Schedule - Arisia 2021 | Arisia 2021 • January 15-18, 2021

Panels hosted in Panel Rooms 1-6 also have chats happening in Discord during the panel time. continuing for 30 minutes after panel in corresponding rooms on Discord (under Programming and Events). Visit Discord to join in the conversation!

Generated: Fri Jan 15 02:11:21 2021

Friday - Saturday - Sunday - Monday

5:30pm Friday

Hold Your Enthusiasm: Problematic Things - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): In recent years, J.K. Rowling made clear her transphobia. This year, The Flash fired its Ralph Dibney, actor Hartley Sawyer, after several racist, mysoginist, and homophobic tweets resurfaced. Knowing that these people and many others have said and will continue to say incredibly problematic and harmful things, can we continue to enjoy their work? Or is everything they’ve ever done cancelled? If we do continue to enjoy these works, how can we do so in a way that doesn’t harm others?; Arthur Chu (m), Reuben Baron, Rob Cameron, Gillian Daniels, Lee C. Hillman (Gwendolyn Grace)

Creating Art on Commission - Art & Maker, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): The popular dream of the artist is the chance to create whatever visions you have in your head. But you still need to eat, and you probably have to work on commission. How do you balance between expressing your own ideas and vision and pleasing your boss or client? What are best practices for client-artist relations?; David J Friedman (m), LJ Cohen, Griffin Ess, Hannibal King, Sarah “Tashari” Morrison

Tabletop GM Meetup - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Are you a game master for table top role playing games, or are you interested in starting a campaign? Come meet with other GMs, exchange ideas, and maybe setup some game sessions for the weekend.; Mark Sabalauskas (m), Alan Wexelblat

Virtual Meeting Etiquette - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Virtual meetings—via Zoom or other platforms—are a great way to get together when people can’t physically be together. But virtual meetings bring along with them many of the same challenges as in-person meetings and conference calls, from people who seem to be opposed to muting themselves to those who talk over other speakers. Join our panel to learn virtual meeting etiquette tips (especially for Zoom), as well as how to ensure social equity and inclusion during panels and meetings.; Gordon Linzner (m), Ira Domnitz, Shirley Dulcey, Bhadrika Love, A Joseph Ross

Among Us—Friday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 30min - Gaming (Gaming): In Among Us, a group of space explorers is going about their business taking readings and doing ship maintenance...but someone seems to be sabotaging the vessel, and crew members keep being found dead! In each round, players are randomly assigned the roles of “crewmate” or “imposter”. Complete your tasks or expose the imposters before they take out the whole crew. Join the Arisia community on zoom to play together! You’ll need the game to play.; Elijah Abraham (m)

Fast Track Meet and Greet - Fast Track, Panel - 2hr - Fast Track: Come meet some of the other kids attending the virtual Arisia. Come say Hi to the friends you haven’t seen in a while and those you haven’t met yet.

6:00pm Friday

Pathfinder 1e #7–10 The Consortium - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 5hr - Gaming (Gaming): The Aspis Consortium pays well but few can stand its underhanded tactics. One operative fed up with its practices contacted the Pathfinder Society with a tempting offer: assist her in leaving Aspis and she will supply years of insider intelligence about their longstanding rival. PCs must navigate Diobel—a proud town run by cutthroat smugglers—earn the defector’s trust, and deal a telling blow to Aspis foes. Requires free Roll20 account. Bring tier 1 & 2 characters or use provided pre-gens.; Eeeeka Emrick (m)

The No-Fly List - Gaming, LARP - 4hr - LARP (Gaming): This is a Discord-based game based off of various online conspiracy theories. It is very strongly based on the experience of being a member of a conspiracy forum like Project Camelot or QAnon—except with less egregious and dangerous bigotry. This is a game that goes on all weekend, with periodic information drops.; Jacqueline Bryk (m)

7:00pm Friday

Writing in the Age of COVID - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Speculative fiction writers have imagined all manner of plagues, pandemics, and post-apocalyptic scenarios. Having lived with COVID-19 for the better part of a year, how did speculative fiction writers do? What did they get right and what did they get wrong? This panel will discuss how writers can draw from this collective disaster to make plague fiction more relevant or realistic in the future.; Laurence Raphael Brothers (m), Gillian Daniels, Julie C. Day, Suzanne Palmer, Ken Schneyer

Learn From My Fail: Costume Horror Stories - Cosplay & Costuming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Costumers love to tell you all about that thing they did wrong. Our panelists set out to entertain you with admissions of some of their most embarrassing mistakes, spectacular horror stories, and lessons learned.; Max Impakt / Ask Kaylee Frye (m), Aurora Celeste, Leslie Johnston, Michael Meissner, Nightwing Whitehead

The Internet and the Human Psyche - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): What is the internet doing to us as a species? Are our usual methods of socializing being changed? We’ll unpack some of the more extreme viewpoints, see where they come from, and what the reality is.; Andrea Hairston (m), Marzell Barker, Benjamin Chicka, Arthur Chu, Ruthanna Emrys, John G. McDaid

Gaming at Arisia 2021: Start Here - Gaming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): What does the gaming division even look like at a virtual convention? The staff of the gaming division will explain what’s on the schedule and the different ways you can access content this year across the division.; Gail Terman (m), Daniel R. Abraham, Kevin Lin, Olivia Montoya, Michael A. Renaud

Arisia 2021: Navigating the Convention - ConComm, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Arisia looks quite a bit different this year, but we still have many of the things you love: programming and events, games, Art Show, Dealer’s Room, and even social spaces where you can chat with friends both old and new! We want to show you around our new digs so that you know where to find your favorite things and how to access them (via Zoom, Discord, YouTube, and more). We’ll even show you where—and how—to sign up for games!; Raven Stern (m)

The Year in Science, 2020 - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Our annual review of the science stories of the past year.; Mark L Amidon (m), Dr. Pamela L. Gay, Jeff Hecht, Richard Hurley DVM, Charity Southworth

Mrs Hawking: Fallen Women - Theater, Performance - 1hr 30min - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): London, 1888— Mrs. Hawking’s great rival may have been vanquished, but the struggle has left rifts in our heroes’ once-close bond. Alienated and in pain, they still must swing into action to take on the infamous Jack the Ripper. Will Mary’s new life path, Nathaniel’s lingering trauma, and Mrs. Hawking’s pulling away from her chosen family shatter the team forever? CN: gunshots, mentioned spousal violence, mentioned violence against sex workers.

Return to the Stars: New Worlds, New Civs - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): In the 27th century humanity returns to the stars to reconnect the lost civilizations of humanity. Play as new generation of geeks — makers, genetically-enhanced cosplayers, scientists, and pop culture enthusiasts —setting out on an adventure of exploration and discovery. Beginners welcome to try this 2020 Indie Groundbreaker nominated tabletop RPG powered by Fate. Requires Discord.; Mark Sabalauskas (m)

Graves Left Wanting - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr 30min - Gaming (Gaming): The last thing you remember was dying. Messily. It hurt rather a bit more than you expected. Then the distant promises of the Shimmering Fields ahead, which receded very fast as you fell, and waking up half buried in a pit of corpses in the vast tomb-lands of Graven-Tosk. Alive again, try to do a better job of not dying this time. Because dying really, really hurt. MÖRK BORG is a rules-lite fantasy OSR RPG set in a world teetering on the brink of Apocalypse. Requires Discord and Roll20.; Adrian Gunn (m)

8:00pm Friday

Space Cats—Jasper’s Pit Stop - Gaming, Open Gaming - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): A Feline adventure class spacecraft needs to make it to the station at Alpha5 but Captain Fig found a vole in an airlock and is unavailable. The crew is lost. Who does what? It’s like herding... something. First order of business, gas and snacks! Takes place on Discord. Teams encouraged. Drop in and out.; Kellian Adams Pletcher (m)

8:30pm Friday

Pandemic Fiction: Before and After - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Living through an actual pandemic is bound to have an impact both on how pandemic fiction is written, as well as how pre-COVID-19 fiction is read. In this panel, we’ll discuss what we, as readers, think pre-existing fiction got right and what it got wrong, and how future pandemic fiction could change because of the COVID-19 pandemic.; Ken Schneyer (m), Rachel A. Brune, Lisa Batya Feld, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Mark “Justin” Waks

Schitt’s Creek: Simply the Best - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): When we first meet the Rose Family, they’re... a lot. But over the years, in the tiny town of Schitt’s Creek, we come to know a close and loving family full of smart and capable individuals. And in 2020, we get one of the happiest endings we’ve seen on TV for a while, right at the moment we needed it. Let’s revisit Moira’s wigs, David’s wardrobe, Alexis’ choices, Johnny’s growth, and a world of true love and acceptance.; Eve Leonard (m), Kevin Cafferty, Deirdre Crimmins, Julia Gilstein, Jennifer Pelland, Karen S.

Creating Comics: From Idea to Finished Product - Comics, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Our panel of comics creators will tell you about their process from start to finish: Ideas, scriptwriting, thumbnailing, penciling, lettering, finished art in various media, and delivering finished art—physical or digital—to a publisher or printer. Is it all right to skip steps? To rearrange the order? Do I need to get other people’s eyes on it during intermediate steps? Does workshopping help?; E. J. Barnes (m), Hannibal King, LB Lee, Dan Mazur, James Mobius, Mercy Van Vlack

Sing-along: Musicals and Show Tunes - Music, Sing-Along - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come sing along on some of your favorite songs from musicals old or new! Note that there will be no assigning or claiming of parts; everyone will be free to sing along on everything! Songs will be led by panelists, who may also play accompaniment to support the singing. (participatory sing-along with words provided, via screen share); Dan “Grim” Marsh (m), B.A. Chepaitis, Tori Queeno

Holding Space for Trans Arisians - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): This panel is dedicated to brave Trans Arisians that are willing to tell their stories. What is it like for them in and out of Arisia? What are they facing socially and politically? What erasure and poor representation is there that needs to be combated? What do we need to know as allies to better support them in the community and in the broader world? We invite you to hold space and learn from these valued community members.; AJ Odasso (m), etana, Forest Handford, Carson Pavao, Penny Wilhelm

Friday Tabletop Jamboree - Gaming, Board Game - 4hr 15min - Gaming (Gaming): It’s Friday night, and do we have plenty of gaming for you! The Friday Tabletop Jamboree is a tabletop pentathlon where you match your wits against other contenders in a series of board games. Only one will be declared the champion; will it be you? IMPORTANT: You need a (free) Board Game Arena account in order to participate in the Friday Tabletop Jamboree. Games featured in Friday Tabletop Jamboree: Can’t Stop, Cacao, Incan Gold, Red 7, Sushi Go, Tea Time; Kevin Lin (m)

The Pro-Synthoid Liberation Society - Gaming, LARP - 2hr - LARP (Gaming): The ProSynthoid Liberation Society meet for their bimonthly planning meeting, ready to prepare their agenda for the coming months.The previous campaign didn’t convince, well, anyone that those weird robots at the coffee shop are actually sentient creatures, so there’s a lot of work to do. Content Advisory: Terrorism, religious fundamentalism, capitalism Kickstarter link for an anthology with this game and others: http://bit.ly/makeasceneks; Josh Krehbiel (m)

MST3K Turkey Day Marathon 2020 - Video, Participatory Event - 55min - Discord (Discord): Our favorite bots Crow, Gypsy, and Tom Servo have taken a break from the Satellite of Love to host a marathon of shorts. Just one hour of the 12 hour MST3K marathon is scheduled, but if there’s interest, we’ll go as long as you want.

