Non-Stop: Hamilton: The Exhibition

I have been waiting for this Exhibition since I first heard about it last year, and after several delays to the launch date, I got to see it today. It was fun to see it on opening weekend. There were a few tech issues but overall it was wonderful.

Getting There:

1st it is way out on Northerly Island. I was planning on walking and it got to a point where I figured I must have taken a wrong turn but then I saw a shuttle bus and started to follow until the bus was nice and stopped and let me get on.

I would recommend people catch the shuttle at one of its two stops The parking lot or Soldier field.

(Accessibility note: The shuttle drops you off a distance from the entrance, it is flat, and the exhibit itself is flat or ramps but if mobility is an issue plan ahead. You will be doing a lot of walking)

The Exhibition Overview:

For the exhibit, you are given headphones with the audio tour (you choose English or Spanish). When you step into each section you get the big picture of the room and as you travel you find "for more info scan here" tags where you can learn more.

The exhibit is a combo of art gallery/sculpture gallery/and visiting a house museum with interactive bits. The exhibit is focused on the Historical Hamilton, not the musical per se (Though your narrators include Lin and Phillipa and Christopher Jackson in addition to historians). There are signs thought out the exhibit which examines what parts of Hamilton the musical were made up and some of the reasoning why.

Highlights For Me/Interesting Facts*:

• The moving sculpture representing the hurricane that hit St. Croix and which inspired Hamilton to write the letter and poem which inspired others to send him to NY. The Sculpture was powerful and moving and I spent serval minutes just watching it spin. 
• (I ended up getting a mug and magnet of the hurricane in the gift shop afterward)

• There is a neat video which brings the battle of Yorktown alive and shows how each of the armies and commanders were moving at the time.
• The infamous comma flirting was actually Angelica to Hamilton, not the reverse like in the show.
• There was a very powerful display around a random fact in the room with the duel. It turns out that after being shot Hamilton lived 32 hours and Burr lived 32 years. These two timespans are compared. And in some ways, Burr did very little with that extra 32 years. 

• 
  

                                                   

• There is a section towards the end where visitors are reminded of the importance of healthy debate (like all the debate when our country was being formed) and visitors get to write a note about there hopes for America.

                                                    

• Spoiler:
• The exhibit ends with a 3d film of the opening of Hamilton staring Lin and I think the And Peggy Tour. :) :) :)  

 *Being a fan of the show and reading Chernow's Hamilton and Washington different things stood out to me than would a casual fan of the show.

SmithsonianX Star Trek: Starlogs

I am taking a free class on Edx led by the Smithsonian on Star Trek. As part of the course, I am to create a "Starlog". I am going to put those entries here. I shall update this entry as I go along so all my logs are in one place. 

Starlog 7.1

Yes U.S.S. Enterprise functions as a character, like many other homes across time and space (Such as The TARDIS, Baby (67 chevy impala from Supernatural, Serenity from Firefly, etc). This makes sense because when individuals and groups are traveling over long periods of time how they travel becomes their home both in terms of a place of comfort and in terms of what is physically protecting them on their journey. There is a tendency to personify those things which provide support and protection.
Starlog 6.2

Do you think we’re getting closer to realizing the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) here on Earth? What would it take for that to happen? What would it look like? How might things be different?

While we are making progress towards this end we are challenged by fear. Too many fear that if other groups are welcomed their own group will be diminished instead of being strengthened. Too many seek diversity up to a point (which is typically up to the point they are inconvenienced or affected in some way).

It is challenging because those individuals who are part of a group who historically have had the advantage want to wash the slate clean and somehow forget the systems and institutions which have been built to keep others down.

In many ways, it is up to those who have historically been in power to

• Step back and let others show the way
• Listen to what others have to say
• Expose themselves to the stories, art, and traditions that other cultures have created
• If it seems different keep exposing themselves, often the first time you hear a concept it will seem strange but the more you familiarize yourself the more you will be able to appreciate the work
• Personal example Rap: Rap was a type of music I never really enjoyed, then I was exposed to Hamilton, which led me to read books on the history of Rap and hip-hop. While I still enjoy only a selection of Hip Hop and Rap I now truly appreatate them as important art forms and understand their significance in history.  

