Weeaboos, journalists and female fans: my Katsucon panel ideas
16 November 2011 | 4 comments
Thanks to everyone who voted for my SXSW panel idea. Unfortunately, votes aren’t everything. I found out last week that my panel will not be considered this year. Oh well!
I’m not too down about it since I still get to attend SXSW with the Daily Dot. I’ve never been to Austin, so it should be an adventure. (Just like my last trip with the Dot crowd.)
Anyway, I think the best way to build a panel that’ll get accepted next year is to attend and take notes on the ones that got accepted this year. For that reason, I plan to attend a variety. So far, the only panel that is absolutely on my list is by my former career coach, Michelle Ward.
In the meantime, I’ve been working on other panel ideas. I’ve always wanted to give a panel at a convention, so I spent a couple weeks trying to think up a good panel to give at Katsucon 2012. I exchanged a couple emails with convention panel legend, Charles Dunbar. If you’ve ever seen one of his panels, you’ll know I’m not exaggerating! (And if you haven’t, Anime USA is definitely the time to catch one.)
Here’s two of the ideas I shared with him and ended up squelching:
- Weeaboo Confessions. I, a confirmed weeaboo, would moderate a discussion on the ridiculous and sometimes embarrassing things I and panel attendees have done in the name of our well meaning but sometimes misinformed love for Japanese culture. (One embarrassing fact: my middle school nickname was Ren-chan.) This idea was deemed way too incendiary. I wouldn’t want to attract real-life trolls!
- Convention Reporting. I’ve been attending conventions as a member of the press for three years and this year, I’m serving as Anime USA’s press liaison. I know a lot of tips about getting accepted as press, which interview questions to ask, where is it quiet enough to conduct interviews with attendees, how to network with sources and other members of the press. This idea was deemed too niche.
After that, I went back to the drawing board. It was around the time I was making a fuss about women’s t-shirts and chatting about geek women’s rights with my friend Patches on Tumblr. I thought, why don’t the two of us do a panel together? This is what we came up with:
Female Fans and Anime Conventions. Even though women have a stronger presence at anime conventions every year, there’s still much to be said about feminism and sexism in a geek environment. Geekdom is a pursuit that is historically male while women’s involvement has been understated until recently. Do women feel uncomfortable at some parts of a convention? Do they feel special for the attention they get for being both a geek and a girl? These are some of the questions that Lauren Orsini, a reporter, blogger and teacher; and Patrick Taylor, the feminist blogger behind What About The Waifuz?, are wondering about.
This panel will be hosted as a moderated discussion, with the panelists serving both to prompt new topics and to keep the conversation friendly and on track. This panel is rated 13+ for complicated themes and some discussion of sexuality.
With Charles’ blessing, this is the exact wording we sent to Katsucon panel submissions. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
Ooh, I would personally like to know more about Con reporting. I still have some ways to go in that regard (I think^^) So yeah, expect me to check out your interview with attendees
But as for your panel, I hope Katsucon takes a good look into it!
@Justin, that’s good to hear! Maybe someday I will reconsider that panel idea.
Yeah you are! I can’t *wait* to meet you, Lauren. And thanks so much for the shout-out!
And lady, the new panel sounds kick-ass. It’s totally gonna happen.
I am excited, too! Can we spend AUSA collecting some information on it? Will you have time?