M46 Programming

Minicon 46 Programming Panels

This is the list of Panels for Minicon 46. To sign up to be a panelist, please send an email to programming@minicon46.mnstf.org List the panels that you are interested in by title. You may also include requests about when you'd like your panels to be scheduled.

Arts, Crafts, Costuming

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?

Beer Brewing and Wine Making - It's All in the Variables

Homebrewing has exploded in popularity over the last few years; even the President's official chef is in on it. Because there are so many variables to tinker with, brewing at home is a fabulous, geeky hobby! What are your favorite local supply stores, and what do you like about those? How do we feel about malt extract vs. all grain brewing? Bottling or kegging? How about fruit beers and ciders? What's the best use for spent grain? Could this panel be followed by a tasting in the bar?

Clever and Creative Photography at Conventions

Appropriate lighting and the use of a flash, catching 'candid' shots, choosing and framing your subject, how to spot the background clutter... All of this, and more, adds up to tips to help preserve and share your convention memories. May include before- and after-style examples.

Cthulu Art

Everyone is going CRAZY for Cthulhu! Bring your favorite creation to display or share, and maybe you'll be among the last to be eaten.

Maker Resources

IKEA hacks and other DIY.

Papercraft and Origami Roundtable

Share your favorite paper art resources and techniques.

Steampunk Art, Design, Craft and Costuming

This mashup of Science Fiction, Alternate History and Speculative Fiction is probably best known for its striking visual style. How do artists effectively use the "steampunk" theme? What are some materials and methods that we like? "Steampunk" is sometimes criticized for favoring visual elements over content. What pitfalls should artists avoid in order to effectively keep a central focus to their pieces?

Zeppelin Art

Interactive, decorate your own zeppelin. Learn about why Zeppelins are important to Minneapolis' history.

Fandom and Fannishness

An Introduction to Fanzines

What makes a good fanzine? What kind of writing works and why? Panelists will read from and discuss the best of the best.

Antiques Roadshow for Geeks

Y'know... That copy of Action Comics #1 is kinda valuable, right? Come hear some great 'Cash In The Attic' stories.

Geek Social Skills in the Workplace

What frustrations are common to geeks in the workplace? What are some of the best techniques geeks have to communicate with non-geeks? What are some tips and resources for improving communication skills with non-geeks? What are the benefits and detriments of working in a technology field, or a non-technology field?

Gender Roles in Fandom

How are gender roles the same or different in fandom or mainstream culture? Are we really better than everyone else? In what ways is fandom similar and dissimilar to mainstream culture with regard to our expectations? How do we approach relationships differently? What about the great big world of Cosplay?

GLBT History and Contemporary Views in SF/F Fandom=== How are gender roles the same or different in fandom or mainstream culture? Are we really better than everyone else? In what ways is fandom similar and dissimilar to mainstream culture with regard to our expectations? How do we approach relationships differently? What about the great big world of Cosplay?

Invisible Disabilities

Not everyone's disability is obvious. How can that affect our lives? This panel open to the visibly disabled, invisibly disabled, and even the temporarily able-bodied.

My Kind of Con, Chicon 7 is

The 70th World Science Fiction Convention, aka Worldcon, is being held in Chicago in 2012. The folks in charge are dedicated to bringing the flavor of our great regional conventions to the Worldcon stage. What would you like to see there? Talk with people who are actually working on the convention. (more of a Q&A than panel discussion?)

My Less-Than-Secret Identity

Scientists have recently discovered that there are two species of humans: Superman people and Batman people. Which one are you? How about Star Trek vs. Star Wars? D&D vs. GURPS? Within fandom, there is a need to further distinguish ourselves by the things we enjoy. What about fandom encourages this drive for uniqueness? What are some of the most prevalent rivalries, and what do these rivalries represent to us?

The Asterisk Panel

Panelists start off talking. Audience members hold up asterisks when they need footnotes. Fun and tangents.

The Other Panel

Hey, wait, you said that'd be another panel! This is that panel!

Unemployed and Geeky

This is a pretty bad economy, and a lot of us are unemployed or underemployed. How have we coped? How can we help each other?

Unsocial While Social

Being online, face-to-face. When's it rude to text? How do we manage our attentions when there are so many digital avenues available?

Gaming

BSG Board Game

The Battlestar Galactica Board Game. What's it all about?

Recommend and RPG For Me

My interests are marmalade, weasels and ninjas. What game system do you think I would enjoy? How about game systems for people who don't like marmalade?

RPGs in Other Media

What influence does the popularity of RPGs have in the fiction world?

Lit Reader

Atlanta Nights Reading

Because Eye of Argon readings are so last con. Come and listen to a reading of Atlanta Nights. To quote Teresa Nielsen Hayden’s review, "The world is full of bad books written by amateurs. But why settle for the merely regrettable? Atlanta Nights is a bad book written by experts."