Starlog 6.1

Why is it important to see yourself on television? Why is television an important subject for scholarly study and how does what we watch shape the world we live in?

Seeing yourself on TV or in movies or in a story helps you know that your own story is valid and real. That you are not alone in your struggles. Seeing yourself in terms of race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, mental health challenges, physical challenges, immigrant status, refugee status ... opens your eyes that no matter what your life story is valid and worthwhile.

One example: A story told by an author at C2E2 (Chicago Entertainment and Comics Expo)

In her book, she had a character undergo a series of symptoms, and later had a reader contact her and say "I have experienced the same thing, you mean I am not alone?" And the author explained that those symptoms are of having a panic attack and the author sent the reader resources to contact for help. The reader had lived their whole life without knowing she was having panic attacks and there was something that could be done about them.

There is a big difference between knowing intellectually that you could have a particular job or that others have a particular experience and seeing those same experiences on screen. Historically TV and movies have featured predominantly white males so when those of different backgrounds are shown other individuals do not have to substitute their experience into the story.

If you have always seen your own experience on TV and in movies you will never completely understand the power TV and movies have and you will never completely understand why representation in all media is so important. Why seeing yourself is so important.

The academic study of TV and other media is important because it helps combat the danger of a single story. I would recommend Chimamanda Adichie's Ted Talk on the topic.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en

Starlog 5.2

Should the government resolve Earthly issues before exploring space? Or is a scientific investigation of distant worlds a fundamentally human endeavor of exploration?

I think space exploration (like art) is worthwhile in of itself. Humans need to create and dream no matter the challenges they are facing and often the more challenging things are the more there is a need to dream what ifs, to dream better futures, to dream possibilities. I don't think space should come before everything else, and I do feel we have to work on our own issues here on earth, but space exploration or space dreaming (like star trek) has a role to play.

I am reminded of two Neil Gaiman Quotes:

“I think that pretty much every form of fiction .... can actually be a real escape from places where you feel bad, and from bad places. It can be a safe place you go .. it can be somewhere that, while you’ve escaped, actually teaches you things you need to know when you go back, that gives you knowledge and armour and tools to change the bad place you were in."

Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

So investment in space exploration, investment in the arts, investment in history and discovery are all worthwhile because each can become a lesson which can give hope to others.
 

Starlog 5.1

Think of a global issue that we are facing today that causes fear or concern. What would be the plot of a television show that depicted a utopian and optimistic vision of the future of that issue?

This is a hard question to answer. I would say the global issue is ism(s) and phobia(s) in all their forms (Such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ....)

The utopian plot? Maybe a cross between Mushishi and Queer Eye?

A group of diverse travelers (no two characters with the same background or identities) who wander into communities, see and identify which ism(s) and phobia(s) are at work and tell the communities what they must do to rid themselves of those ism(s) and phobia(s).

Starlog 4.2

AI

Where do you see Artificial Intelligence going?

The future of AI is going to be very diverse. Different tasks require different types of AI and AI interfaces. Some will have a physical presence, some will be holographic, some will be voice only. Some AI will look other and some will blend right in and be indistinguishable from other living beings.

Do we need to fear it, embrace it or something in between?

Something in between. 

For example, I am excited for the day when there is AI like JARVIS (yes avengers not star trek). AI which can become our best friends and protectors and significant others. Good AIs can help people find a connection and help fight the epidemic of loneliness. They could also be a great help for those dealing with mental health challenges, to have someone monitoring and who can redirect if needed. 

On the other hand like any technology, it is easy for humans to become too dependent. This is explored in stories such as "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury.

Starlog 4.1

Star Trek Technology

While I would love to have transporters, in some ways the Star Trek Tech which would be the most useful would be food replicators.

I would love to have my meals prepared for me or to have the option of having any ingredients I needed always at the ready.

