Friday, August 30th 2:30pm – Marriott M301 

Panel Title: Exploring Mentorship Dynamics and Queer Representation in the Marvel Universe

Description: Looking at the ways in which queer coding is utilized in the portrayal of characters and the nuances of illustrating the complexity of mentorship relationships between women, media scholars will examine the impact of these depictions on character development and narrative arcs, as well the broader implications for audience perceptions of diversity and inclusivity in popular media.

Track: American Sci-fi and Fantasy Media

Moderator: Erin Gordon (Art Institute of Chicago)

Papers:

• “Idolization versus True Mentorship: Carol Danvers as a Mentor Figure to Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan” by Margaret Ann Robbins (The Mount Vernon School)
• “Queer-wolf by Night: Queer Coding and LGBTQIA+ Representation in Disney’s Werewolf by Night” by Barry Rich (University of Tennessee Southern)
  

Friday, August 30, 10:00PM – Westin Chastain I-J

Roundtable Title: Gender and Sexuality in Comics

Description: Comics scholars explore issues of gender, sexuality, and identity in comics.

Track: Comics and Pop Art

Moderator: Matthew J Brown (Southern Illinois University)

Participants: Jillian Marie Browning (University of Alabama, Birmingham), Johnathan Flowers (California State University, Northridge), Paul Jenkins, Jeremy Whitley 

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Saturday, August 31, 11:30AM –  Westin Chastain I-J 

Panel Title: International Comics Studies

Description: Scholars provide a nuanced exploration of the global diversity within the realm of comics that transcends Western borders. 

Track: Comics and Pop Art

Moderator: Richard Scott Nokes (Troy University) 

Papers:

• “Navigating Paratextual Affiliations in West and Central African Comics” by Mahriana Rofheart (Georgia Gwinnett College)
• “The Arrival of Superman in the Arab World: The Adaptation of American Comic Books into Arabic (1964-1975)” by Aram Shahin (James Madison University)
  

Saturday, August 31, 4:00PM –  Chastain I-J Westin

Panel Title: New Perspectives in Comics Scholarship

Description: Comics scholars explore a variety of boundary-crossing perspectives for the study of comics, including international legal studies, mathematics and translation through ‘fractal hermeneutics’, and transnational perspectives. 

Track: Comics and Pop Art

Moderator: Jillian Marie Browning (University of Alabama, Birmingham)

Papers:

• “The Law of Nations in Comics: Latveria to Krakoa” by Tiernan Cole
• “Transnational Perspectives on Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman” by Elisha Schuett (University of Georgia)

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Sunday 10am – Westin Augusta A-B

Panel Title: Beyond Buttons: Aesthetics and Intellect in Video Games

Description: Academics engage in a comprehensive examination of the aesthetic dimensions inherent in the video games medium.

Track: Video Gaming

Moderator: Erin Gordon (Art Institute of Chicago)

Papers:

• “Some Video Games are Digital Dollhouses, and That’s Okay: An Aesthetics of Video Games” by Christopher Bartel (Appalachian State University)
  

Sunday 11:30am – Westin Augusta A-B

Panel Title: Medieval Kinships in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: An Exploration of Magical Women in Recent Star Wars Video Games

Description: A scholarly analysis of the parallels between female Star Wars characters and their Arthurian literary counterparts.

Track: Video Gaming

Moderator: Richard Scott Nokes (Troy University) 

Paper: “Arthurian Legacies: Female Force-users of Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor as Contemporary Remediations of Arthurian Fairy Women” by Eyan Birt (University of Birmingham)

Sunday,  Sept 1, 11:30AM – Hilton Galleria 4

Panel Title: Race, Gender, Trauma, Subversion in Manga/Anime

Description: Scholars analyze the current discourse surrounding gender representation, race and trauma in Japanese media and its implications on society and culture.

Track: Anime/Manga

Moderator:  Johnathan Flowers (California State University, Northridge)

Papers:

• “Dislocation and Suspension of Trauma and Temporality in Minekura Kazuya’s Saiyuki and Saiyuki: Reload” by Layla Rosser (University of Alberta)
• “Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World and the Subversion of the Male Fantasy in Isekai Anime” by Sarabelle Khalil (University of Montreal)
• “Sight, Foresight, Oversight: Visions of Vision in Urushibara Yuki’s Mushishi” by Niru Raghavan (University of Alberta)
  

Sunday, Sept 1st, 5:30PM– Westin Chastain I-J 

Panel Title: Comics in the Classroom 

Description: Comics scholars and college faculty explore how comics contribute to creating inclusive learning environments and fostering critical conversations and introspection on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Track: Comics and Pop Art

Moderator: Matthew J Brown (Southern Illinois University)

Respondent:  Alicia Whitley

Papers:

• “Diversity in the Graphic Novel Memoir: Exploring its Importance and Potential in the College Classroom” by Kyler Campbell (Charleston Southern University)

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Monday, September 2nd 10am – Galleria 2-3 Hilton

Panel Title: Exploring Star Trek’s Multifaceted Universe: Disability, Utopian Visions, and Carcerality

Description: Scholars delve into the complex layers of Star Trek’s utopian ideals, dissecting its portrayal of disability and imprisonment narratives.

Track: Star Trek

Moderator: Johnathan Flowers (California State University, Northridge)

Papers:

• “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations: Star Trek’s incorporation of the social model of disability in its vision for the future” by Courtney Bliss (Marion Technical College)
• “Every Starship Must Have Its Brig: Imprisonment Narratives and Carcerality in Star Trek” by Dan Avant Blachman (Old Dominion University)