Philcon Programming for 1997 is better than ever. We've always tried to bring you the freshest ideas, the hottest topics, and the most variety. This year, we're excited to present a sneak-peak at just a few of the panel topics we'll be running: Hidden Worlds (I) - Lurking below the surfaces of our mainstream cultures are the subcultures, the underground scenes. Body modification, punk rock, cults, role players, SF fandom. A sociological discussion of these "hidden worlds" and their relation to the SF world. Hidden Worlds (II) - The fiction of underground societies, often magical or outrageously different from the norm: The books of Andrew Vachss, Emma Bull, Delacorta (Diva, Nana, Vida, Luna), Christopher Fowler's Roofworld, Michael DeLaurabeiti's Borribles series, and Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere are examples. Medical Oddities in Fantasy - From Homer's Cyclops to Katherine Dunn's Geek Love, the grotesque meets the make-believe. A discussion of the powerful imagery evoked by the use of deformities and physical alteration from the norm in literature. Will Our Constitution Survive? - The future of law in America: criminal, civil, family, and business law could be poised for some sweeping changes. Which areas are most likely to be reformed, rewritten, or adhered to as the 21st Century looms. The Courage to Create - Many new writers are advised to brush up on their technical skills, but very few are told how to survive the emotional difficulties of the creative life. Amazons in Aprons - The Great Competent Heroine still finds herself asking a man for permission to save the world, especially in the mainstream movies (like The Fifth Element). If this isn't the way strong women really are, why does Hollywood seem to think it is? Does this tell us something disconcerting about writers, audiences, and our culture in general or is it a benign (harmless?) forgetfulness of the changing views of sex/gender roles? Myth, Archetype, and Babylon 5 - Dissection of the B-5 story arc as it adheres (or doesn't) to the myth patterns of Western culture. SF as Therapy - We know what it did for adolescents 40 years ago: escape from boredom, escape to a reality where each boy (or girl) could be the exciting hero, the master of his or her destiny. Is it serving that purpose now? Is it possible that SF has moved in such new directions that it's keeping us sane in entirely different ways? The Great Cover Art Debate - Has cover art for SF doomed the field to eternal derision from the mainstream? Should the "Look" of books change, and if so, why and how? The Complexity of Evil - Evil needs a reason. It has to be more than a plot coupon. A discussion on the literary uses of evil, both well-presented and not. And, this year for the first time, we're turning a spotlight on speculative poetry.   POETRY SLAM Bring your genre poems (all styles and forms, from one line to 100 lines) to this round-robin poetry reading (performance?). If we like it, we'll snap our fingers.   POETRY WORKSHOP: BUILDING WORDS AND WORLDS How does genre poetry differ from mainstream poetry, or for that matter, genre fiction? Learn by crafting your own poem. We will discuss theories and methods during the first part of the workshop; during the second half, expect writing exercises. NOTE: Bring your own paper and pencil/pen.
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