9:00pm Friday

Rocky Horror—Shiver with Antici... pation - Theater, Performance - 2hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Sex! Aliens! Rock and Roll!... All of this AND a floorshow from the comfort of your home! Come Time Warp with us again but this time virtually. This Arisia staple will show you just how exciting Zoom can be with the Teseracte Players of Boston.

10:00pm Friday

Love Potion # (COVID-1) 9 - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): A worldwide pandemic and the need to social distance are not ideal ingredients in any relationship. Those looking for love, partnered, and otherwise have had to let go of traditional dates and nights out. Our panelists will discuss inventive ways to find, nurture, and keep the romance alive during these uncertain times.; Max Impakt / Ask Kaylee Frye (m), Bekah Maren Anderson, Diana Hsu, David Larochelle, Tikva (raycho)

Friday Night Readings - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work; James L. Cambias, Kathryn Sullivan, W. B.J. Williams, Douglas Wynne

Open Singing - Music, Song Circle - 2hr - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come listen and/or make music in this unthemed song circle. All types of music are welcome. Time permitting, everyone who wishes to lead a song will have at least one opportunity to do so. (participatory song circle); Ellen Kranzer (m), Lee C. Hillman (Gwendolyn Grace), Benjamin Newman

11:00pm Friday

Cosmic Encounter—Friday Edition - Gaming, Board Game - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): If you can add, subtract, multiply, divide, and backstab your friends while scheming to control the galaxy, this is a game you might like. Beginner’s games might last 20 minutes, more advanced an hour “or so”. Bright ( and not a little bloodthirsty) 10-year olds and up.; Dale Miller (m)

10:00am Saturday

The Challenger Disaster at 35 - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Thirty-five years ago this month, the STS Challenger disintegrated 15 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, killing all seven people aboard and grounding all crewed spaceflight from the United States for three years. We’ll look at the emotional impact of the disaster and how that has evolved over time. We’ll also discuss what we learned from the disaster, and how those lessons affect the new age of crewed space flight.; Stephen R Wilk (m), Inanna Arthen, James Bredt, Walter H. Hunt, Charity Southworth, Ian Randal Strock

Remote Options for Gaming - Gaming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): With the outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide, most, if not all, of us found our ability to participate in social activities such as tabletop and role-playing games seriously curtailed, to say the least. But hardcore gamers find a way, and the pandemic is no exception. Join our expert gamers and gamemasters as they elaborate on the platforms, tools, and logistical strategies they’ve used to keep the fun going, both online and otherwise.; Jonathan Woodward (m), Adri, Morgan Crooks, Lisa Padol, Raven Stern, Alan Wexelblat

Rousing Chorus Songs - Music, Song Circle - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come sing (or just listen, but we hope you’ll sing) songs with uncommonly good and energetic choruses that really pull people in. Filk, folk, and anything else are all welcome, but insufficiently rousing songs and songs without choruses will be gonged! (themed participatory song circle); Naomi Hinchen (m), Angela Kessler, Jeremy H. Kessler

The Revival of the Black Panther - Comics, Lecture - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): How has Black Panther gone from Marvel’s first Black Superhero, introduced back in 1966, to in fifty-some-odd years becoming the star in one of the world’s top grossing, blockbuster films? Prof. Foster takes us on a journey to see how the groundbreaking comic book character has changed the way we look at race, the media, and even international politics.; William H. Foster III

Swords Are Fun! with Sword Lesson and Live Q&A - Fan Interest, Demonstration - 1hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Athena School of Arms presents an Introduction to Historical Fencing & Martial Arts. We show the basic concepts of the modern study and practice of weapon arts from the European Middle Ages to the 19th century. With Demonstrations of free fencing and cutting with sharp swords. The session includes a Scottish Basket-hilt Sword lesson. Have a stick ready for the lesson’s start. Live Q&A will follow the presentation on Arisia’s chat platform, Discord. A Zoom longsword lesson is on Sunday at 10:30.; Steven Hirsch (m), Athena School of Arms

Rosie’s Zoom Stamp Game! - Gaming, Board Game - 1hr 30min - Gaming (Gaming): For once, the Annotate function is necessary! We’ll meet on Zoom and I’ll be sharing a screen that shows some maps or other diagrams. On the count of 3, you’ll place a stamp on where you think the (national capital, body part, etc.) is located, and whoever is closest will get more points! No other materials required.; Rosie Wagner (m)

Space Cats—Magma Galaxy Vista - Gaming, Open Gaming - 5hr - Gaming (Gaming): We’ve got enough fuel for both the ship and ourselves. Flying this thing is harder than we thought! Time to head for the breathtaking sights of Magma Galaxy. Join us for this second leg of Space Cats. New players welcome. Takes place on Discord. Teams encouraged. Drop in and out.; Kellian Adams Pletcher (m)

Midnight Run - Gaming, LARP - 4hr - LARP (Gaming): In the grim far future, the forces of Chaos have made a significant strike against the Imperium in the sector. An ambitious Chaos warband has managed to capture a notorious Imperial inquisitor. All that remains is for them to transport their prisoner across the void of space to their daemonic master so that they can reap the rewards! The Warhammer 40k setting contains elements of extremism, religious fanaticism, genocide, xenophobia towards actual aliens, and discrimination against corrupt or impure humans. Murder, torture and violence are all going to happen but will not be detailed any more than the players are comfortable with. The game includes PC-on-PC psychic torture. No sexual content.; Alex Helm (m)

The No-Fly List - Gaming, LARP - 12hr - LARP (Gaming): This is a Discord-based game based off of various online conspiracy theories. It is very strongly based on the experience of being a member of a conspiracy forum like Project Camelot or QAnon—except with less egregious and dangerous bigotry. This is a game that goes on all weekend, with periodic information drops.

Papercraft Workshop - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Gather up your supplies and come learn how to create 3D art with just some paper! Supplies needed: paper, scotch tape, scissors, sharp wooden pencil, a bit of cardboard, 2–3 plastic straws, and markers or colored pencils.; Emmett Wald (m), Scott Wilhelm

11:00am Saturday

Among Us—Saturday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 30min - Gaming (Gaming): In Among Us, a group of space explorers is going about their business taking readings and doing ship maintenance...but someone seems to be sabotaging the vessel, and crew members keep being found dead! In each round, players are randomly assigned the roles of “crewmate” or “imposter”. Complete your tasks or expose the imposters before they take out the whole crew. Join the Arisia community on zoom to play together! You’ll need the game to play.; Elijah Abraham (m)

11:30am Saturday

Just the Facts: Batteries - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): From cell phones to cars to solar power storage and beyond, batteries are becoming more and more important to our daily lives. How do the more common types of batteries work? What are the challenges for the next generation? And why do laptops sometimes catch fire?; Richard Moore (m), James Bredt, Ken Gale, Aaron Marks, Amos Meeks

Art and Storytelling - Art & Maker, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): A great deal of artwork goes into theatrical productions, movies, and television; from the conceptual art that inspires the sets and costumes to the storyboards, which help develop the story scene-by-scene. This panel will explore that work and the people who do it.; Max Impakt / Ask Kaylee Frye (m), Hannibal King, Eve Leonard, Ryan Leonard, Fae Weichsel

Suzanne Palmer Reading - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Join our Writer Guest of Honor, while she reads from her own work.; Suzanne Palmer

Speed Songwriting - Music, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Experience the songwriting process up close and personal in this musical version of the Story Pitch Challenge panel. Based on input from the audience, panelists will write a song on the spot!; Naomi Hinchen (m), Nat Budin, Mel Carubia, Thom Dunn, Benjamin Newman, Meredith Schwartz

How to Be an Anti-Racist in SF/F/H - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): 2020 highlighted the need to be both not racist as well as anti-racist in the national conversation. The SF/F/H community has historically not prioritized our own for racist actions or words while the continued revering of deeply problematic figures and works makes the community less welcoming for all fans. How do we hold the community and creators accountable? What can we do to help the anti-racism ideals the community needs?; Forest Handford (m), Bunnificent, etana, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, Vandana Singh

Massachusetts Historical Swordsmanship Demo - Fan Interest, Demonstration - 1hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): While we can’t bring you our usual live classical and historical fencing demos, we’ve made a “virtual demo” for you this year! We’ll be showing you the characteristics of the various weapons we practice, together with archival footage of 19th and early 20th century fencing and how we reconstruct the use of weapons from the past. The session will include a Discord Q&A with Dr. Ken Mondschein, historian and MHS’s principal instructor.; Ken Mondschein (m), Massachusetts Historical Swordsmanship

An Introduction to Magic: The Gathering - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that has been around for over 20 years. Come learn about the fundamentals and get some tips and tricks to try out on your own.; Micah Schneider (m)

Dern Grim Bedtime Tales & Other Stories - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Gather ‘round to listen to Daniel Dern read from his Dern Grim Bedtime Tales (Few Of Which End Well) & Other Stories, like “The Boy Who Didn’t Like His Food Touching Each Other”, “The Girl Who Put Off Cleaning Her Room A Little Too Long, Oh No!”, “The Girl Whose Mama Was A Kangaroo”, and his ever-popular “If You Give A T. Rex A Cookie”.; Daniel P. Dern

12:00pm Saturday

Chiseled: A Deck-Sculpting Card Game - Gaming, Board Game - 6hr - Gaming (Gaming): Learn to play Chiseled, a competitive game about sculpting marble in a shared studio, from the designer! Remove cards and accentuate what remains in your deck (your block of marble) to score big and please critics for bonuses. There’s only one set of tools, so you need to strategically select which one you use each turn, as they only become available again once all are used! 60 minute sessions, ages 14+. Requires a copy of Tabletop Simulator to play ( https://www.tabletopsimulator.com/; $20).; Michael Epstein (m)

