[Englecturers] World Scifi Convention (5/31/06; 8/23/06-8/26/06)

[Steven Axelrod]

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-cfp at lists.sas.upenn.edu [mailto:owner-cfp at lists.sas.upenn.edu]
On Behalf Of Brian Burns
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 12:01 PM
To: cfp at english.upenn.edu
Subject: CFP: World Scifi Convention (5/31/06; 8/23/06-8/26/06)


SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY AND MEDIA; OH MY! (05/31/06; World Science 
Fiction Convention; 8/23/06 – 8/26/06)


The World Science Fiction Society is currently inviting papers for the 
academic track of the 2006 World Science Fiction Convention, otherwise 
known as Worldcon. This year’s Worldcon will be held in Los Angeles, 
California at the Anaheim Convention Center from Wednesday August 23 - 
Sunday August 27 and is called L.A.con IV. 

In honor of our location in the media capitol of the world, the 
suggested theme for this year is science fiction/fantasy and the 
media.  The academic track is seeking twenty-minute papers on any topic 
related to science fiction/fantasy in the media and/or media in science 
fiction and fantasy.  We are especially interested in works related to 
the guests of honor or any of the other prestigious professional guests 
listed below.  

Please note that Worldcon is not a strictly academic conference.  There 
will also be many science fiction fans present and numerous fun and 
interesting events to attend.  This is your opportunity to meet and 
interact with some of the biggest names in science fiction and fantasy 
in a welcoming and exciting environment. 

While highly theoretical papers are welcome, presenters should be ready 
to define their terms to an intelligent but not necessarily scholarly 
audience.  On the plus side this means that presenters are encouraged 
to be a little more creative with their topics and their 
presentations.  The goal is to make the conference as fun and inviting 
as possible for both scholars and fans.  

Please send 300 word abstracts to bburns at gwu.edu and 
kknight08 at gmail.com no later than May 31st.  Please note whether you 
will need any audio/visual equipment for your presentation, including 
whether you will bring your own laptop.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

--Texts in multiple media formats—i.e. film, graphic novel, and/or 
novel adaptations of the same story
--Media responses to science fiction narratives
--Fandom and media
--Social change through science fiction media—i.e. why was the first 
televised interracial kiss on Star Trek?
--Revisions and re-imagining science fiction narratives—i.e. the 
various Star Trek spin offs, Battlestar Galactica, the Star Wars 
prequels etc.
--The effect of media on science fiction and vice-versa --Gendered, raced,
or queer representations of science fiction or 
science fiction fandom in the media
-- Science fiction/fantasy video games, role playing games, MMO games 
or other
interactive narratives, especially adaptations of preexisting texts 
(i.e. DC comics RPG, Star Wars Galaxies etc).
-- Science fiction/fantasy and Disney

The convention Guests of Honor are Connie Willis (Author),James Gurney 
(Artist), Howard DeVore (Fan), and Frankie 
Thomas (Special).  Frankie Thomas starred in both radio 
and television as Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, in the 1950s.  

	
Other attending authors:
Anne McCaffrey
Connie Willis
Harlan Ellison
Larry Niven 
Gregory Benford
David Brin
Greg Bear
George RR Martin
Jerry Pournelle
Mike Resnick
Nancy Kress
David Gerrold

Attending Media professionals:
Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica)
J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5)
Robert Gordon (Galaxy Quest)
Robert Burnett (Free Enterprise)
Mark Altman (Free Enterprise)
Eugene Roddenberry (Son, Gene Roddenberry)
Mick Garris (The Shining; The Stand; Masters of Horror) Garfield & Judith
Reeves-Stevens (Enterprise, Star Trek: 
Deep Space Nine; The Lost World)
D.C. Fontana (Star Trek; ST: Next Generation; Buck 
Rogers; ST: Deep Space Nine; Babylon 5)
David Gerrold (Star Trek)
Robert Sabaroff (Star Trek)

Attending Comics professionals:
Marv Wolfman (Creator of Blade, Teen Titans)
Len Wein (Creator of Wolverine)
Bernie Wrightson 
Wendy & Richard Pini (Elfquest)

For more information on the convention please see the official website 
at http://www.laconiv.org/.  

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