This would also decrease food waste because fresh food would always be ripe and I would not be tempted to get more than I need because it is on sale and then have it go to waste because I forget about it.

It would also help as I am not the best cook so food replicators would allow me to be more exploratory in my food choices. To boldly go and seek new flavors.

Starlog 3.2

Favorite Star Trek Characters?

Growing up: The Tribbles and Q because watching as a kid they were fun characters.

Now I would probably add Data because Robots/AI/Androids are important people who always need more support

Starlog 3.1

The Role of Canon?

Good cannon is wonderful because as was stated in this weeks lecture: makes a show or other medium's universe seem more real. It also allows for a greater connection with characters because you have time to learn more about them and see them develop as individuals. In epasoid shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits you are only with a set of characters for a short period of time and know you will never meet them again.

Canon also allows for a certain amount of extra creativity. It allows creators and fan to have a framework for their own explorations. The power of cannon is shown by the many fans of various storylines who create their own "headcanon" where the official canon leaves out information. Headcanon and fan canon is also where those who have been written out of cannon or are omitted from canon can write themselves into the story. This is often particularly used to include more LGBTQA+ characters, more intersectional characters, more characters of diverse backgrounds into these stories.

And sometimes these fan-based "what if" explorations outside the traditional canon, later are incorporated into the traditional canon. (Spiderman: Into the spiderverse is an example of  a what if "what if spiderman was a POC" or "what if spiderman was middle-aged" which became an official film (though where it fits in canon is unclear.)) I love a quote from David Tenant's discussion of comic book canon/continuity

"Comic Book Continuity is a bit Contradictory"

The danger of canon is, shows can become so canon bound that any deviation becomes a major point of conflict. This can be seen in recent attempts to diversify the cast of various film franchises and the push back from a very small but very vocal subgroup of fans.


Starlog 2.2

I watched each pilot (Except Discovery's since that one is not on Netflix). I found it interesting how each series was dealing with issues which were current in that day and age.

“The Cage.” Star Trek: The Original Series /“Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Star Trek: The Original Series (Mid 60's)

1960's were a period of turmoil in the US where people were looking deeply at who we are, and the impact of political, cultural, and social institutions. People were asking what would a better world look like and how do we get there

• Rebelling against the perfect (The image of the 1950's)
• Questioning what is real and what is an illusion
• Questioning what it means to have unknown technology 
• Atomic Bomb, Atomic energy etc
• By today's standards, The Orginal Series was horribly sexist. While at the time it was much less so it does mean that these episodes were really hard for me to watch. 

“Encounter at Far Point.” Star Trek: The Next Generation (Late 80's/Early 90's)

Late 80's/Early 90's was a period at the tail end of the cold war, the fall of the Soviet Union, and questions of what happens now.

• The questioning if the cold war proved that humanity is inherently violent
• Questioning how do we move forward after such an extended period of violence (40ish years or a whole generation)
• Questioning where we can aim if we want to more optimistically go forward and how can we prevent ourselves from falling back into bad habits and patterns

“Emissary.” Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (Late 90's)

The 90's were a period of movement towards postcolonialism and nations trying to figure out what comes after.

Deep Space 9 was my favorite pilot to watch. in part, because they had to set up more all at once because this is the one series where the show does not travel to distant places, it stays in one place and people and things come to it.

• Effects of postcolonialism.
• The impacts of colonialism on groups of people
• The impacts of sustained freedom fighting on people
• The line between supporting and patronizing other people
• Rebuilding postcolonialism.
• How does one rebuild postcolonially?
• How do support others without diminishing their own power?
• How do you keep fractions that worked together to get rid of a colonizer from falling apart when the "threat" is over?
• How do you interact with a historical colonizer?
• (Today Western Culture, Star Trek Star Fleet)
• Exploring issues of cultural identity, single parenthood, raising black youth
• "Afrofuturism" was explored in part in the way that spirituality plays an important role in the pilot, and non-linear time was also explored
• Issues of Identity such as Odo who was found and does not know who his people are
• Dealing with cultural trauma
• Sisco having to deal with the trauma of losing his wife.
• While it is very important for people to explore trauma and find healthy coping mechanisms I struggled with this because Sisco is a POC so it felt like he was being told to move on from his trauma without a lot of time to truly process. And thinking about today without looking at the structural issues which lead to the trauma.

