Arisia programming is up.

[hermionesviolin]

Guess which description (particularly) made me perk up as my housemate was reading aloud in the other room.

Saturday 9:00 PM

[225] Religion and Kink — 1hr — William Dawes A

Connections between kink and spirituality are legion. The Christian monks of the Middle Ages flagellating themselves in penitence; the woman in a latex nun's outfit, threatening her naughty students; the kinkster marveling at how his first experience of subspace reminds him of his favorite moments from synagogue; the scene so powerful it opens spiritual doors, making the scene itself a chance for connection with the divine. This panel will explore ways in which kink and spirituality intersect. dkap, Jaime Garmendia, Aimee Bouchard, Darkteddybear (m), Mistress Simone

I'm undecided as to how much of Arisia I'm going to attend.  Selections from a first-pass at the schedule.  (Melissa suggested I just buy a one-day Saturday pass, and that's probably the best idea.) 

***

Friday 6:00 PM

[10] Open Source and the Effect on Culture — 1hr — William Dawes A

Within the software community there have been rival schools of thought and terminologies ("free software" vs. "open source"), not unlike many debates within fandom. What, if any, is the cultural significance of the free & open source movements, both on software developers and the larger culture as a whole? Sarah Smith, James Turner, David Larochelle (m), Ian Cooper Rose, Woodrow "asim" Hill

Friday 7:00 PM

[16] Early Adopters—and Not — 1hr — Paul Revere B

It's not surprising that many, perhaps most, people in the SF community are early adopters of every new gadget and technology to come along. But some of us resist the wave of new technology, and are cautious of allowing new gadgets into our lives. Is this resistance informed by SF or in spite of it? Bonnie Barlow Turner, James Turner (m), David Larochelle, Justine Graykin

[21] SMOF 250: The Future of Cons — 1hr — Room 201

What happens when a con fails to get in new blood? Can cons paint themselves into a corner by carving out too fine a niche to appeal to a broad enough base of fans to support it? SF cons used to be the one place you could find anime, gaming, costuming, films, discussion groups, and parties. Many cons now are dedicated to a single area of fandom. Has fandom become too fragmented? Is that a good thing? Are the one-size-fits-all cons a thing of the past? Michael Whitehouse, Evan Jamieson, JeffWarner (m), Nat Budin, Hugh Casey

Friday 9:00 PM

[35] Redefining TV — 1hr — Paul Revere A

With Hulu, YouTube and other web sites being used for TV viewing, will the regular distribution models fall by the wayside? Will regular broadcast TV channels go to a subscription model? Pay per episode? How will this affect the ratings system? Will there be TV as we know it 30 years from now? James Zavaglia, Michael Whitehouse, Michael Toole, David Larochelle (m), Mitchell Morris

Friday 9:30 PM

[43] Palimpsest & The Trains of Heaven—Concert — 1hr 30min — President's CD

The Palimpsest Road Show returns! An exclusive presentation of the readings and music of Palimpsest, as performed by guest of honor SJ Tucker, author Catherynne M. Valente and cellist Betsy Tinney. See the road show that made its way across the US in 2009, a tour that featured a unique "mobile convention" on a train from Chicago to New Orleans and back, called "Trains of Heaven". A presentation and Q&A session about "Trains of Heaven" and future events will follow the performance. S. J. Tucker, Kevin Wiley, Betsy Tinney

Saturday 3:00 AM

[66] Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible — 30min — Haym Solomon

British TV. Tonight's episode: Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust. R

Saturday 3:30 AM

[67] The Countess — 1hr 35min — Haym Solomon

Costume drama of 17th Century Countess Erzebet Bathory's path to beauty treatments by draining the blood of 200 young girls. R

Saturday 10:00 AM

[81] Religion in SF/Fantasy — 1hr — Haym Solomon

People who couldn't tell Adam from Absalom can give you detailed analyses of the beliefs of Hobbits or Bajorans. There might be real world religions in "The Dybbuk" or "The Exorcist" but often writers have trouble acknowledging religion at all. How is religion depicted in SF/fantasy books, movies and TV shows? Do writers respect the religions they create more than real ones? Which written or media depictions of religion have been most favorable? Most critical? Most realistic? Dawn Albright (m), Elaine Isaak, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Walter Hunt, JeffWarner

