November is quickly approaching and that means it's time for one of our favorite conventions - CONjuration!
CONjuration is a 3-day immersive, magical, and fantasy convention in Atlanta, featuring cosplay, panels, and fun activities! If you are a fan of magical fantasy (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Dungeons & Dragon, Narnia, Buffy, etc) then this is the CON for you! This year's conventions will be held Nov 17-19 in a new location, the Sonesta Suites Gwinnett Place.
The Fandom Hybrid Podcast is pleased to announce that we have been invited back to help celebrate CONjuration's 10th anniversary! Anthony, Hanako, Michael, and Michele will be participating on panels all weekend. Check out our panel schedule and descriptions below:
Friday, November 17, 2023
Harry Potter (HBO’s Version) - 4:00pm
Early this year HBO officially announced their plans to reboot the Harry Potter series as an HBO television show. Reactions to the announcement ranged from excitement to confusion to anger at the thought of such an early reboot. Now that it’s been confirmed- let’s discuss Harry Potter (HBO’s Version). What can they do better than the movies? Can they make changes to the source material to create a more diverse environment? How will having new material in this format change the way we consume Harry Potter? (Hanako)
Page to Screen: The Wheel of Time - 6:00pm
Join Wheel of Time Experts and folks with some fun behind the scenes knowledge in discussing the most reason season of The Wheel of Time on Prime. As well as the adaptation over all! In a totally safe and non-toxic environment! (Anthony, Hanako)
Tolkien's Movie Legacy: How's It Holding Up? - 7:00pm
It's the zeroversary(tm) of Return of the King and The Desolation of Smaug. How many Tolkien movies are good? Bring a number zero through nine (not six) to the discussion. (Anthony)
Harry Potter and The Deathly Penalty Debate: How Fantasy Literature Addresses Capital Punishment - 8:00pm
This panel examines how Harry Potter and other fantasy series address the issue of capital punishment and what these series’ stance on the ethics of execution is. (Anthony)
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Appreciation VS Appropriation: Knowing the Difference So You Can Check Your Work Before You Wreck Your Work - 11:00am
Diversity is the spice of life and of thought, and in today's interconnected world, inspiration comes from everywhere. We all want our works to be cool and incorporate the interesting things we see and learn about in the world around us. However, culture doesn't exist in a vacuum, and what you might think is the perfect monster for your next story might actually be a deeply sacred and private aspect of someone's religion or heritage. (Michael)
Catching Up With the Frasers on the Ridge: An Outlander Fan Panel - 11:00am
Halfway through the 7th season (and with news that season 8 will be the final season), let's catch up with Claire and Jamie and discuss the revelations and events of the first half of season 7. The resolution to the Malva Christie storyline, the trials and tribulations of Roger and Brianna, and of course - the beginnings of the American Revolution - there's a lot to unpack and much to speculate about what comes next. (Hanako, Michele)
Fandom Funerals and Repass: Why Fictional Deaths Feel Real to Us - 12:00pm
Back by request! As fans of fictional worlds, we often find ourselves emotionally attached to the characters we read about or watch onscreen. When a fictional character dies, it has as much of an impact on us as though these characters existed in our reality. Join our panel for a group therapy session as we discuss the fictional deaths that affected us the most, and what their deaths can teach us about how to process our own grief and loss. (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Screenwriters - 1:00pm
Finally! A D&D movie written by someone who actually plays the game AND is a good storyteller. Join us as we delight in the details and dig up easter eggs. (Michael)
Is Indiana Jones Magical Fantasy? - 2:00pm
Does the Indiana Jones universe qualify as magical fantasy? Depends on the movie... Grab your hat and your whip and help us dig up an answer. (Michael)
Father Knows Worst - 3:00pm
From Bruce Wayne to John Winchester, Fandom Fathers have had an influence on many of our favorite characters. Sometimes they grow up and do great things; sometimes they grow up to do terrible things. Did these fathers do right by their kids or screw them up beyond belief? The results speak for themselves. (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)
Mothers Aren't Better - 4:00pm