“Caretaker.” Star Trek: Voyager (Late 90's/Early 00's)

• Now we all have to learn to work together
• Two crews (which can be seen as two communities) having to work together
• If we are going to make it home we are going to need everyone working together

“Broken Bow.” Star Trek: Enterprise (Early 00's)

• I think think the year 2000 was seen for many as a new beginning so this series explores the beginnings of star trek
• I think it was trying to capture that spirit of boldly going to new places from the original series
• But this series also felt very dated, especially in light of recent social movements such as #metoo and #blacklivesmatter
• It felt very why do we "white dudes" have to listen to others, they only hold us back, if it were not for them we would be fine on our own 
• Also, it felt very dated in terms of gender and sexuality 
• Why did we need to see everyone in their underwear, from the two when they needed to rub on the medical agent very sexily, to the captain himself. 
• Why were there so many references to being intimate with aliens, and alien bits, don't be intimate on away mission etc

“The Vulcan Hello.” Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

(NA)

Starlog 2.1

It is interesting that Star Trek was only on for 3 seasons. Considering all the spin-offs and its impact on our American culture I would have thought there were a bunch more.

Original pilot "The Cage"

I have to say I am glad that the network said let's try this a second time.

Some issues are simply not being iconic star trek (Costumes: Lots of blue-gray sweaters, Characters: Spock just feels a bit off, Missing the classic intro, etc) Some of the issues are plot issues: there very little action, and ideas keep being repeated in info dump after info dump. (A writer does not need to show something then info dump about it, then info dump about it again to someone else).

Some lines are still relevant "Wrong thinking will be punished, right thinking will be rewarded", but many of the conclusions were problematic: It is better to live in reality unless you are unattractive then illusion makes sense.

I think the network was correct and if this had been "Star Trek" it would not have become so ingrained in American culture.

"Where No Man Has Gone Before."

Pilot version two is much closer to star trek as I know it. This version does feel more dramatic and less like a poor version of a philosophy debate like "The Cage"

Shows from this era have a very different pacing structure. The story beats are much more spread out. Also interesting to see all the random people on the bridge, they are missing Sulu and Uhura and Chekov, and Bones, etc. Feels really odd, like a parallel universe version which is a bit off. 

I know people have mentioned that the bridge should really have had seatbelts but in addition, the bridge and the stations there always seem to be sparking and exploding. They really need a few fire extinguishers.


Starlog 1.1

I have taken a few previous courses with Smithsonian X including The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact On Pop Culture, Rise of the Superheroes and the Heroes of the Future, Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes. When I saw Smithsonian X was doing another class I signed up.

As I discovered when I went to the DePaul Pop Culture Conference on Star Trek a few years ago while I am culturally Star Trek, and grew up watching it, it does not feel like it has impacted me as much as many others. (For me growing up shows like Doctor Who and Baylon 5 and Quantum Leap (which was stripped in the afternoons) had a greater impact.)

I would say this is the top 5 things I remember about Star Trek.

• Red shirts fall down (I was about 3 or 4 when I figured this out lol)
• Tribbles
• Whales are cool
• Always remember where we parked
• The Holodeck Never Never Never Ever Ever Ever worked right

Fanfiction: Correcting Creative Blind Spots

Archive Of Our Own was nominated for a Hugo under the Best Related Work category. More context can be found in this article.

Fanfiction like any media form (Books, TV, Movies, Audio Dramas ....) is a quality mixed bag. There is some stereotypically very very poorly written fanfiction and there is some absolutely amazing fanfiction.

While it has been pointed out that creators have a wide range of responses to fanfiction, at its best fanfiction allows for an intense written conversation between creators and fans which can highlight and correct the intentional and unintentional lived experience blind spots of creators.