Takenoko Tournament - Gaming, Board Game - 4hr 15min - Gaming (Gaming): It’s a tale as old as time, one emperor gave another emperor a gift as a peace gesture between their two nations. Of course, now it is your responsibility to make sure that living and very hungry panda is taken care of. Prove to the emperor that you are the best panda caretaker! IMPORTANT: You must have a (free) Board Game Arena account in order to participate in this tournament. Tabletop Plays Takenoko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4n-e-hb_o; Kevin Lin (m)

Starfinder #1–01 The Commencement - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 5hr - Gaming (Gaming): Starfinders complete their training by conferring with Guidance—a network of uploaded personalities embodying paragons from Starfinder Society history. Before receiving the blessing of Guidance, PCs must meet with and assist critical missions on behalf of key leaders of the Society’s leading factions. With events of the Scoured Stars Incident fresh in memory, there’s plenty to do to set the Society on track. Requires a free Roll 20 account. Bring tier 1 & 2 characters or use provided pre-gens.; Eeeeka Emrick (m)

Long Time Listener, Last Time Caller - Gaming, LARP - 1hr - LARP (Gaming): Long Time Listener, Last Time Caller is a game for 4–10 players and 30–60 minutes about a radio show at the end of the world. It is inspired by great moments of radio where a crisis has enabled broadcasters to transcend the constraints of the medium and help their audiences on a personal level. As the game goes on, the host gradually abandons the artifice of broadcasting, until everything is stripped away and all that remains is two people talking to one another while the world listens.

1:00pm Saturday

Living with a Disability in 2021 - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act but those who are disabled are still fighting for rights, doing heavy emotional labor, and being treated as spokespeople for all disabled folx. Our panelists will discuss what they face in and out of our community, visible vs invisible disabilities, and what people can do to be better allies.; AJ Odasso (m), Bekah Maren Anderson, Lenore Jean Jones, LB Lee, A Joseph Ross, Tikva (raycho)

Framing Unusual Things - Art & Maker, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Framing is not just for flat pictures. Many of have artwork, or small collections of objects that are sitting in boxes or drawers, because we don’t have a good way to display them. This panel will talk about how to create and use shadowboxes, and how best to display your skeleton keys, your antique lace, or your awesome minifigs.; Lena G. (m), Lisa A Ashton, Melissa Honig, Johnna Y Klukas, Sarah “Tashari” Morrison

Directors’ Tour of the Art Show - Art & Maker, Participatory Event - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Come get a guided tour of the Art Show with commentary by our art show directors and hear what goes into putting an online art show together.; Julia Austein, Megan Lewis

Movie Novelizations - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): What do movie novelizations add to the stories they are adapting? Does the move from screen to page add to the story or transform it, or is it a simple repetition?; Jeffrey A Carver (m), Lee C. Hillman (Gwendolyn Grace), Timothy Luz, Sonya Taaffe, H. M. White, Stephen R Wilk

Saturday Feedback Sessions - ConComm, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Tell us how to improve Arisia while there’s still time to fix (some) things!; Vivian Abraham, Nicholas “phi” Shectman

Mrs Hawking: Gentlemen Never Tell - Theater, Performance - 1hr 30min - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): “Gentlemen Never Tell,” by Phoebe Roberts & Bernie Gabin. A comic spinoff of the ongoing Mrs. Hawking story, we follow her other nephew, dashing bisexual rake Justin, as he trots the globe having romantic adventures. On a business trip to Venice during Masquerade, he’s there to make deals and make love—not necessarily in that order—but finds more intrigue than he bargained for and must interrupt his dalliances long enough to stick up for those without his privilege to float through life.

What Gooey Webs We Weave—Saturday - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): The mysterious disappearance of a Carnivalle attendee results in the locals accusing the troupe of a heinous crime, leading the adventurers into a dark web they would not have expected. An enthralling one-shot adventure introducing players to the amazing Gooey Cube 5e compatible world and their spectacular adventure campaign story. Everything required to play will be provided including pre-generated characters. You will need a free Roll20 account to play.

Featured Dealers Chat - Trackless events, Participatory Event - 5hr - Discord (Discord): Come meet featured Dealers in Discord. Each hour will have a different dealer. A schedule will be pinned in the channel.

Pictionary with Robots - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Root the robot is an educational robot designed to help kids learn about coding. Join special guest Root to learn a little about how Root is coded, and to play guessing games (Pictionary and Guess the Song) in Root’s remote environment. Participants will be given a link to try coding new pictures or songs for Root on their own as well as the answer sheet to try out the games again later. All ages/grade levels welcome, but recommended for kids 5 and up.; Raven Stern

2:00pm Saturday

Too Polite - Gaming, LARP - 1hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): You’re all here for a conference call. Different conference calls. You suspect at least one person is on the wrong call. Everyone is Canadian, and are thus Too Polite to point this out. You’re pretty sure it’s not you on the wrong call. However, this is a meeting where you don’t expect to know anyone else on the call, so you can’t be 100% certain.; Ron T Blechner (m)

The Neverwinter Adventuring Academy Session 1 - Fast Track, Panel - 2hr - Fast Track: In the NAA Open House, you can register for a class, learn the basics of the adventuring life, and try your luck in the Danger Room! Details: Preregistration is required! Email: Schneider.micah@gmail.com. Space limited to 6 players per session. Pregen characters provided. All levels of experience encouraged, but this session is aimed at new/inexperienced players. All players must be Fast Track eligible to play. Parents encouraged to follow along!; Micah Schneider

2:30pm Saturday

The Monomyth Myth: Non-Western Narratives - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Current Western academic ideas about “universal” tropes and storylines just aren’t all that universal when you expand literature to encompass the whole world. Let’s talk about stories in their wonderful variety and put the idea of Campbell’s hero’s journey to rest.; W. B.J. Williams (m), Greg R. Fishbone, Andrea Hairston, Vandana Singh, Sonya Taaffe, Jessica Waters

Cosplay Procrastination: Motivation Without Cons - Cosplay & Costuming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Finishing your cosplay is difficult enough when you have a hard deadline to get out the door and to the con, but what happens when there is no deadline? What does it mean to cosplay when there is no con to wear it to, and how do we stay on track to achieve our costuming goals?; Alder Fehler (m), Lisa A Ashton, Hannah Prum (Kirkette Cosplay), Tori Queeno

Experimental Comics Formats: Then and Now - Comics, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): From Gasoline Alley, Gordo, and MAD Fold-Ins to Coin-Op Books and infinitely scrolling webcomics, comics creators have played with composition, dimensions, art medium, and reading flow to give their comics a unique dimension. We’ll discuss the history of experimental-format comics, and what examples you can look for today.; E. J. Barnes (m), Charlie Boatner, Dan Mazur, Israel Peskowitz, Maggie Thompson

Surviving the Apocalypse Emotionally - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Most discussions about surviving the apocalypse (be it zombie, climate, or alien) focus on the skills necessary for physical survival. But we are emotional creatures, and coping with the stress and grief is just as important as building a fire. What do healthy emotions and healthy relationships look like after the world ends? What genre stories have tackled these questions well, and what advice can they give us for our own non-apocalyptic trauma?; Bhadrika Love (m), LB Lee, Gordon Linzner, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Bey Woodward

From Social Justice to Kindness - Fan Interest, Interview - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Arisia 2021’s Fan Guest of Honor, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, has a few different—but critical—projects happening. Her Dictionary of Social Justice (https://www.patreon.com/ktokopnik) includes essays, definitions of social justice terms, and social justice-aware etiquette. Recipes for Kindness, Kat’s upcoming YouTube channel and blog, will focus on making the society of long spoons real and building a network of care. Come hear about these projects, ask questions, and celebrate our Fan GOH!; Kat Tanaka Okopnik (m), Rowan

En Garde! SCA Rapier Fencing Demo & Crash Course - Fan Interest, Participatory Event - 1hr 30min - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): Ever wish you could duel like the Three Musketeers or swashbuckle like a pirate? Fencers from Boston’s local Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) group will demo Renaissance fighting techniques. Con goers will experience the duel with rapier, longsword, spears & more! A panel of SCA fencers will talk about their experiences and answer questions. After the demo, there will be a crash course on rapier fencing. No sword is necessary! A stick, broom, ruler, or large serving spoon will suffice!; J.M. Aucoin (m), Society for Creative Anachronism, Carolingia

Children’s Filk Concert - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: A Zoom Filk concert, come bring your voice and sing along.; Emma Caywood (m)

3:30pm Saturday

Too Polite - Gaming, LARP - 1hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): You’re all here for a conference call. Different conference calls. You suspect at least one person is on the wrong call. Everyone is Canadian, and are thus Too Polite to point this out. You’re pretty sure it’s not you on the wrong call. However, this is a meeting where you don’t expect to know anyone else on the call, so you can’t be 100% certain.