C.S. Lewis and Fantasy and Christianity

Needs Description

Keeping it Alive

A lot of us love works that haven't been current for a long time, but we try to keep them fresh (at least in our minds) by seeking out like-minded fans, creating fanfic, etc. What works do we choose, and how do we keep them alive?

Malazan Book of the Fallen Recap

The tenth and final volume of Steven Erikson's epic, Dark Fantasy was just released on March 1, 2011. The Malazan books are almost thirty years in the making, and more than a decade after the publication of the first in the series. These books take place in a world originally created with Ian Cameron Esslemont as the surroundings for D&D and GURPS roleplaying campaigns. What are some thoughts on this final installment, and on the series as a whole? What about the Ian Cameron Esslemont's Novels of the Malazan Empire?

Non Traditional Book Roundtable

Pop-ups, teenyweeny books and others. Share your favorites. What can the non-traditional format communicate to the reader that a traditional format cannot? Who are the best artists in this field?

Not Just for Kids Anymore

It isn’t just the kids buying and reading YA. YA novels are attracting adults like never before and authors such as Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi have written novels aimed at the younger set. Why do adults read and enjoy it? What sets YA apart from other genre novels and is it that uniqueness that attracts adult readers?

Shakespeare in the Bush

Suppose you were swapping stories with a group of friendly extraterrestrials. How hard would it be to come up with a story that resonated for an audience with a very different set of cultural expectations? Consider how well it worked for an anthropologist trying to share the story of Hamlet with an audience that agreed with her that human nature is pretty much the same everywhere, but somehow came up with a radically different interpretation of the bard's great play.

The Future Isn't What it Used to Be

Depictions of the world following a lack of cheap energy seem to be replacing the glitzy hi-tech future and post-nuclear holocaust in SF. Will the trends continue? Is this future more plausible than the earlier versions? How much do fictional futures have to say about the times in which they are written?

Time Traveler Conclave

Okay now listen up! We've got a lot to cover tonight, so let's finish up by going over the rules of time travel. 1)Don't create a paradox. 2)Don't worry about paradoxes, the universe will stop you before it becomes an issue. 3)Don't worry about the universe, there are plenty more where that came from. Next on the agenda - Where is last month's meeting going to be? To put it more specifically, where will you go to meet other time travelers? And first things first, we need to define the responsibilities of the Time Agents. If everyone is trying to kill Hitler, who's going to handle crowd control in early 20th century Germany? Let's work out a plan to solve some of this mess, or at least discuss some of the more clever ideas.

Zombies and Other Horror Tropes and Pride and Prejudice

Why are zombies and other common horror tropes appearing in (what's considered) mainstream fiction? Where is this mainstream interest coming from?

The Year in SF

Our annual confab about what's good and (mostly) new in (mostly) science fiction and fantasy.

Lit Writer

Ask A Writer

Always wanted to know how a novel is born? How does a writer structure their day? Is it all glittering parties and intelligent company? Come ask a panel of working writers anything!

Building a World with History

Nothing springs to life fully formed. How does history affect cultures, and how can this be used in creating strong stories in strong settings.

Common Misconceptions About Publishing

How is the publishing industry structured? What exactly does an author sell to a publisher, and what do publishers want to see? Why are books the length that they are? Published authors talk about their experiences and share their "If I knew then what I know now..." stories.

Don't Read What You're An Expert In

"How can this character be an expert on Chinese calligraphy when he doesn't even know how to pronounce 'Qing'?" Fiction on topics we know a lot about can be cringeworthy. In the extreme, glaring errors can ruin an otherwise good work. What topics set off our expertise alarms, when do we just suck it up and what (beyond infinite research) can authors do to avoid these problems?

Non-Western Cultures in Fantasy

Writing in cultures beyond North America or Western Europe. Working in new geographies offers readers and writers chance to step out of their comfort zones or reclaim their heritage. What are some of the challenges and which writers do this well?

Short Stories and the People Who Love Them

What is special about the short story format? What makes a good short story? What opportunities does a short story afford the writer and the reader? What's are some of the positive and negative issues in the short story market?

Successful Writing in the Digital Age

Our author Guest of Honor John Scalzi has been writing or editing for the online world for more than fifteen years. How does one survive as a writer in the digital age? How does an internet persona mesh with the introverted lifestyle of an author? What's the best way to deal with the trolls and haters?

What Happens After the Cure

Science/Medicine/Magic Cures Everything is a common trope in SFF, especially with regard to disabilities. What stories rarely explore are the consequences of these "fixes". What personal and social implications are involved? Are there any works that do a good job of exploring these effects?