Some "lived experience blind spots" include:

"We have always been here" blind spots:

• The erasure of women, minorities, LGBTQA+ ... from stories or their token roles in those stories.  
• The erasure of life experiences different from the author. Just because an author did not see a group, did not look for a group, or does not belong to that group, does not mean that the group was not there all alone.

"You are not alone" blind spots:

• A missing understanding that representing other lived experience can help individual not feel so alone.
• That other lived experiences have their own unique set of challenges
• I have read some amazing fanfiction around topics such as how would being transgender affect spiderman's relationship to being an avenger.
• Personally, I always love good ace/aro fanfiction, seeing other aces out there and seeing what ace/aro relationships can look like.

"Mental Health" blind spots:

• A lack of exploring mental health impacts on characters.
• This is a category that I find fanfiction can do a wonderful job with. 
• Exploring explicitly stated cannon mental health issues 
• Such as how in the first avenger movie Bruce Banner mentions in passing that he tried to die by suicide but Hulk would not let him. Fanfiction explores this from Banner's point of view, and Hulk's point of view, and Iron Man's point of view, the long term effects on Banner, where is Banner mentally today ...
• Exploring implied/assumed mental health issues
• Issues of trauma, PTSD, panic attacks, self-sacrifice, Anxiety, Depression, family issues, abuse, ....
• Using characters to help others learn that there is a name for their experience
• If you feel x way or are experiencing y you should reach out because others such as a therapist or other trusted adult can help
• It is ok to feel x even fill in the character feels this way too
• It is ok to get the help you need, watch this superhero do it

Fanfiction allows for the exploration of historical blind spots. This is important because these blind spots prevent people from seeing that that are important and their experience matters and that they are not alone. Not alone no matter their identity or culture or state of mental health. Uplifting and encouraging others seems like a good use of story.

Mental Health and Fandom and Me

While this year there were no panels dedicated to mental health at C2E2, it was apart of the conversation. 

• Characters having panic attacks in novels and Readers discovering they were not alone.
• Discussions of characters who go to therapy in their canon storyline
• Creators opening up about there own struggles with Depression and Anxiety.  

While at least in my circle mental health is something which is discussed more and more, these are important conversations which we all need to have more often.

Note:  Everyone reading this know that brains tend to go wonky, it is nothing to be ashamed of, you are not alone, and there are people who want to help you. 

(A Chicago Hamilton Cast PSA about Mental Health)

I remember a C2E2 a few years ago where I was impressed hearing Wil Wheaton speak about his own struggles with mental health. His openness blew me away. 

(The below clip is a 5 min version, and the link is to a long but powerful piece on the topic) 

http://wilwheaton.net/2018/05/my-name-is-wil-wheaton-i-live-with-chronic-depression-and-i-am-not-ashamed/

So in the Spirit of Fandom here is my own story: (Sharing it in case it can help someone else)

I have had extended periods where if I was not clinically depressed I was way to close for comfort. Where like the 90's song I was "a young man sitting in an old man's bar waiting for their turn to die." Periods where I was like the character in Neil Gaiman's "The Day the Saucers Came"

But instead of waiting for the phone to ring, I was just sorta waiting for death to show up with a cup of tea and have this bit of life done. Personally, characters and fandom and creators have helped me through these periods. They are always in my head or in a fanfiction story or in an interview telling me it will be ok, telling me that I am never alone....

• No personally I have never done anything self-destructive, I read fanfiction, and I write about these issues and process these issue through writing, my writing is not a cry for help 
• It is not helpful when people respond with "OMG Are you all right? "... because if I have to worry about you worrying and me processing the processing does not happen as much
• It is important to reach out to people you think might need help but freaking out does not help. Asking something like How are you today?, Can I help with chores?, Here is something I cooked/baked for you?, Just a reminder you are amazing! All work a whole lot better.