4:00pm Saturday

The Octavia Butler future is now - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): In her Earthseed series, Octavia Butler gave us a vision of the 2020s that is disturbingly close to our reality, including storms, and droughts brought on by climate change; escapism through addictive pharmaceuticals and games, and perhaps most chillingly a far-right US President backed by extremist evangelical Christians. This panel will review the highlights of these books and discuss the influences on Butler’s writing as well as the influence these novels have had since their publication.; Gillian Daniels (m), Bunnificent, Rob Cameron, Andrea Hairston, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Sam Schreiber

New Tech for Costumers - Cosplay & Costuming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Laser cutters, wood burners, 3D printers, and more. Computer programs are out there to help you design both garments and accessories. Learn about the technology that’s out there, including how to access it and what you can do with it.; Gaia Eirich (m), Michael Meissner, Chris Murphy, Kevin Osborn, Jamila Sisco

Saturday Afternoon Readings - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work.; Bob R R Angell, Daniel P. Dern, Anne E.G. Nydam

Good Story Songs - Music, Song Circle - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come sing (or just listen, but we hope you’ll sing) songs that tell really neat stories—that is, they have coherent, compelling narratives as well as good lyrics and good tunes. Stories come from all sorts of varied perspectives, and we hope that the songs brought to this session will, too. Filk, folk, and anything else is welcome, so long as the story is good. (themed participatory song circle); Ellen Kranzer (m), Nat Budin, Dan “Grim” Marsh, Benjamin Newman

Descriptive Tour of the Art Show - Art & Maker, Participatory Event - 55min - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): This year, since we cannot offer a tactile tour, we are offering a descriptive tour of our online Art Show..; Zonathon

The Planet That Never Sleeps - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): When the Convention’s ambassador to Third York vanishes, your crew of space explorers is sent to investigate. Enjoy Noir tropes mashed up with optimistic space opera pleasures. Beginners welcome to try this 2020 Indie Groundbreaker nominated game powered by Fate. Requires Discord.; Mark Sabalauskas (m)

Space Cats—Space Station - Gaming, Open Gaming - 7hr - Gaming (Gaming): Magma Galaxy was nice and all, but we are due to check in at the space station. There’s some dangerous space ahead, though. We need to keep our wits about us! Join us for the third leg of Space Cats. New players welcome. Takes place on Discord. Teams encouraged. Drop in and out.; Kellian Adams Pletcher (m)

A Young Fan’s Reading List - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: There are a lots of great fantasy and science fiction books out there for kids and young adults. What are you enjoying now? Old favorite and new sensations... let’s chat about our favorite books.; Kate Brick (m)

4:30pm Saturday

Feed Your Inner Demon—A Journey Dance - Dance, Participatory Event - 1hr 15min - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): JourneyDance™ is a gently guided freeform movement modality where you simply cannot do it wrong! Dance to sci-fi themed music as you journey through different movement styles and emotions. A guided visualization will take you to meet and befriend your inner demon in a movement based adaptation of Feeding Your Demons, a Buddhist practice brought to the west by Buddhist nun Tsultrim Allione. Clear yourself a bit of floor space, and find your best bluetooth speakers for this participatory event.; Caroline Meeks

5:00pm Saturday

Project Márohu - Gaming, LARP - 6hr - LARP (Gaming): An ancient ship travels across the universe. Covered in foliage and plants that no longer have names, she comes to the rescue of planets on the verge of ecological destruction. Whoever can be saved, and the seeds they carry with them, become guests on her ship. Project Márohu is a virtual freeform larp in the space fantasy genre, where emotional narrative is prioritized over rigorous science fiction. In the design, the larp emulates physical connection to each other, and our surroundings.; Alexis Moisand, Naomi Torres-Ortiz

Repro: A Make a Scene Preview - Gaming, LARP - 3hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): Repro is about parenting in a post-capitalist, post-scarcity, and gender expansive world. When or if a human being wishes to become a parent, whether in partnership, as an individual, or as part of a collective, they go to Reproductive Services, or Repro. This scenario is about family, parenting, and decision-making. Content Warning: fertility choices, difficult parent relationships. Kickstarter link for an anthology with this game and others: http://bit.ly/makeasceneks

5:30pm Saturday

Just the Facts: Supervolcanoes - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Just because we didn’t have enough to worry about in 2020, seismic activity increased around Yellowstone, leading some to worry about the supervolcano underneath it. What’s the difference between a volcano and a supervolcano? Do we know of others around the world? And what can it do if it blows?; Roxanne Reddington-Wilde (m), Lena G., Jeff Hecht, Richard Moore, Charity Southworth

Cut the Boring Parts - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): When you’re seeking to write an exciting book, the first thing you should do is cut out all the boring parts. How does a writer do this? Knowing that different readers look for different types of entertainment within a book, how can a writer create fiction that excites, energizes, and compels compulsive reading? Panelists will focus not only on action scenes, but ways of imbuing “quieter” moments with true tension.; E. C. Ambrose (m), James L. Cambias, Jeanne Cavelos, Suzanne Palmer, Carson Pavao, Victoria Sandbrook

Gender Non-Binary Mixer & Safe Space - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Androgyne, GenderQueer, Gender Expansive, BiGender, questioning, and everyone whose identity lies outside of the male-female gender binary is invited to socialize with new and old friends in a judgment-free zone. We’ll begin with introductions, follow with a party game, and end with attendees having the space to mix and mingle. (To maintain a safe space, allies are asked to not attend.) What’s said in the space stays in the space.; AJ Odasso (m), JoSelle Vanderhooft

Traditional Ballad Bingo - Music, Song Circle - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Join the fun as attendees (that’s you!) take turns performing traditional ballads for the assemblage. Listen carefully to mark your Ballad Bingo cards when you detect such classic tropes as drowning, pregnancy out of wedlock, or murder of a loved one. Compete for “valuable” prizes already in your house! Bingo cards will be provided... somehow. Ballads from any tradition are welcome here. (themed participatory song circle); Angela Kessler (m), Greer Gilman, Jeremy H. Kessler, Dan “Grim” Marsh, Sonya Taaffe

6:00pm Saturday

Selections from the Ig Nobel Awards - Theater, Panel - 1hr - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Brief dramatic readings from real research studies and patents that make people LAUGH, then THINK. Each study or patent has won an Ig Nobel Prize or is in the spirit of that prize. (For a list of Ig Nobel Prize winners, see https://www.improbable.com/ig-about/winners.); Marc Abrahams, Robin Abrahams, Dean Grodzins, David Kessler, Mason Porter, Sonya Taaffe

7:00pm Saturday

Intersectionality in Social Justice - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): When we think of social justice, often we think of a single cause to champion—feminism, LGBT+ rights, race, gender, etc.—and the systems that lead to discrimination as well as disadvantage. By looking at social causes through an intersectional lens, we can do more, understand more, and be better allies. Panelists will discuss what intersectionality is as well how it applies to numerous social categorizations.; Emmett Wald (m), Marzell Barker, Bunnificent, Forest Handford, LB Lee, Gillian Polack

How to Participate in the SFF Art Show World - Art & Maker, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Ever thought, “My work would look good here at the Art Show”? The panelists will discuss piece selection, how to display your art, how to pack things, pricing and other topics that will help you get started in the weird and wonderful world of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art Shows! We will also cover some of the changes and opportunities that virtual cons have brought to the Art Show.; Megan Lewis (m), David D’Antonio, Sara Felix, Lisa Hertel, Hannibal King, Johnna Y Klukas

Comfort Food Media: Extreme Stay-at-Home Edition - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): 2020 was going to be the year we were going to tackle the piles of unread books, of films we’d been meaning to see. Many of us haven’t actually worked on those lists, choosing instead to revisit the things that we know repair our collective calm. What old favorites did you return to this year, why is this so comforting, and what do you do with the discomfort that emerges when you realize your old favorites have become problematic? (We’re looking at you, Rowling.); Randee Dawn (m), Kevin Cafferty, Deirdre Crimmins, Andrea Hairston, Victoria Janssen, Dan Toland

Making Friends as an Adult - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Making friends as an adult is hard. Shared experiences with new people have to be scheduled around the demands of work, family, and existing friendships. How does one go about making new friends? How do we find new people to make friends with? Why is this so much easier when we’re children? Why is it important to make new friends as an adult? And how do you know if new friendships are healthy or not?; Ilene Tatroe (m), Charlie Boatner, Rachel Kenley, Danny Miller, Mark “Justin” Waks

Arisia 2021: Navigating the Convention - ConComm, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Arisia looks quite a bit different this year, but we still have many of the things you love: programming and events, games, Art Show, Dealer’s Room, and even social spaces where you can chat with friends both old and new! We want to show you around our new digs so that you know where to find your favorite things and how to access them (via Zoom, Discord, YouTube, and more). We’ll even show you where—and how—to sign up for games!; Raven Stern (m)

Yedo: The Game - Gaming, Board Game - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): Plot and scheme against your fellow clan leaders in the Japanese shogunate! Accumulate prestige, minions, and resources to complete missions ranging from espionage through assassination to open warfare. Yedo is great for fans of Lords of Waterdeep and other mission-based worker placement games. Requires a copy of Tabletop Simulator to play ( https://www.tabletopsimulator.com/; $20).; Scott Marchand Davis (m)

Darktide’s Night—Saturday - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): A well deserved night out is met with a chilling mystery. Unfortunately it very well could end with the party joining the spirits who often walk this night. Do you have what it takes to survive Darktide? The most wicked night of the year. Part two of the enthralling introductory series to Gooey Cube’s 5e compatible world of Zyathé. A one-shot adventure designed for level 2 player characters; pre-generated characters provided. You will need a free Roll20 account to play.

Saturday Tabletop Jamboree - Gaming, Board Game - 4hr 15min - Gaming (Gaming): It’s Saturday night, and do we have plenty of gaming for you! The Saturday Tabletop Jamboree is a tabletop pentathlon where you match your wits against other contenders in a series of board games. Only one will be declared the champion; will it be you? IMPORTANT: You need a (free) Board Game Arena account in order to participate in the Saturday Tabletop Jamboree. Games featured in the Saturday Tabletop Jamboree: 6 nimmt!, Coloretto, Downforce, Kingdomino, Love Letter, Marrakech; Kevin Lin (m)

7:30pm Saturday

Gender Swapped Star Trek: Mirror, Mirror - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): A transporter malfunction sends Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura into a parallel universe! In it, the Federation is replaced by an evil empire where promotion occurs by assasination, and everything seems changed on the Enterprise. How will our heroes get back to their own timeline? (Radio drama presented by Post-Meridian Radio Players)

8:00pm Saturday

Jumpspace Downtime - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): “Jump” is the 168 hour (+/-10%) “week” when starships travel between star systems. Jump often occurs “off screen” between adventures; this is not one of those times. The PCs are the ship’s crew and their passengers. The captain is behind on ship mortgage payments and is taking on riskier cargo to improve cash flow. Is anyone concerned about the industrial freezer with “live cargo” on the side? Age 13+, no Traveller experience necessary, pre-generated characters to be provided.; Greg Caires (m)

Jackbox Games—Saturday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): Jackbox Games is the party game-making studio best known for hit games like YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, Quiplash, Fibbage, Drawful, Trivia Murder Party, and more! Their large variety of games is designed to appeal to everyone: drawing games, writing games, trivia games, hidden identity games… no party-goer gets left behind. Join the Arisia community on zoom as we play some favorites and some new releases together! You’ll need 1 internet device per person to join in the fun.; Gail Terman (m)

8:30pm Saturday

Neurodiversity in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): This panel will explore the history of neurodiversity in SF/F. From its existence in the genre and fandom to neurodiverse-coded characters, we’ll discuss what they get right and what they get wrong, as well as what the representation means for the community.; Vivian Abraham (m), Arthur Chu, etana, Benjamin Newman, Dr. Jim Prego

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Come discover your new favorite writer as members of Broad Universe read short excerpts from their work. Each writer has just a few minutes to show you what we’re capable of! Broad Universe is an international organization that supports women and other non-privileged gender writers, editors, and publishers. NOTE: Not all authors may be in attendance for the entire time slot. Other members of Broad Universe not listed may be reading.; E. C. Ambrose (m), Terri Bruce, Sara Codair, LJ Cohen, Randee Dawn, Marianna Martin PhD, Anne E.G. Nydam

Polyamory Meetup - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Come make connections with other members of the Arisia community who identify as polyamorous or engage in other forms of ethical non-monogamy. Commiserate about the challenges that are unique to people in non-traditional relationship structures. We want this to be a welcoming environment for people of all experience levels and those who are not open to more relationships at the moment—this is not the place to seek out a new partner or date.; Micah Schneider (m), Alan Wexelblat

The Future of Food - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Our relationship with food, and the role of food within our society, is always evolving. What does the future of food look like in science fiction? Whose food gets included in the future, and whose gets left out?; David J Friedman (m), Ruthanna Emrys, Lisa Batya Feld, Diana Hsu, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, Trisha J. Wooldridge

Time Travel Tropes - Video, Participatory Event - 55min - Discord (Discord): We’ll be talking about the Ground Hog Day time travel trope on Discord and watching some examples.