From Cersei Lannister to Thalia al Ghul, fandom mothers are usually nurturing, caring, and loving; what happens when the best intentions don’t work out as expected? Their influence on some of our favorite good guys and villains can either build them up to be great heroes and heroines, or they could grow up wanting to watch the world burn. Let’s discuss some of these influences. (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)
We Are Here, Too: A Look at POC Representation in Fantasy Literature & Media - 6:00pm
Back by request! With all of the brouhaha surrounding recent casting choices in popular shows such as last year's House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power, let's discuss the positive aspects of the increasing representation of POCs in Fantasy Media. (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)
Late Nite Nerd Fite™ - 6:00pm
Debate with us who is the best from a bracket of the most disreputable thieves— <knife pulled> —uh,
attractive scoundrels from fantasy. The guild votes until we’re down to one rogue. (Michael)
Fantasy Law: Designing Basic Legal Systems in Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing 7:00pm
In fantasy and sci-fi, it is a common practice to have the "good guys" simply show up and mete out punishment when a crime is committed. Many authors, even professionals, could benefit from some foundation in legal systems and structures. This panel will have panelists trained in law and government discuss basic considerations like procedural and substantive due process and commonly protected rights (such as in the US Constitution) to give audience members a rough idea of how to avoid common misconceptions and pitfalls. (Anthony)
Lord of the Rings Homework - 9:00pm
Season 2 of The Rings of Power LOTR prequel series is set to be released in 2024. What do you need to read or know in order to have an idea of where this story is taking us? The Appendicies from the LOTR? The Silmsrillion? The Children of Hurin? Unfinished Tales of Numenor? The Fall of Gondolin? Or should we even worry about it? (Anthony, Hanako, Michele)
The Immortal Universe: Discussion of the Anne Rice Shows - 10:00pm
2023 saw the introduction of two new AMC+ series based on works of Anne Rice: Interview With a Vampire and Mayfair Witches. Let's have some fun discussion about the reimagining of these two notable works and talk about what worked (and what didn't). (Hanako, Michele)
Sunday, November 19, 2023
It Ain't Easy Being Geek - 2:00pm
Come for a discussion of geek representation in TV shows and movies from Freaks and Geeks to Big Bang Theory to The IT Crowd to Galaxy Quest. What do they get right? What do they get really wrong? (Michael)
Over the Rainbow & Beyond: The Evolving World of Oz - 2:00pm
Get swept over the rainbow and into the magical world of Oz and join us for a panel that delves into the diverse and reimagined landscapes of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in tv and film. We’ll explore how the adaptations have enriched this timeless tale. Complex characters, darker undertones, fresh aesthetics and musical storytelling have helped this classic endure. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the multifaceted dimensions of Oz through cinematic reinvention! (Anthony)
From Damsels to Dragons: How Women Redefined the Game of Thrones - 3:00pm
Bend the knee and join us to celebrate the complex and captivating female characters of Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon. In a world where societal expectations were as deadly as dragons, these women carved their own destinies, challenged conventions and even used them to their advantage. From Daenerys’ fiery ascent to Rhaenyra’s pursuit of power, we’ll discuss these resilient characters who defied norms through strength, subversion and transformation to become agents of change in these epic sagas. (Hanako)
Returning to the Grishaverse: Discussing Shadow & Bone, Season 2 - 4:00pm
With a possible Season 3 renewal still up in the air, let's discuss what happened in Season 2 of Shadow & Bone and speculate what may come to pass if we were to get a third season. Did you like the increased focus on the Crows and their storylines, or do you think it took away from Alina's story? For book readers - do you feel that the season did justice to the story in combining the events from Siege & Storm and Ruin & Rising, or do you feel the story was rushed? And what was up with that smile? (This panel will focus on the Netflix series, but will also include some book discussion (spoiler advisory). (Anthony, Hanako, Michael)
Please come check out our discussions, and have some fun with us!