Therapy:

Robbie Thompson has helped destigmatize therapy. The first time I saw him at the DePaul Pop Culture Conference on Supernatural he spoke about his own issues with anxiety and his own original reluctance to try therapy. He also included these issues in his run of the comic Silk (Which I highly recommend) As Robbie Thompson said in a great interview about his  Silk and himself and writing and life in general:

I mean, when I needed help, I was in denial about it, thinking—therapy, shmerapy. And I’m the son of a therapist! I’m so grateful I went, but it took a while to get me there.  https://bookriot.com/2016/04/13/silk-goes-therapy-interview-robbie-thompson/

I also remember asking him: How do you know if you are ready to go to therapy? He said for him there were things in his life he just could not get over himself and he knew he needed a little help. 

While it took a long while between that comment to me and actually giving therapy a go I know when I finally did go I framed it as I'm going because Robbie said it would help. And finding a therapist that was a good fit took time:

• Try #1 Only lasted one session because I could not take them seriously when they said that my various issues with life and career were because "There were no communication roles available because newspapers were dead and newspaper men had taken all the communication roles out there" and if you are going WTF that is pretty much what I thought myself
• Try #2 Lasted a few sessions but because I could not articulate any major issues to work through they did not know what to do with me and basically went we are done
• Try #3 Good fit and worked out well. About the 2nd or 3rd session I was like what is the point of this I don't really need to rehash what happened to me this past week I do that and process that on my own, at which point we started to just have cool conversations. And it was nice to have someone to chat to (including the fact that friends tended to freak out and worry when I processed through fanfiction of poetry).

Again Note:  Brains tend to go wonky, it is nothing to be ashamed of, you are not alone, and there are people who want to help you. 

C2E2 Day 2 In Review: Superhero Improv

Cosplay: The Doctor

My Doctor found a sweet kid as the doctor 

And one as rose and then another rose was passing by

Panels:

David Tennant:

• This one filled quick, the con opened at 10:00 I was upstairs in line for the panel by 10:10 and I only snuck in. 
• Told a bit of the story of being selected to be the doctor. Because he was working with Russel T Davis on another project he had been campaigning pretty hard trying to be a guest star on Doctor Who and kind of getting the cold shoulder. 
• At one point, he was invited over to watch some of the first edits of the first episodes and over snacks and the first episodes on VHS basically was told because of unforeseen factors we are looking for a new doctor want to consider it
• Russel did tell David to really think about it because he knew David was a crazy fan as him and basically said to remember it is a bit of a be careful what you wish for. It would be odd actually doing something he dreamed of doing as a child. 
• At first, Tennant said No for a few days until he realized then he would have to see someone else in the role and always be like that could have been me.
• He talked about his podcast, which sorta started as a joke/no serious and then his agent was setting up meetings and then it happened 
• He did not give advice to Jodie about playing the doctor but advice around the consequences of being the doctor. As he said the past doctors are their own self-help group because few other roles make you instantly known worldwide.
• He discussed being in Jessica Jones and had read some of the comics but as he said "Comic Book Continuity is a bit Contradictory"
• If he could have anyone be his doctor's companion it would be his family
• And that he loved Neil Gaiman good omens because he kept the weird and made it weirder and others would try to make the story more straightforward. 

Representation in the Spider-Verse and Why it Matters

• This was a packed panel :)
• The panel talked a lot about Into the Spider-verse movie which I have not seen yet (Hay the library is only getting it this week, forgive me :) )
• It was highlighted like at other panels on inclusion how much a difference it makes and how meaningful it is to see yourself in a film and feel seen/understood/important
• One panelist who was Irish (sorry don't know he name) talked about a character who is Irish and how when he was doing press in Irland interviews kept wanting to talk about it because as he said most Irish characters are leprechauns. (Which reminded me how so many groups still need representation so whatever groups you belong to put into your work. Diversity can include you too.)
• Spider-verse was prised for causal inclusion, little things which were not focused on but were true to the experience of 1st generation children in America.
• There was a lot of discussion around technical aspects of the film and how impressive it was
• There was also great praise for Miles Morales being portrayed "so 13, doing his best but still struggling", the guys said it was an accurate portrayal "of the awkwardness of that point in the process (of puberty)" and that at that time boys are "awkward and a mess because they truly are chemically imbalanced".
• There was also praise for portraying the challenges of finding adult male role models for many POC kids. 
• Also, many of the panelists were connected to Silk (great comic you all should read especially Robbie's volumes which deal with things like going to therapy but this is another blog post in the future)
• Finally, it was highlighted that writing is a skill and you need to put in the hours however you can even if that means working after midnight as you juggle three other jobs.