9:00pm Saturday

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Scared of bunnies? Ever wished you were the slayer? The Teseracte Players prove that life’s a show as they sing and dance—from the comfort of their homes!—into trouble as Buffy and the Scoobies.

10:00pm Saturday

Teasecraft Kinky Maker Meetup: Show & Tell (18+) - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Do you like making your own sex toys/BDSM equipment/costumes/other kinky and fun things? Come share your ideas and projects with other crafters. Or come ask questions and get inspired. Teasecraft is a meetup group for sex/kink-positive makers and crafters. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your (a)sexuality/orientation/gender/race/ability/specific kink or what materials you work with. 18+ only.; Adri (m)

Cereal and Cartoons: Saturday Mornings Revisited - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): The heyday of the Saturday morning cartoon, from the 1960s through the 1990s, is long past. With the rise of syndication, cable, home video and streaming, this sacred ritual slowly faded until disappearing entirely a few years ago. We’ll look back on this with enormous fondness, even as we acknowledge that the vast majority of the programs themselves weren’t very good.; Dan “Grim” Marsh (m), Logan Jacob Maxwell Tyler Brodie Biscornet, Kevin Eldridge, Naomi Hinchen, Timothy Luz, Dan Toland

Through the Door: The Appeal of Portal Stories - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Fantasy and science fiction both love a good portal story, from being transported into a realm of magic and nonsense, the world of a video game, or an alternate dimension. We’ll discuss what we love about portal stories, how the tropes associated with these stories vary across fantasy and science fiction, and of course talk about our favorite examples.; Kathryn Sullivan (m), M. Dalto, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Greer Gilman, Gillian Polack

Open Singing - Music, Song Circle - 2hr - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come listen and/or make music in this unthemed song circle. All types of music are welcome. Time permitting, everyone who wishes to lead a song will have at least one opportunity to do so. (participatory song circle); Ellen Kranzer (m), Nat Budin

Dr Horribile’s Sing-A-Long Blog - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Groupies, corporate tools, and members of the ELE: Does the status not feel quo? Join the Tesseracte Players for a sing-a-log where the weird stuff is sure to be.... well... weird, with our live streamed show!

Doctor Who Mini-Episodes - Video, Projected Media - 55min - Discord (Discord): The BBC has produced many short Doctor Who episodes, some as a fundraiser for Comic Relief/Children in Need.

11:00pm Saturday

Arisia’s Saturday Night Club Dance - Theater, Participatory Event - 2hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): This year may have us socially distanced, but that won’t stop us from celebrating our Saturday night tradition. DJ DIRGE spins all your favorite electronic dance floor hits, geeky songs, and maybe even dances a meme or two. Join your fellow Arisians and dance the night away in the safety and comfort of your own home. We may be apart, but the Arisia party spirit keeps us together at twitch.tv/DJDIRGE. (Performance hall picks up the video at 11:00PM, already in progress. Visit the link at 9.)

Cosmic Encounter—Saturday Edition - Gaming, Board Game - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): If you can add, subtract, multiply, divide, and backstab your friends while scheming to control the galaxy, this is a game you might like. Beginner’s games might last 20 minutes, more advanced an hour “or so”. Bright ( and not a little bloodthirsty) 10-year olds and up.; Dale Miller (m)

10:00am Sunday

What Are the Kids Reading Now? - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Several decades ago, fantasy was written for “middle grade” kids—young people aged 8 to 12. The Harry Potter series started out as MG fantasy. But YA, with its grittier, more mature themes, became the dominant level of SFF for younger readers. Middle grade fantasy and SF is still being published, however—it’s just not getting as much attention. What are the kids—and former kids—reading nowadays?; Emma Caywood (m), Robin Brenner, Nomi S. Burstein, Rob Cameron, Mar Hammitt-McDonald

Handling Your Online Image as an Artist - Art & Maker, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): With convention going virtual, it’s more important than ever to consider creating effective online presence. How and where should you sell work online? What social networking tools should you be using, and how? What are best practices for building a fan base and then interacting with them?; David J Friedman (m), Sara Felix, Heidi Hooper, LB Lee, A. Szabla

The Year (or Years) Without a Comic-Con - Comics, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): The COVID-19 pandemic impacted a number of major comic cons. How has moving to a virtual Comic Con International: San Diego and New York Comic Con affected the comic industry as a whole? MoCCA Fest, Small Press Expo, MICE, and other indie-comics shows have also been affected. These shows not only give fans an unforgettable experience, they greatly help industry pros reach out to the public and network with each other. How are indie and mainstream comics creators coping without in-person events?; Christopher Paniccia (m), E. J. Barnes, Ira Domnitz, Dan Mazur, Maggie Thompson

Solar System Tourism - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Winter sports on Europa, scuba diving on Titan, base jumping on Mars—what are the tourist attractions best suited to the different bodies in our solar system, and which ones would we be most excited to experience?; Roy Kilgard (m), James L. Cambias, Roxanne Reddington-Wilde, Charity Southworth, Kevin Turausky

M.U.L.A. (Monster User License Agreement) - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr 30min - Gaming (Gaming): You are a dastardly villainous monster, dealing with increasingly powerful humans AND rising dungeon rent from your unscrupulous Sorcerer Landlords. This motley crew of C-list creatures is looking to step up their game from cannon fodder to boss with one last opportunity, before the dungeon goes condo and evicts all the legacy tenants. Can five unlikely monsters work together, survive and finally turn a profit, without driving each other crazy? Requires a free Roll20 account to play.; David Logvin (m)

Space Cats—Sector B Ahead! - Gaming, Open Gaming - 8hr - Gaming (Gaming): It’s been a rough journey, but we’ve made it this far. This last push towards Sector B will be a tough one, but together, we can do it! Join us for the longest of the 4 legs of our Space Cats adventure. New players welcome. Takes place on Discord. Teams encouraged. Drop in and out.; Kellian Adams Pletcher (m)

The No-Fly List - Gaming, LARP - 12hr - LARP (Gaming): This is a Discord-based game based off of various online conspiracy theories. It is very strongly based on the experience of being a member of a conspiracy forum like Project Camelot or QAnon—except with less egregious and dangerous bigotry. This is a game that goes on all weekend, with periodic information drops.

Coding for Kids - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Would you like to create your own video games? Come learn the basics of coding and discover resources where you can express your creativity.; Adri (m), Naomi Hinchen

10:30am Sunday

Live Introductory Longsword Lesson - Fan Interest, Participatory Event - 30min - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): Athena School of Arms and Nathan Weston present the basics of attack and defense with the Longsword, iconic weapon of the late Medieval period. Have a stick handy when the lesson starts. We’ll be using Zoom. Having your camera on is necessary for feedback but is not required.; Athena School of Arms

11:30am Sunday

BIPOC SciFi and Fantasy Authors You Need to Read - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): What SFF works by authors from communities underrepresented in SFF literature (Native American, Hispanic, Asian American, African, African-American, and Caribbean) should be on our reading lists? We’ll look at some of the classic groundbreaking work as well as new fiction by upcoming authors.; Andrea Hairston (m), Mar Hammitt-McDonald, Vandana Singh, Cecilia Tan

Go Team Venture! (and close the door behind you) - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Growing quickly from its start as a spoof of 60s Hanna-Barbera action cartoons, The Venture Bros. built a full universe populated by complex characters with intertwined story arcs that kept us coming back for 7 seasons released over the span of 16 years. Many hearts broke when it was abruptly announced the show was not getting a season 8. Why did we love this show so much, how did it change over the long term, and what might have happened with The Monarch and Dr. Venture next?; Gillian Daniels (m), Lyndsay Ely, Eve Leonard, David G. Shaw, Hildy Silverman

Working with Sensitivity Readers - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Sensitivity readers (sometimes called diversity readers) read manuscripts with particiular issues of representation in mind. These beta readers come to the material with experience of a particular marginalized group, and read and assess the work to eliminate stereotypes, bias, potentially harmful content, and false information or inaccuracy. Come learn how sensitivity readers can enhance your story and deepen the experience for your readers.; JoSelle Vanderhooft (m), Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, Victoria Sandbrook, Michael A. Ventrella

Hannibal King Tour of the Art Show - Art & Maker, Participatory Event - 1hr - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Tour the Art Show with our Artist Guest of Honor, Hannibal King!; Hannibal King

Just the Facts: COVID-19 - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Here it is, the proverbial elephant in the room. Coronaviruses have been with us a long time; why did this variant shut down the world? What have we learned about how it attacks our health? What did we once suspect, but has since been dismissed? And how well should the upcoming vaccines work?; Richard Moore (m), Ken Gale, Richard Hurley DVM, Bhadrika Love, Dr. Jim Prego

Boston Lightsaber~Jedi High School Show & Review - Fan Interest, Demonstration - 40min - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Boston Lightsaber Stage Combat Club (BLSCC) will be sharing a video of our 2020 Arisia performance, “Jedi High School”, with additional commentary from the cast! Afterwards, members of BLSCC will conduct a live Q&A on Arisia’s chat platform, Discord. “Jedi High School” is a farce written, directed, and performed by BLSCC members. What happens when a bunch of high school students are given lightsabers? Hopefully there isn’t a Sith secretly amongst them!; Boston Lightsaber Stage Combat Club

Short Story Contest - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Do you have creative ideas that are just bursting to get out? Come and try your hand at writing a short story and submitting it to our judges for some Arisia fame.; Kate Brick (m), Harrison Demchick, Greg R. Fishbone

