In an era of massive commercial expos, small cons remain the heart of fandom. This session dives into the importance of community-driven spaces that prioritize participation over profit. Join our panelists to discuss how these events foster real conversation, unique collaborations, and a true sense of belonging. Scale isn’t everything when it comes to celebrating what we love!
An adult debate about anti-heroes, redemption arcs, and fandom’s tendency to excuse terrible behavior if the character is hot or sad enough.
A look at the dark side of imagining things into existence! After Slenderman was invented, some claim to have seen him IRL. The tulpa theory posits that entities can be created by the mind, willingly or not, and then run amok, like poltergeists. Is the human mind that powerfully twisted?
Witches have appeared in stories for centuries, but their portrayal has changed dramatically over time. Sometimes they appear as villains and temptresses, while other stories present them as heroes or symbols of empowerment. This panel examines how film, television, books, and games reshape the idea of witchcraft for modern audiences. What do these shifting portrayals reveal about the cultures that create them?