Saturday 11:00 AM

[98] The Changing Face of Fiction: Literature, Diversity, and Backlash — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

There's been a lot of talk about race, racism, and representation in fiction. Some say these real life issues have no place in what is meant to be an escape from reality, while others want to see characters that look like them as part of their escapism. Is a future with no diversity really an escape? What are we escaping from, and what is inescapable regardless of venue? Julia Starkey (m), Rachel Silber, Adam Lipkin, Michael Kabongo, Woodrow "asim" Hill

Saturday 12:00 PM

[116] Sexual Politics in Fandom — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

In the last few years, multiple problems have arisen at conventions around the country that are troubling for many. Sexual harassment is not just about someone trying to grope a woman in a skimpy barbarian costume. It's about being able to say "no" and have it respected, a willingness to back someone up if they need it, and the ability to recognize when they don't. How can we all contribute to making conventions free of harassment? Rachel Sommer, Julia Starkey, Shira Lipkin (m), Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Woodrow "asim" Hill

Saturday 2:00 PM

[150] Queer SF&F — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

Queer topics and characters are becoming more common in SF&F—or are they? Do modern authors really do a better job addressing these concerns than in the past? How has the field changed? And what effect has it had on the fans?  Meredith Schwartz, Felicitas Ivey, Jason Schneiderman, Kevin Roche (m), Andy Trembley

Saturday 3:00 PM

[163] Diversity Is Coming! — 1hr — Paul Revere B

Our population is becoming less white than it was. Will cultural and ethnic diversity come to fandom—already more diverse than in the recent past—regardless what we do? Panelists point out the progress that the science fiction field, and convention fandom in particular, have already made in becoming more accepting of people outside the stereotypical fannish mold. What is driving the change? And which factors are hindering it? And some predictions for the future. Victor Raymond, Julia Starkey, Rachel Silber, Cecilia Tan

Saturday 4:00 PM

[177] How Fans Hurt and Help Public Faces of Fandom — 1hr — William Dawes B

Last year, Stephen King said Stephenie Meyer "can't write", and the 'Twi-hards' came to defend her. Twilight boards were filled with reasonable discussions of the criticism, while sites like the Entertainment Weekly blog were filled with ill-informed attacks on King. Many fans have said they would never read the Twilight books because of the public image of Meyer's fanbase. How does the public face of fans help or hurt an author? Can fans do anything to change the perception of their fandom? Stephanie Clarkson (m), Jennifer Williams, Vikki Rose, Everett Soares

Saturday 5:00 PM

[189] Take Back the Sci-Fi — 1hr — William Dawes A

Sexual assault and rape are often used as symbolic plot devices, with no consideration about the realities of how these events affect survivors and the people around them, nor about the larger social realities of sexual violence. Sometimes these stories are well told, but often they perpetuate social myths and stereotypes that normalize predatory behavior and make survivors complicit. How do authors work to create a culture where stories that perpetuate rape myths are not acceptable?  Shira Lipkin (m), Catt Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Woodrow "asim" Hill, Trisha Wooldridge

[190] UnIntelligent Design — 1hr — William Dawes B

Presented by an evolutionary biologist who teaches human anatomy and physiology, Dr. Abby Hafer shows us how these human body parts are badly designed, how they could have been done better, and other members of the animal kingdom that got better body parts than we did. Then she asks, why didn't the Creator give the good stuff to us? Abby Hafer

[192] Alternative Marriages — 1hr — Haym Solomon

Many people thought it would take decades for gay marriage to become legal in the US. Now, six states have already done so, and multiple legal challenges are making their way through the courts. What is the current state of gay marriage in America? Is it too soon for a federal challenge? Is poly marriage waiting on the slippery slope? Alan Wexelblat, Thomas Traina, Ian Cooper Rose, Aimee Bouchard (m), Daniel Miller

Saturday 6:00 PM

[195] Relativism and the Superhero — 1hr — Paul Revere A

Superheroes are a lot more complicated these days, and so are supervillains. Does this make them more human or simply more confusing? Can we accept a superhero who cuts corners? A villain who is sympathetic? Are things getting a lot more gray? Cynthia A. Shettle, Israel Peskowitz, Jaime Garmendia (m), Daniel Miller, Alisa Kwitney Sheckley