Magic Show: Daniel Dern - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Come enjoy an exciting magic show by Daniel Dern.; Daniel P. Dern

12:00pm Sunday

Rouge One: A Cosplay Story - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): Rouge One is the most important cosplay tournament in known space, but this year the stakes are even higher, as pop culture collides with political machinations to determine the fate of the Galaxy! Beginners welcome to play Return to the Stars, a 2020 Indie Groundbreaker nominated game, powered by Fate! Requires Discord.; Mark Sabalauskas (m)

7 Wonders Tournament - Gaming, Board Game - 4hr 15min - Gaming (Gaming): Have you ever said that you could lead a civilization in the Classical Age? Now’s your chance to do so in our 7 Wonders tournament! Go head to head against others to prove that you are the greatest Wonder! IMPORTANT: You must have a (free) Board Game Arena account in order to participate in this tournament. Tabletop Plays 7 Wonders: https://youtu.be/WdrXcikNdQU?t=5251; Kevin Lin (m)

Murder at Elm Hall - Gaming, LARP - 2hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): You and five others have been invited to spend the weekend at Elm Hall by the wealthy Lord Black, a famous socialite renowned for his parties. You were delighted to be invited – but now he seems to be dead! To make matters worse, a storm has cut off all communication with the outside world – you are on your own, with the killer among you. With no help from the outside world, it is up to you to be judge, jury, and executioner of one of your own peers.; Tamasin Wohlers (m)

12:30pm Sunday

Myths of Medieval Warfare - Fan Interest, Lecture - 1hr 45min - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): Steven Hirsch presents: Hollywood, TV and many books are notoriously bad at depicting Medieval settings correctly. Combat and warfare in Medieval-ish settings for both fantasy and historical movies and books are woefully misleading. Swords aren’t heavy, armor worked and longbows didn’t rule the battlefield. Personal combat and the conduct of war through the ages will be discussed to expose these myths. Followed by live Q&A on Arisia’s chat platform, Discord.; Steven Hirsch (m)

1:00pm Sunday

Age and Fandom: What it looks like after 50 - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): We know what we like, we know what we don’t, and we don’t make any excuses for it—but it isn’t always easy or comfortable. From the things we’ve loved all our lives to the things we’re getting into alongside a younger fandom to the things we have decided have not aged as well as us, come talk and hear about what’s like to be the older generation in our community.; Nobilis Reed (m), Shirley Dulcey, Suzanne Palmer, Leigh Perry, Beth Plutchak, Alan Wexelblat

The Keanussaince - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Your Internet Boyfriend can be seen in Point Break, Much Ado About Nothing, Johnny Mnemonic, Constantine, Cyberpunk 2077, and the John Wick series, not to mention movies like The Matrix and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, where he effortlessly plays characters not named John. Public affection has magnified with appearances in Toy Story 4, Always Be My Maybe, and 2020’s long-awaited return to Ted “Theodore” Logan. Come and discuss the long and varied resume of Keanu Reeves.; Jennifer Pelland (m), Deirdre Crimmins, Marianna Martin PhD, Richard Ralston, Santiago Rivas

Introduction to Birding - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): For people who like birds and want to learn more about observing them. Where and when can I see cool birds in my home area or while traveling? How can I identify them, by sight or by sound? Do I need binoculars or can I just watch? What do I need to know if I want to feed wild birds in my yard? If I find out that a bird I just saw was rare, how can I report it—and are there reasons I should be cautious about reporting? How can I connect with others who are interested in birds?; E. J. Barnes (m), Bob R R Angell, Jennifer Fitzsimmons-Gauger, Ken Gale, Jeff Hecht

Harry Dresden Is Back! - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): With the release of Peace Talks in July, Jim Butcher returned with a full-length Dresden Files adventure for the first time in six years, followed closely by the seventeenth book, Battle Ground, in September; both books come on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the first book in the series. Come celebrate all things Harry Dresden with Arisia, and we’ll see whether Bob the Skull will keep the light on for you.; Sara Codair (m), Lisa Batya Feld, Chris Murphy, Micah Schneider, Lisa J Steele

Arisia January Corporate Meeting - ConComm, Panel - 2hr - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Arisia, Inc. is the non-profit that signs our contracts, owns our equipment, sets our policies, elects and appoints senior leadership, and handles incident investigation between conventions. Recent events have put a spotlight on Arisia governance, and we welcome you to participate in the official business of running Arisia and related activities.; etana, Nicholas “phi” Shectman, Michael Sprague

The Year in BAD Science, 2020 - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): We like to believe that Science is objective, neutral, and free from politics. The reality is that science is a process for humans to overcome human biases, and that it’s not always sufficient. From academic incentives to cultural gate-keeping to political ignorance, come hear what went wrong! (And who is most likely to get hurt.); Dr. Pamela L. Gay (m), Mark L Amidon, Roy Kilgard, David G. Shaw, Stephen R Wilk

What Gooey Webs We Weave—Sunday - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): The mysterious disappearance of a Carnivalle attendee results in the locals accusing the troupe of a heinous crime, leading the adventurers into a dark web they would not have expected. An enthralling one-shot adventure introducing players to the amazing Gooey Cube 5e compatible world and their spectacular adventure campaign story. Everything required to play will be provided including pre-generated characters. You will need a free Roll20 account to play.

Jackbox Games—Sunday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): Jackbox Games is the party game-making studio best known for hit games like YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, Quiplash, Fibbage, Drawful, Trivia Murder Party, and more! Their large variety of games is designed to appeal to everyone: drawing games, writing games, trivia games, hidden identity games… no party-goer gets left behind. Join the Arisia community on zoom as we play some favorites and some new releases together! You’ll need 1 internet device per person to join in the fun.; Gail Terman (m)

Featured Dealers Chat - Trackless events, Participatory Event - 5hr - Discord (Discord): Come meet featured Dealers in Discord. Each hour will have a different dealer. A schedule will be pinned in the channel.

Cartooning & Comic Creating - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Learn how to draw cartoons and construct a comic. Gather up your supplies and come create with us.; Charlie Boatner (m), David J Friedman

2:00pm Sunday

Dr Who: The Starship of Madness (Prerecorded) - Theater, Performance - 1hr 15min - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Post Meridian Radio Players reprise Dr Who: The Starship of Madness from their archives.

2:30pm Sunday

Is It Cultural Appropriation? - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): From food (McDonald’s jerk chicken sandwich) to costumes (Kimonos as corsets) to fashion (non-black people wearing cornrows) and beyond, cultural appropriation is happening across society. Our panel will discuss what cultural appropriation means and how to recognize it and avoid participating in cultural appropriation yourself. They’ll also share some areas, like fusion food, where the question of cultural appropriation is not as easy to answer as in other scenarios.; Kat Tanaka Okopnik (m), Nomi S. Burstein, Aurora Celeste, Arthur Chu, Douglas Wynne

Chantey Sing - Music, Song Circle - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Come sing (or just listen, but we hope you’ll sing) songs of sailing in all forms, with an emphasis on work songs from the age of sail. Fun for all! (themed participatory song circle); Jeremy H. Kessler (m), Naomi Hinchen, Sonya Taaffe

Just the Facts: Black Holes - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): The Nobel Prize for Physics went to two black hole teams. These astronomical anomalies have often captured our imagination, as well as everything within the Schwarzchild radius. What do we now know about them, and what surprises have we learned recently?; Roy Kilgard (m), Dr. Pamela L. Gay, Richard Hurley DVM, Deborah Kaminski, Dr. Willie Yee

Gender Diversity in Speculative Fiction - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Speculative fiction, with its focus on expanding what’s possible, has been exploring the far-from-final frontiers of gender identity for decades. From classics like Octavia Butler’s Lilith’s Brood and Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness to Charlie Jane Anders’ All the Birds in the Sky and Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312, join in our discussion of fiction by and/or about genderqueer and genderfluid characters.; Trisha J. Wooldridge (m), Bob R R Angell, Sara Codair, Forest Handford, LB Lee, Catherine Lundoff

TV Year in Review - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Our annual look back at SF, horror, and fantasy in 2020 on TV (including streaming services). What were the memorable shows? What are the new ones to watch? What’s hot and what’s not? Note: Time for audience participation is reserved for the end of our panel’s high speed review.; Randee Dawn (m), Bunnificent, Lee C. Hillman (Gwendolyn Grace), Gordon Linzner, Marianna Martin PhD, Hildy Silverman

Pokemon TCG - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Come learn how to play the Pokemon Card Game and battle with your friends!; Micah Schneider

Costuming and Cosplay for Kids - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Start to plan for next year’s Project Cosplay. Lets talk about what makes a good costume and how to the your idea and make it real.

3:00pm Sunday

Teen Swordplay - Fan Interest, Participatory Event - 1hr - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): Swords of Chivalry will host a live swordplay class for Arisia’s teens. The class includes stretching, bodyweight strength training, footwork for two-handed and one-handed swords, and simple drills with two-handed and one-handed swords. The two-handed sword work is based on 15th-century swordmaster Johannes Lichtenauer and 17th-century master Paulus Hector Mair. The one-handed sword work is based on 18th-century British master Charles Roworth and 19th-century American Captain Matthew Berriman.; Mr. Ferguson (m)

Among Us—Sunday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 1hr - Gaming (Gaming): In Among Us, a group of space explorers is going about their business taking readings and doing ship maintenance...but someone seems to be sabotaging the vessel, and crew members keep being found dead! In each round, players are randomly assigned the roles of “crewmate” or “imposter”. Complete your tasks or expose the imposters before they take out the whole crew. Join the Arisia community on zoom to play together! You’ll need the game to play.; Raven Stern (m)

Radio Silence - Gaming, LARP - 1hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): Radio Silence is a LAOG (Live-Action Online Game) for 2 people, however, you can sign up in pairs and we can after facilitation group separately to play and meet again afterwards for a debrief. Safety mechanics: Content discussion with Lines & Veils, X-card. In Radio Silence we will communicate only via songs with each other. You will be playing missed connections who forgot to exchange contact info and now somehow found each other.; Gerrit Reininghaus (m)

Jewel Warriors - Gaming, LARP - 3hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): You and the rest of the Jewel Warriors have been fighting against the Dark Power of the Ultra Soldiers Army and their plans to destroy your home. This is the 11th hour; you thought you had a plan, but then something went wrong. Think of this game like the last episode in the season of a magical girl anime. One by one, the warriors were separated from each other and can now only communicate via com link. Your plans are in disarray. Can you reconnect and save the day?; Arike van de Water (m)