Superhero Improv:

We played a bunch of fun Improv games. Dealing with action and words and staying focused. One game we played which is useful in real life was a storytelling game. First-round someone said something and then the other person started the next sentence with No. The next round the second person said Yes but, and the third round the second person said yes and. The yes and actually led to stories and while it was framed around working with people doing improv in real life Yes and thinking goes a lot further. 

C2E2 Day 2 In Review: Dance Party and a Marriage Proposal (Not Mine)

Cosplay: Hamilton

Here is my Hamilton giving Batman a piece of his mind

(Yes it is blurry, hard to take a photo of a photo

And I never got the digital version, my email must have eaten it)

Panels:

The Future is Now

• Ideas that the future is connected to the past and the future changes based on what we do
• Random History fact before 1985 women could vote in England and then they were written out
• "As someone who makes things make things about the thing you love" 
• For parts of her current series of books Mary Robinette Kowal talked about writing place holders such as "They jargoned the jargon by jargon" and then sent it to some of her astronaut friends to basically play mad libs (This seems like a great way to write a draft you can fill in the jargon, character, place later)
• "Any act of creation is an inherently political act"
• "Be the weird you want to see in the world"
• All writing is therapy/processing/responding
• There is a cycle of focusing on Nature then Tech then Nature in stories

Beyond Wakanda: The Rise of Afrofuturism in Pop Culture and Comics

• There was no one definition of Afrofuturism but some ideas included it is a mode of healing, it is a statement that black people will continue to exist, using what you have to create something new.
• Quote by Einstein "Imagination more important than knowledge"
• Darryl DMC McDaniels (yes that DMC that even I have heard of) spoke about the early period of Hip Hop being about moving beyond dystopia
• Chicago is a black cultural center with Jazz and blues and the experimental arts movement. It is a collaborative city. And a product of the great migration which was individuals coming to create a new future
• Art creates a template for creating a future which includes you, and you should not look for permission to tell your own story.
• The importance of being careful of the fact that anointing individuals is a way to keep others out. (The false idea we already have one black x so we don't need more)

John Barrowman Spotlight

• I ended up not getting into this panel but I watched it on some big screens outside the room. 
• John was in a sparkling TARDIS Suit and High Heels (a few others were roped into coming on stage and put on heels, I have to say I never got heels as a concept but boy do boys look good in them, I really think only guys should wear them)  
• John told the Hot Tub story (basically his husbands "naughty bit" (Thanks Monty Python) got accidentally flashed during a live stream. (You can find the clip online because of fans) We got a second part and basically in the end: Even if you walk around the house naked having your 93-year-old inlaw do it is awkward. And according to John Coffee tastes better naked oh John lol.
• Never apologize for being you!!! Have the right to tell others they are being a Dick.
• Growing up he loved comic books and superheroes because they were different and shunned but stayed themselves 
• He then sung 1000 years to us

C2E2 Live Stage

• Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen Talk Agents of shield
• Was a fun little talk, now I have not watched Agents of shield since the 1st half of the first season but I love Coulson 
• (At least the fan fiction versions of Coulson, one of my favorites has him in a relationship with JARVIS, that is definitely ace, even I am not sure if aro because I don't understand what is romance, personally I like romantic things but I like chocolate because it is sweet, stuff animals because they are fuzzy, and flowers because they are pretty but I don't know if I like romantic things because they are romantic or for other reasons)
• Glad I caught him since he is not at C2E2 tomorrow
• Seems like Clark Gregg is just as cool. 
• Also Gregg pointed out that Coulson was saved by fans, he was dead dead in the movie, but fans created #savecoulson and agents of shield happened