[197] Disability and Fandom — 1hr — William Dawes A

Many fen have disabilities, and they aren't always obvious to the outside world. What can conventions do to make sure every fan gets the full convention experience? What can all fans do to help their fellow fen who need it? Alicia Verlager, Amy Chused, Stephanie Clarkson (m), Cheryl Braverman, Darkteddybear

Saturday 7:00 PM

[205] The Year in Review: Politics — 1hr — Paul Revere A

Is this the room for the argument? At this year-in-review panel, the answer may very well be yes! Our panelists will discuss and debate the hottest political issues of 2009. John Costello, Israel Peskowitz (m), A. Joseph Ross, Thomas Traina, Woodrow "asim" Hill

[206] Machines Augmenting Mankind: Our Cyborg Future — 1hr — Paul Revere B

SF characters with prosthetics have ranged from Waldo to The Borg to Darth Vader. What's possible given our knowledge of material science and cybernetics? Has SF changed social attitudes towards prosthetics outside of fandom? Alicia Verlager, Christopher K. Davis, Martha H. Adams, Mark L. Van Name (m)

[207] Inherent Darkness of Fairy Tales — 1hr — William Dawes A

The original fairy tales were dark stories where horrible things happened to people—to children—and they were meant for children to hear. What was the purpose of that darkness? Was it just to scare people, or was there more? When we look at the sanitized tales for today, what is missing from the lessons fairy tales offer—to everyone from children to adults? Katherine Crighton, Elaine Isaak, Mercy E. Van Vlack, Vikki Rose (m), Daniel Rabuzzi

[210] Must-Read Stories — 1hr — Room 201

What are essential reads for every SF (or fantasy) fan? Can you really understand later vampire books if you haven't read Bram Stoker's "Dracula"? Must you plow through the entire Foundation series, or track down obscure short stories? Panelists will present their 'essential' lists and debate them. Jonathan Woodward (m), Ken Gale, Peter Maranci, Michael McAfee, Steve E. Popkes

Saturday 8:00 PM

[215] The Undead and the People That Love Them — 1hr — William Dawes A

The undead are everywhere these days. Books, movies and TV are full of shows about them. Where is all this coming from? Why do we love our undead monsters so much? Katherine Crighton, Susan Hanniford Crowley (m), Jennifer Williams, Elayna Jade Smolowitz, Michael Bonet

Saturday 10:00 PM

[230] The History of Fandom — 1hr — Paul Revere B

You like reading and watching the shows, playing the games, and wearing the outfits, but how did it all get started? Come hear about murky depths of fandom past. A quick trip through fannish history, including the brilliant highs, and the tragic lows. Don Sakers, Marlin May, A. Joseph Ross, Paula Lieberman, Victoria Janssen (m)

Sunday 10:00 AM

[254] Continued in the Next Issue — 1hr — Crispus Attucks

Shows like "Buffy," "Firefly," and "Farscape" are continuing their sagas in comic books, often with series writers telling the stories. How is this changing our understandings of these popular franchises? Are fans who don't read them missing out? Mercy E. Van Vlack, Adam Lipkin (m), Alisa Kwitney Sheckley

[255] Creature and Character — 1hr — William Dawes A

Writing the human and the inhuman in a believable way is tough. Should a story be in the point of view of the Vampire? Or the Vampire's significant other? What makes people love or hate a character or a creature? Katherine Crighton (m), James T. Henderson Jr, Mary Catelli, Leah Cypess

[257] The Crossroads of Magic and Science — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

Arthur C. Clarke is famously quoted for saying, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." With so many advances in technology now, it's tempting to treat technology as magic… and explain magic through advanced technology. When does this work? When does it not work? Should magic and science be kept separate? How does a writer do a good job in blending the two—and when does it fail? James L. Cambias, Howard G. Beatman, Mario Di Giacomo (m), Tyler Stewart

Sunday 11:00 AM

[270] My Fandom's Not Dead Yet! — 1hr — Paul Revere B

Face it—your show's canceled and it's not coming back. There's not going to be a sequel to that movie. It's dead, Jim! So how do you keep the fandom alive? Does the release of new merchandise and the re-re-issued super collector's edition DVD mean there's still hope for more? Would you accept comic books, novels, or a "Battlestar Galactica"-style "reimagining" instead? Does it ever become time to just move on? (Heresy!) James Zavaglia, Cynthia A. Shettle, Melissa Honig (m), Victoria Janssen, Daniel Miller