4:00pm Sunday

Mining History’s Neglected Corners - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Many writers have used obscure historical events to ground their speculations. Frank Herbert uses his research into Bedouin culture to inform his Fremen society. Ken Liu recast the rise of the Han Dynasty in his silk-punk series, “The Dandelion Dynasty.” How can we raise up untold stories and broaden the worldview of our audience? Panelists will share surprising events in world history that might make your next space opera or fantasy epic come alive.; Deborah Kaminski (m), Andrea Hairston, Catherine Lundoff, Anne E.G. Nydam, Ken Schneyer

Accessible Magic - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Magic systems often require certain skills or abilities of a spellcaster. But not everyone has the manual dexterity for intricate finger movements or the cognitive ability to memorize long incantations. We’ll look at popular magic systems from books, movies, TV shows, and games, and discuss how to make spellcasting accessible to everyone. We’ll also talk about the ways in which people with disabilities might actually have an advantage in some magic systems.; Bhadrika Love (m), Bekah Maren Anderson, Sara Codair, Gillian Polack, Dr. Willie Yee

POC Meetup - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Colorism often manifests even in communities of color, complicating ethnic and racial heritage beyond what may be visible to outsiders. Regardless, being a person of color in the geek community can be isolating and alienating, particularly as minority creators, characters, and publishers are often erased and/or whitewashed. Join fellow geeks of color in a safer space to celebrate the joy of fandom without the white gaze. (To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.); Kat Tanaka Okopnik (m), Rob Cameron

Sunday Afternoon Readings 1 - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work.; Laurence Raphael Brothers, Gillian Daniels, Ruthanna Emrys, Sonya Taaffe

Savage Worlds: Relics and Rayguns - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): Explore the galaxy and prospect for alien technology in Relics and Rayguns, a science fiction setting for Savage Worlds. Build your popularity on the Galactic Mesh to get access to more resources in the post-scarcity economy! Livestream your adventures to your fandom! Encounter bizarre alien structures and hostile creatures! Run using Savage Worlds. All materials will be provided. Requires discord (kids under 13 must be on with a parent).; Scott Marchand Davis (m)

Science Experiments - Fast Track, Panel - 55min - Fast Track: Come participate in cool science experiments using common household materials.; Stephen R Wilk

The Neverwinter Adventuring Academy Session 2 - Fast Track, Panel - 2hr - Fast Track: In the NAA Open House, you can register for a class, learn the basics of the adventuring life, and try your luck in the Danger Room! Details: Preregistration is required! Email: Schneider.micah@gmail.com. Space limited to 6 players per session. Pregen characters provided. All levels of experience encouraged, but this session is aimed at new/inexperienced players. All players must be Fast Track eligible to play. Parents encouraged to follow along!; Micah Schneider

4:30pm Sunday

Catalyze Short Play Readings - Theater, Performance - 1hr 30min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Come see a series of virtual science fiction plays and other diversions, about a debatably haunted house in Cambridge, Massachusetts (and sometimes Wyoming) across several parallel universes. Presented by the Catalyze Playwriting Group, a collection of science, speculative, and slipstream playwrights based out of Central Square Theater in collaboration with Catalyst Collaborative@MIT.; Nathan Comstock, Carl Danielson, Anna Waldman-Brown

5:30pm Sunday

Pets and Writers - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Animal Companions are a feature in many speculative fiction stories from Ann McCaffery’s dragons to the sentient feline of Charles Stross’s Accelerando anthology. Not to mention all of the author bios that end with some variation of “lives with two cats, one dog, and a menagerie of other beasties.” Writers and audience are encouraged to take advantage of the Zoom medium for the purpose for which it was clearly intended: displaying pets and discussing their influence on writing!; Kathryn Sullivan (m), Jeffrey A Carver, Julie C. Day, Anne E.G. Nydam, Trisha J. Wooldridge

Sunday Afternoon Readings 2 - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work.; Morgan Crooks, Forest Handford, Gordon Linzner, AJ Odasso

6:00pm Sunday

Starship Magic - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): Star Trek themed magic show, with Willy Yee; Scott Wilhelm

7:00pm Sunday

Parenting in Times of Turmoil - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): 2020 brought a new set of challenges—and learning opportunities—to parenting. Schooling, activities, play dates, and more changed drastically thanks to COVID. The Black Lives Matter movement and the Presidential election engaged our kids, giving us the opportunity to answer questions (some of which we were asking ourselves) and help our children make sense of the world. Panelists will discuss how parenting changed, or maybe didn’t change all that much, during these “unprecedented” times.; Jonathan Woodward (m), Nomi S. Burstein, Hannibal King, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, Ilene Tatroe, Alan Wexelblat

The Play Is the Thing: Low Mechanics RPGs - Gaming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): There are several RPGs out that emphasize roleplay and improvisation over dice rolling and stats. Monster of the Week and The Quiet Year are just two examples. Which are the best ones and what do they do well? Is there something in them even for min-maxers to love? How is the GM planning different? What are the pitfalls involved in running these types of games?; Mark Sabalauskas (m), Mel Carubia, Aaron Marks, Lisa Padol, Fae Weichsel

Asexuality and Aromantic Umbrella Meetup - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): People who do not experience sexual attraction often identify as asexual, but this can take many different forms for different people: romantic asexual, aro-ace, gray-A, demisexual. Attendees identifying anywhere on the asexual or aromantic spectrums are invited to share a safe space and speak freely about their experiences in fandom and elsewhere. (To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.); Julia Gilstein (m), Naomi Hinchen

Problematic Art Beyond Books and Movies - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): When we talk about problematic art and being a fan of problematic things, we often focus on books, movies, and TV shows. But problematic art and creators obviously isn’t limited to just these mediums. We’ll look at how to approach problematic works and creators with a lens specifically toward non-narrative mediums, like visual art, performance art, and music. And we’ll talk about how the medium affects the message, and how analysis of problematic works is changed by the way the art is presented.; Arthur Chu (m), Thom Dunn, etana, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Penny Wilhelm

Rotblack Sludge - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr 30min - Gaming (Gaming): You face execution for the crime of heretical theft, but a Masked Seer, a courtier of the Shadow King, has offered you one chance at life. The King’s one true heir is missing, and without him, the King would be forced to abdicate in favor of his imbecile brother. Get the prince back discretely, and life, wealth, and freedom will be yours. There is, of course, a catch... MÖRK BORG is a rules-lite fantasy OSR RPG set in a world teetering on the brink of Apocalypse. Requires Discord and Roll20.; Adrian Gunn (m)

Darktide’s Night—Sunday - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): A well deserved night out is met with a chilling mystery. Unfortunately it very well could end with the party joining the spirits who often walk this night. Do you have what it takes to survive Darktide? The most wicked night of the year. Part two of the enthralling introductory series to Gooey Cube’s 5e compatible world of Zyathé. A one-shot adventure designed for level 2 player characters; pre-generated characters provided. You will need a free Roll20 account to play.

Tales of the Future: Volume 1 - Gaming, LARP - 5hr - LARP (Gaming): This is about a Future of wonder and discovery, from the time of the First Sentience in the Galaxy, to a time of thousands of sentient races. These sentiences are biological, mechanical, and also virtual. And yet, they are all people, with hopes, ambitions, desires, quirks and foibles. These Tales use classic science fiction themes and settings to pose interesting and difficult questions about the Future. Each Tale is a separate, small, independent, focused LARP. Needs CW; Jeff Diewald (m), Jordan Diewald

7:30pm Sunday

The Arisia Masquerade - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): See the costume creations of Arisia’s attendees. This year’s Masquerade is pre-recorded and not judged.

8:30pm Sunday

Wattpad, AO3, and Alternative Reading Sources - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): From fanfiction to completely original works, storytelling has moved online. Wattpad and Archive Of Our Own (AO3), are some of the better known platforms, but even traditionally social apps, like Tumblr and Instagram, are home to everything from vignettes to short stories to full-on novels (some of which even get published on paper and turned into movies or TV shows). Our panelists will discuss what the different platforms have to offer for both readers and writers alike.; AJ Odasso (m), M. Dalto, Abigail Keenan, Carson Pavao, Kayleigh Tatroe

Sunday Evening Readings 1 - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work.; J.R.H. Lawless, phillip andrew bennett low, Connie Wilkins

Songwriting Round-Table - Music, Workshop - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come talk about writing songs; discussing topics such as the overall creation process, where you go for inspiration, what helps you when you get stuck, whether you write your own melodies or re-purpose existing ones, etc. This will be a round-table discussion, so, as with Music Track’s singing sessions, all attendees are encouraged to participate.; Naomi Hinchen (m), Nat Budin, John G. McDaid, Benjamin Newman

Trailer Park - Video, Projected Media - 55min - Discord (Discord): Join us for the return of the ever popular Trailer Park. We’ll be talking about the upcoming movies on our Discord server and following links to watch their trailers online.

9:00pm Sunday

Arisia Flashback Dance - Theater, Performance - 4hr - Performance Hall (Programming/Events): Calling all Time Lords, DeLorean owners, and excellent people, we’ve got a timeline spanning party to throw. DJ DIRGE invites all time travelers for a musical journey through the tunes of the ’80s and ’90s as we enjoy a socially distanced dance party celebrating the past and looking forward to the future. Show off your retro dance skills at twitch.tv/DJDIRGE.

10:00pm Sunday

Sunday Evening Readings 2 - Literature, Reading - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Join some of Arisia’s wonderful authors, while they read from their own work.; Greer Gilman, Walter H. Hunt, A. L. Kaplan, Stephen R Wilk

The Arisia Munch (18+) - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): A munch is an informal gathering of people interested in BDSM and other fetish activities. Munches are held so that kinky people can socialize and talk about any of their hobbies or interests in a non-sexual environment. Munches are often the first step for those interested in kink to join their local fetish scene. Connect with Arisia’s experienced BDSM players, the kink curious, and fetishists of all kinds. 18+ only.; Adri (m), Micah Schneider

Open Singing - Music, Song Circle - 2hr - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Come listen and/or make music in this unthemed song circle. All types of music are welcome. Time permitting, everyone who wishes to lead a song will have at least one opportunity to do so. (participatory song circle); Dan “Grim” Marsh (m), Nat Budin, Ellen Kranzer

Retro Trailer Park - Video, Participatory Event - 2hr - Discord (Discord): Miss the great and horrible movies from the 50s and 60s? Relive the days of yore and watch trailers for movies like “Forbidden Planet” and “Devil Girl From Mars”.

