I'm getting the kids dressed and to school, and then I'm off to
FOGcon. Here's my schedule -- if you're in San Francisco this weekend, would love to see you at any of these. :-) I have a long block of time for my Friday reading, so will probably be reading the opening chapter to
Rasathi.
Friday, 4:30-5:45 P.M.
Segregation in SFnal Cities
In late 2010, Eric Fisher used Census data to map out the top 40 cities in
the United States by race.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/sets/72157624812674967/detail/)
The one commonality of every map was that segregation existed, often in
stark and predictable patterns -- one race dominating this side of a busy
avenue, a different race dominating that side. Or poor neighborhoods being
dominated exclusively by people of color, while wealthy 'hoods are white.
How often do we see this pattern realistically depicted in SFnal cities?
Do most cities in speculative fiction simply ignore race and class, or do
they more often depict an idealistic -- if unrealistic -- even mix? Do we
*want* to see realistic segregation in our fantastic cites, or is it too
troubling to be reminded of our world's problems when we'd rather just
"escape"?
Mary Anne Mohanraj (m) Eric Fischer Jaym Gates Marie Brennan
Segregation in SFnal Cities
Fri 8 - 9:15
Reading with Vylar Kaftan
Saturday, 10:30-11:45 A.M.
The Lightning Wrath of the Internet
From Cooks Source to RaceFail, the Internet "hivemind" gets angry very,
very quickly. The speed of discussion in fandom is much faster than it
ever has been before. How is this changing the conversations we have? Is
it a good thing, a bad thing, or simply the way it is?
Mary Anne Mohanraj Lori Selke Nick Mamatas Rachel Silber
Sunday 9:00-10:15 A.M.
Power Structures in F/SF Cities
Who holds the power in the cities of alternate worlds? Are cities ruled by
individuals, single organizations, or coalitions? How is power exercised:
through religious, economic, legal, or other means? Can people move freely
among classes? Does the nature of power held in a city influence the
nature of the underclass? Take examples from modern and classic spec fic
works and examine how these questions have been addressed over time.
Michele Cox Mary Anne Mohanraj Debbie Notkin Gary Farber
Good luck with the Rasathi reading! That’s very exciting.
Oh, Eric Fischer will be there! Yay! A pal of mine.
Yes! I hope fen and editors alike are clamoring for the Rasathi series!
“The Lightning Wrath of the Internet”
Expect me to kibitiz like mad from the sidelines here, because I’m not under the impression that the panel has much grounding on how fandom handled arguments and feuding from 1926-1980. Which is to say, for most of the history of fandom. this strikes me as a significant omission, if one actually wants to discuss what has indeed changed and not, and I for one, think there are many interesting elements to that which has not changed, and that which has.
But you can tell me to shut up. 🙂 I’ll just wave my hand a lot. 🙂
Maybe hold off for a bit, just because the panel is supposedly about the internet. 🙂 That may take all our time, since I do think the internet modifies this kind of interaction in important ways. But if we have space, historical context might be helpful too.