunctions and other costuming problems.
Easter Parade
In your Eeeeaster bonnet, with all the squids uponnnnit... miscellaneous finery, costumes, kazoo bands.
Kids and Family Programming
Tool Time
Take apart a computer.
Children's Concert
Music for children by Minnstf musicians.
Create a Costume in Two Hours
We'll provide the raw materials and you have two hours to whip it into a costume for the Easter Parade. Photographers will be on hand to immortalize your new persona.
Astronomy with Kids
A continuation of Michael Kauper's presentation from last year.