8:00am Monday

What Gooey Webs We Weave—Monday - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 4hr - Gaming (Gaming): The mysterious disappearance of a Carnivalle attendee results in the locals accusing the troupe of a heinous crime, leading the adventurers into a dark web they would not have expected. An enthralling one-shot adventure introducing players to the amazing Gooey Cube 5e compatible world and their spectacular adventure campaign story. Everything required to play will be provided including pre-generated characters. You will need a free Roll20 account to play.

10:00am Monday

Education Theory and Remote Learning - Science, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): With many students attending “school” from home, we’ve had an overhaul in our classroom culture. What does modern education theory tell us what we should be doing differently? Is the digital divide inherent, or can it be overcome? And what new things have education theorists learned?; Bhadrika Love (m), Rob Cameron, Morgan Crooks, David Larochelle, Ilene Tatroe, Emmett Wald

Reading When the World is On Fire - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): 2020 was a pretty tough year. In the middle of a global pandemic, racism (and racial discourse), and a US presidential election, many turned to reading. Some read to escape. Others read to learn more. What kinds of books did people turn to, and why those books, in particular?; Victoria Sandbrook (m), Lisa Batya Feld, Lena G., Greer Gilman, Lisa Padol, Jonathan Woodward

Dare to Be Nerdy: “Weird Al” at 45 - Music, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): It’s been 45 years (!) since Dr. Demento played “Weird Al” Yankovic’s first song (“Belvedere Cruisin’”), and “Weird Al” keeps on going. Between his first #1 album only a couple years ago and being one of three acts with a Top 40 single in each of the past four decades, “Weird Al” has made nerds all over the world proud to be themselves and helped to make geek culture mainstream. Come celebrate the ongoing career of one of the greatest comedy musicians of all time.; Andy Hicks (m), Shirley Dulcey, Jason LeBlanc, Dan “Grim” Marsh, Danny Miller, Mercy Van Vlack

Savage Worlds: Legion of Liberty - Gaming, Tabletop RPG - 3hr - Gaming (Gaming): 1776—American superheroes are fighting for liberty around New York City. Join the newly-formed Legion of Liberty and fight on land and sea to build a new nation! Run using Savage Worlds Adventure Edition. All materials will be provided. Requires discord (kids under 13 must be on with a parent).; Scott Marchand Davis (m)

The No-Fly List - Gaming, LARP - 4hr - LARP (Gaming): This is a Discord-based game based off of various online conspiracy theories. It is very strongly based on the experience of being a member of a conspiracy forum like Project Camelot or QAnon—except with less egregious and dangerous bigotry. This is a game that goes on all weekend, with periodic information drops.

11:00am Monday

Among Us—Monday Edition - Gaming, Scheduled Video Game - 1hr - Gaming (Gaming): In Among Us, a group of space explorers is going about their business taking readings and doing ship maintenance...but someone seems to be sabotaging the vessel, and crew members keep being found dead! In each round, players are randomly assigned the roles of “crewmate” or “imposter”. Complete your tasks or expose the imposters before they take out the whole crew. Join the Arisia community on zoom to play together! You’ll need the game to play.; Raven Stern (m)

11:30am Monday

Navigating Intimacy During a Pandemic - Communities, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): Regardless of the type of relationship, the pandemic has forced us to take a hard look at intimacy and what it means in our lives. Finding new ways to keep the emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or physical (when safe to be!) bond between us strong has had to evolve as we continue to shelter in place and distance socially. Our panelists will discuss how they have handled this and ways you can foster intimacy during these times.; Max Impakt / Ask Kaylee Frye (m), Bekah Maren Anderson, LJ Cohen, Diana Hsu, Fae Weichsel

The Animal Crossing Phenomenon - Gaming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Animal Crossing is not what most folks think of when they think of a game. There are very few goals, other than those you set yourself. Instead, you get a big open sandbox of toys to play with (and extra toys that show up during events and as the seasons change). What you do with your island is up to you! How do folks approach this sort of game, and what are the best of the genre?; Gail Terman (m), Aurora Celeste, Dennis Duquette, Kat Tanaka Okopnik, Tori Queeno

Muppets: Most Wanted! - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): The Muppets, in all their various iterations, from coffee commercials, to SNL weirdness, to their iconic 70s variety show, to the silver screen, and now on Disney+‘s Muppets Now!, have been around for over 60 years. How is it that they keep being reinvented as fun and grounded in whatever present they’re working in? Let’s talk about the shows and movies, especially the oddballs, and our personal favorites for an hour until we have to Go Bye-Bye.; Deirdre Crimmins (m), Michael Bailey, Andy Hicks, Karen S., Liz Salazar, Charity Southworth

Living that Virtual Life - Fan Interest, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): It’s not just conventions that have gone online. Family gatherings, yoga classes, religious services—so many activities that used to be thought of as predominantly in-person have made the transition to meeting virtually. Sometimes it sucks and doesn’t compare to what we’re used to, but we’ve also seen successful innovation improve on what was being done before. Where have we seen the move to virtual go well, and what strategies do we hope stick around even after social distancing has ended?; Julia Gilstein (m), Adri, Michael A. Burstein, B.A. Chepaitis, Dr. Jim Prego, Mark “Justin” Waks

Great Hera!: 80 Years of the Amazing Amazon - Comics, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Eighty years ago, psychologist William Moulton Marston co-created Wonder Woman, and her adventures have consistently graced the pages of DC Comics ever since. And Wonder Woman has seen some of the greatest creators behind her efforts—George Pérez, Jill Thompson, Brian Azzarello, Jodi Picoult, and more! Come celebrate 80 years of the Amazing Amazon with Arisia 2021!; Jonathan Woodward (m), William H. Foster III, Scott Harris-King, Maggie Thompson, Mercy Van Vlack

Fast Track Farewell - Fast Track, Panel - 2hr - Fast Track: Arisia is just about over for one more year. Come hang out before we have to say goodbye.

12:00pm Monday

Bad Ad-Hoc Hypotheses - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Zoom Room 7 (Programming/Events): An institution at MIT and Imperial College London since 2013. Presenters deliver plausible but utterly fake dissertations before a panel of judges to take the Turing test of comedy: Is it science, parody, or both? Why did human males evolve abdominal bulges in middle age? Why should the Boston Red Sox invest in a Large Hadron Collider? What unnoticed event caused the Black Death of 1348? Only Science can say. Michael Anderson is a two-time winner and five-time presenter.; Michael Anderson

1:00pm Monday

Leadership in Fantasy and Science Fiction - Literature, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): At the beginning of The Two Towers, Aragorn compares himself unfavorably with Gandalf, whose fall in Moria left him in charge of the Fellowship, only to make choices that turn out badly. Hierarchal settings—whether in military SF or fantasy set in a feudal society—come equipped with a chain of command, but what does leadership mean in groups that strive to follow egalitarian ideals? Is the concept of leadership relevant for today’s real-world problems, let alone an imagined future society?; E. C. Ambrose (m), Sam Schreiber, Meredith Schwartz, Ian Randal Strock, Sonya Taaffe, W. B.J. Williams

Virtual Sewing Circle: How Do I Do the Thing? - Cosplay & Costuming, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Do you have a very specific problem that Google is not providing the answer to? We’ve all been there and maybe these panelists can help! Come prepared with your questions and your projects that could use an expert’s opinion, nothing is too big or too small! Bragging rights for whomever can stump the panel.; Emmett Wald (m), Hannah Prum (Kirkette Cosplay), Alder Fehler, Leslie Johnston, Jamila Sisco

Arisia+: Gently Down the Stream(ing Services) - Media, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): Not many new films were released this year, and a lot of our favorite TV shows are on a break, but this has truly been a year for streaming. The Mandalorian, The Expanse, Utopia Falls, WandaVision, Star Trek: Picard, Tales From the Loop, and many, many, many more genre shows became available, just as we were ditching our cable boxes. What gems did we find on which services, what flew under the radar, and can I borrow your CrunchyRoll log in?; Marianna Martin PhD (m), Reuben Baron, Nomi S. Burstein, Chris Murphy, Richard Ralston

Neurodiversity Meetup - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 4 (Programming/Events): Arisia is a very welcoming place, but even the best spaces can be difficult to navigate if you are neurodiverse. This meetup is for neurodiverse folks (self-diagnosed welcome) to hang out and meet other individuals who may share similar experiences. (Neurodiversity encompasses mental illness, autism, learning disabilities, and anything else affecting brain function. To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.); Trisha J. Wooldridge (m), Nightwing Whitehead

“Tunnel of Terror” Splendid Teapot Race Results - Theater, Performance - 1hr - Zoom Room 6 (Programming/Events): Radio-controlled car racing with a sci-fi theme. More to come!

2:30pm Monday

All the World’s a Stage! - Writing, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 1 (Programming/Events): The show must go on! Intrepid playwrights have already adapted to the possibilities and limitations of Zoom plays. What are the considerations writers should keep mind when scripting their own tele-conferenced dramatic production? Who is doing this right? Panelists will also discuss any pitfalls they observe in these early days of the medium.; Naomi Hinchen (m), Thom Dunn, Greer Gilman, Rebecca Maxfield, Liz Salazar

Knitting Circle - Meetups, Meetup - 55min - Zoom Room 2 (Programming/Events): Come meet other knitters at Arisia. Share patterns. Exchange yarns. Come knit for a while and meet some old and new friends.; Roxanne Reddington-Wilde (m), Jennifer Fitzsimmons-Gauger

1986: The Year Nobody Left the Comic Shop - Comics, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 3 (Programming/Events): The world of comics in 1986 brought us many works seminal to comics history, among them Watchmen and The Man of Steel, but that was hardly all that was going on that year. It also saw the continuations of the Claremont run on Uncanny X-Men, Wolfman/Pérez on New Teen Titans, and Levitz/Giffen on Legion of Super-Heroes, as well as the début of the New Universe, Chester Brown, and the ongoing British Comics Invasion. Come celebrate the comics of 1986 with Arisia!; Dan “Grim” Marsh (m), Kevin Cafferty, Kevin Eldridge, Victoria Janssen, Dan Toland

Monday Feedback Session - ConComm, Panel - 55min - Zoom Room 5 (Programming/Events): Tell us how to improve Arisia for next year!; Vivian Abraham, Nicholas “phi” Shectman

The Batcave - Gaming, LARP - 1hr 30min - LARP (Gaming): A 1.5h long lighthearted game for 2 to 5 players where you play a family of bats finding a new home. The game uses a Zoom feature that makes it super easy to turn your video upside-down—so you appear like hanging from the ceiling.; Arike van de Water (m)

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01/11/2021 - 19:34

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Schedule - Arisia 2021