What Rebellions Are Built On: Popular Culture, Radical Hope, and The Politically Engaged Geek

As America faces the drawing up of Death Star plans (or border walls, refugee bans, and faith-based registries) culture and politics have never felt so…pop culturian as now. But stories have always been political, and fandom has too. Today, themes of hope and resistance in stories such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Wonder Woman are serving not just as moral guides, but as inspiration for plans of political action. Hear from geeks making activism their superpower as they wield nerd enthusiasms like the Force; hacking popular culture for social justice, civic activism, and participatory politics – including in anti-bullying initiatives, advocacy, and for charity. Moderator Jennifer K. Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazon; Geektivism), Terry Blas (“You Say Latino”; Dead Weight), Janae Phillips (Harry Potter Alliance), Nicole Gitau (Geeks Out), Carolyn Noe (Superheroines, Etc.), Sin de la Rosa (Bechdel Test Burlesque; The Sunday Night Shuga Shaq), and Maddy Vonhoff (ONE Campaign; GeekGirlCon) will talk about how memes, cosplay, and performance challenge stereotypes and raise consciousness around identity politics, rebellions being built on our favorite fandoms (and, of course, hope). In these times of hardship, “We are Groot” – and you’ll learn from these activists how you can embrace your inner “Grootness” and be a geektivist too!

GeekGirlCon 10/1 Sunday, Sunday 4-5 in Korra Room