[271] Fantasy and Horror in Shakespeare — 1hr — Crispus Attucks

Before Brooks, before Anthony, before Tolkien, there was the Bard. William Shakespeare was not the first to build the genre, but he was the first to make it marketable. This panel takes an in-depth look at the works of Shakespeare, and we reflect on Will's way through the genres of Fantasy and Horror. Greer Gilman, Alicia Verlager, David Nurenberg (m), Debra Doyle, Mark L. Amidon

[272] Faeries of Color: Tales of the Fae beyond Europe — 1hr — William Dawes A

People often think of fairytales as stories from British or Western European cultures. But what about Asia and Central Asia? The Middle East? Africa? American Natives? All of these cultures have equivalent fairytales that address our human relationship to the wild/natural world and reflect important cultural elements that define a society's values. What are some things all cultures share in defining humanity, and what can fairytales teach us about the differences? Esther Friesner, Julia Starkey (m), Sarah Smith, Trisha Wooldridge

[273] The Changing Face of Publishing — 1hr — William Dawes B

Online magazines, print-on-demand, ebooks, crowdfunding—let's discuss all the new ways to find stories. Susan Hanniford Crowley, Felicitas Ivey, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Cecilia Tan, John Bowker (m)

[274] The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

Dystopian sci-fi is so 20th century. Let's explore a positive new future! Phoebe Wray, Peter Prellwitz, Vikki Rose, Justine Graykin (m)

Sunday 12:00 PM

[282] SF/Fantasy in the Underworld — 1hr — Paul Revere B

The passage through hell and back again, from the Odyssey and Gilgamesh to Moria and elsewhere. Esther Friesner, Greer Gilman, Karl G. Heinemann, David Sklar (m), Sonya Taaffe

[283] Myth and Folklore in Fantasy — 1hr — Crispus Attucks

How do writers use myth in their stories? What are the most common myth cycles drawn from? Has traditional folklore been run out of town by urban legends? Why is the appeal of these stories so strong after millennia? Katherine Crighton (m), Ken Gale, dkap, Vikki Rose, Daniel Rabuzzi

[285] Bioethics in Today's World — 1hr — William Dawes B

Bioethics is a field of study concerned with the ethics and philosophical implications of certain biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments such as organ transplants, genetic engineering, and care of the terminally ill. Given currently emerging biological technologies, where do we draw the ethical line and for what reason? For example, are embryonic stem cells on the way out as a research material, and are their suggested replacements any better ethically? James T. Henderson Jr, Amy Chused (m), John Hodges, Justine Graykin

[286] Alternative Lifestyles and Fandom — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

Alternate lifestyles of all kinds seem to flock together, especially at a con like Arisia. Why is alternative sexuality so common in fandom, and openly talked about, when it is taboo to much of the mainstream world? How do we feel about all this adult discussion and behavior in our conventions? How can Arisia accommodate such diverse interests without making anyone feel unwelcome? And what happens next year when we move to a shiny new, and bigger, venue? Michelle Wexelblat (m), Lauren Grover, Ed Fuqua, Shana Fuqua, Larry Nelson

[290] The Future of School — 1hr — Room 201

Science fiction writers have often written about changes that technology might make to education, from the students' "desks" in Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" to R.A. Heinlein's observations and critiques of education in his Juvenile Fiction. What kinds of alternate education exist now? How does emerging technology affect the learners of tomorrow? Will school still go out for summer? Suford Lewis, David Nurenberg (m), William Ian Blanton, Michael Bonet, Trisha Wooldridge

Sunday 1:00 PM

[302] Climate Science — 1hr — Molly Pitcher

How has climate science advanced in 2009? New England had a very snowy winter and our summer was one of the wettest ever. The rest of the world seems touched—or punched—by climate abnormalities, too. The economic climate has people asking whether we can afford to "green" our society to help the physical climate—and whether we can afford not to, not to mention whether we can. Our panelists will discuss the theories and the reality of the global environment changes over the past year. John Costello, Martha H. Adams, Ken Gale, James Turner, James B. Van Bokkelen, Tom Wysmuller (m)

...And I need to leave for lunch now.