Dance Party:

C2E2 has a fun DJ in the lobby playing fun bouncy music. I think the dance parties which spontaneously happen summerize fandom and fans and creativity. Here you have someone from the umbrella academy, multiple spiderpeople (So many incarnations of spiderman now), Superman, Hamilton, Deadpool, and many I did not recognize all dancing together.  Every time I go up into C2E2 I always feel yes these are my people. (These are my people but I hope you find your people where ever they hang out, and know you have people, even if you have to work to find them)

And as the DJ was just about done for the day someone looked over and saw a marriage proposal going on between an Aquaman and his Mera, so he played some appropriate music and ended on Under the Sea from the little mermaid. 

C2E2 Day 1 In Review: A Robbie Day

Today's cosplay: Newt from Fantastic Beasts

Me with what looked like to me giant blueberry creatures

Panels:

Sorting Fair Play Throughout the Universe: Doctor Who and Inclusion

• Overall the feeling was this past season was a good step in the right direction but like any work, improvements can always be made. 
• The diversity both in front of and behind the camera was appreciated. Highlights Ryan being a POC with a disability who is shown to be thriving, the explicit discussion of racism and the civil rights moment in the Rosa Parks episode, and the conversation between Ryan and Yaz about the complexity of racism for different groups of POC's
• "It does not serve characters if you gloss over their lived experience"
• "It is important to explore how to not soft-peddle the negative parts of our history without becoming voyeuristic"
• There was also agreement that it is wonderful that Jodie Whittaker is not sexualized in her role, she is still clearly The Doctor, and that the previous showrunner would not have been able to write her so well. Also She has Pockets :)
• One interesting idea for wishes for next season was to have Jodie call out her own white woman privilege, especially in relationship with traveling with two POC companions

Love in Color: Authors Explore LGBTQ+ Romance in Comics and YA

• We need even more diversity under the LGBTQ+ umbrella to be explored
• It is important to let those who have an experience share that experience because it will be more nuanced then if an outsider writes it. There need to be more naratives about queer friendship.
• It is also important to remember that who you are aiming your story towards may not be who buys books but it is still important
• Books are a form of immortality, they support that we are here
• Queer kids need to see themselves on the spines of books (the author) not just inside 
• It is also important to share Queer stories with those outside queer culture
• There was also an Ace creator on the Panel which made my day. 

Ricanstruction: DC Comic's Heros team up with La Borinquena

• There was a discussion about the current state of Puerto Rico. 
• There was also a discussion about how in the beginning the magic comic book companies were small and more cutting edge on social issues but then they became corporate. 
• One of the authors of one of the stories talked about making stories personal and the importance of writing your issue, in this case, he focused his hero on helping the dogs of the island because he wanted to know what happened to them in the burincaon

Robbie Thompson

Funny how each year I get more confident walking right up to his table in artist alley. The first time I saw him at C2E2 it took until Sunday before I worked up the courage to say hi. This year I simply had a few tiny nerves and pretty much walked right up to his table. 

The recognized me while I was still in line to say Hi. (And yes every year he knows me makes it exponentially more likely he will know me again the following year, but Another Hundred people have gotten off the train and the face he still knows me makes me smile)

I gave him my poem for this year (See last weeks Blog post) and I gave him one of my business cards. He is in the if you write you are a writer camp. It is funny I fully support others who are writers or creators but when it comes to myself I feel odd saying I am an author. I also talked a little about his Deadpool/Spiderman cross over comics. (I don't know the character Deadpool but I do like the "All Ages" version in the crossover or maybe Robbie is just perfect and that explains it) 

I later came back because I found some of his comics in some of the remainder bins and wanted them signed. When I said I was sorry but I did not pay full price for them, he was all they have already been released and I get comics in the $1 bins too. I realized I forget comics are more disposable media in old issues ending up in a $1 bin is not the same thing as having your books remaindered which typically makes authors of published books sad. The second time is also recognized my costume. I guess earlier he just thought I was well dressed, Yep newt is a snazzy dresser