Movies and TV

The Annual Doctor Who Panel

Where's a good place to start with classic Doctor Who? Depending on your count, there have been eleven, or twelve, or twenty-two, or twenty-eight... Who's your favorite Doctor? The first half of this panel will focus on the classic series, the second half will focus on our thoughts from the 2010 series and what we'd like to see in 2011. How does our panel feel about Steven Moffat's first year in control?

Cliffs Notes for Inception

We Lay it all out for you.

Everyday, Garden Variety Superheros

The Specials, Mystery Men, Kick Ass, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, The Incredibles, Watchmen, No Ordinary Family and Heroes pose the questions: How would superheroes actually affect and fit in with the real world? What would 'normal' people do with super powers? Why has this been such a popular topic recently?

In My Day...

You know it's an old movie because the phones are shaped like bricks and everyone has poofy moussed hair. What are some of the untimeless markers of the past? What features will make our modern media stand out as "dated"? What are some good ways that creators have avoided this pitfall?

Media Culture as Presented in the Media

The average American watches more than four hours of television a day, yet there are no television programs about people watching TV. How does media present itself to the viewer? What does this tell us about ourselves?

Geeks On TV

Big Bang Theory, Chuck, The IT Crowd, and Bones all feature great, geeky protagonists. Even reality TV has fingers in this pie, with shows like Mythbusters and Stormchasers. What do we love about geeks on TV? What do the creators get right or wrong?

TV on DVD vs. the Nielsen Ratings

If we wait until a show is on DVD before deciding upon its "worthiness", we risk its premature cancellation (sometimes without hope of resolution) and DVD release. Do we have a responsibility to support these shows while they're broadcast, or do we leave that decision up to "the average household"? Can industry-sponsored sites like HULU address shifting viewership? Do Bit Torrents help or aggravate the situation?

Music

Music and Fandom

Musical traditions are very important in s.f. fandom, but fannish musical traditions are not all the same. Is Minnstf Music significantly different from the musical traditions in other fandoms (including other Twin Cities cons)? How has fannish music evolved over time?

Music and the Mind

How does music affect the brain? How much of our reaction to music is hard-wired and how much is cultural? What is the relationship between music and memory? Did human beings sing before they spoke? What is the significance of the sacred geometry of music? What's so naughty about the Forbidden Interval?

SF Rock & Roll

From classics like Space Oddity and Rocket Man to Janelle Monae's Metropolis & The ArchAndroid, how is science fiction represented in the world of music? What stories are being told by songwriters, rather than book writers? Are there stories/themes that are particularly well-suited to being expressed in this medium?

What's Filk and What's Not?

...and is the question relevant?

Science and Technology

Ask A Scientist

Panelists from various science disciplines answer questions about working in their industry, and new and upcoming discoveries. Ask a scientist anything that isn't about global climate change.

Common Misconceptions About Science

How has Science Fiction affected popular understanding of Science? What (mis)understandings are pervasive? Let's take this beyond just the "CSI effect".

How to Destroy the Earth

No, not just how to destroy the ecosphere. That's easy. We're talking how to pulverize the entire planet. Drop a black hole through it? Dump it into the Sun? Cover it in peanut butter and let the space bugs lick it to pieces? Which way is really the most practical?

How to Save the World

A companion to "How to Destroy the Earth." Now that we broke it, how do we put it back together again?

Linguistics

What is your favorite alien language? How does one go about constructing a language from scratch? Let's talk about the secret languages of twins, and whether or not our brains are hard wired for language.

Linux Install Party

Come try out different flavors of Linux on your laptop, netbook or whatever else you can lug in. Needs someone to run it.

Nanotechnology

The history of nanotech, what it can do, and where it's going.

Privacy is Dead

Your date googles you, your future employer does a credit check, and let's not even talk about the part where everyone's parents are now on Facebook. Privacy is dead. Is anonymity possible? Do pseudonyms protect you? Does it really hold the government more accountable when everything we (or they) do is on film?

Science Literacy vs. Human Knowledge

The corpus of human knowledge is growing constantly. How can we even decide what the baseline of scientific literacy should be? What's the process by which the baseline changes?

The End of the Shuttle Program

As of January, 2011 the last Space Shuttle mission is planned to take off in June of 2011. Where do we go next? And how do we get there?

What Does "Not Yet Dead from the Neck Up" Mean Anyway?

Cryopreservation, consciousness transfer - what are ways that one might "live" to participate in future conventions with naught but a head (or maybe not even that). Which ones sound like a good idea? Which ones might actually be possible some day? Which ones are just silly, but fun to think about all the same?

What? You Keep Your Brain in your Head?

There could be aliens for whom the phrase "not yet dead from the neck up" wouldn't make any sense. Distributed intelligences, brains in other places... let's explore the idea.

Who Needs a Real Computer Anyway

With the expansion of offerings in tablet and sub-tablet electronics, can you meet your computing needs without a normal computer? What's available now? What are the pros and cons of each?