So you’ve never been to LeakyCon before, and you’re super excited about your first con, but you’re not really sure what’s going on or how to make the best of it? Have no fear, darling Firsties, we at Leaky take care of our own. Come mingle with a few veterans who have attended the con before and know the ins and outs and learn about some tips and tricks to make your con experience a little easier.
In Urban Tribes, author Ethan Watters describes how it is that members of the Millennial generation cultivate a family of choice, a community he labels an urban tribe. The urban tribe itself comes to represent an ideal community to young adults, one which not only lends meaning and purpose to their lives, but which calls them into the process of meaning-making themselves. By analyzing Team StarKid, we can create a case study model for how Millennials expand the concept of urban tribes into vibrant ecclesia.
Fanfic writer? Creative writer? Poet? Beta reader? This workshop will focus on editing the creative writing of others. It will cover techniques, etiquette, some software features, and the main differences between technical and creative editing. Please bring a short work in progress you would feel comfortable sharing. Editing in MS Word using track changes as well as traditional editing on paper will be discussed.
There has been a considerable amount of research on the perception of tattoos and how people with tattoos are stereotyped, but there has been little research from the perspective of those who have tattoos. My goal is to change that. Share your stories and I will share my research into the origin, meaning and reasons why we tattoo ourselves and others. I will have some temporary tattoos for those of you who want to experience having a tattoo but have not yet taken the plunge.
Participants will share their favorite fanfiction and get inspiration to read new ones. This will be a good chance for fanfiction lovers to branch out in their readings and enjoy a wider variety of subjects, plots, subplots, ships and all of that good stuff. In addition, participants will start an informal fanfic club to continue after LeakyCon.
This roundtable will discuss all four seasons and the future of the series. We will discuss what we dislike, like, and feel about Torchwood and its characters, as well as whether the fourth season has made U.S. fans feel more connected to the show.
Alchemy has gotten a bad reputation over the millennia, but this archaic science is a large part of the internal logic and integrity J.K. Rowling creates in her Harry Potter canon. We will uncover the rest of the Weasley family, the triangle between Harry, Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort, and the lesser known alchemical characters within the series that still played major roles. Rowling used this structure to create all sorts of puzzles and triangles – come discover them for yourselves.
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Like Doctor Who? Like Supernatural? Like to squish them together? Join other fans of this oddly popular television series crossover for a relaxed chat. Bring your ideas, your opinions, and your ships. Fans of Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and all other Doctor Who spinoff series will be eagerly welcomed. Fannish squeeing encouraged! Don't blink, and get the salt.
Many fans express their love of fandom through writing fanficiton. This workshop will cover topics that include writing in canon, creating interesting OCs, avoiding Mary Sues and how to use fanfiction to hone the skills to become a professional writer.
A presentation on the complications of time travel as seen in Harry Potter and other works, such as Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Back to the Future. Don't let yourself be drawn in by false advertising; get all the facts of time travel before going on an adventure. What is the history (or the future?) of time travel? What methods of time travel are there, and how do they work? What are the adverse effects of time travel?
The magic wand. No other symbol identifies a wizard more clearly than the instrument that channels his or her most powerful magic. We will look to go beyond the very basic view with which most wizards approach their wands. We will also discuss the importance of wand loyalties and the "feelings" that wands develop. We will look deeper into the wands of our favorite wizards and attempt to unlock their mysteries.
You discover a series that you really enjoy. You watch faithfully, pre order the books & dvds, investing yourself emotionally. It becomes a part of your life and then, suddenly, BAM! The series ends or is taken off the air! What do the fans of ended series do? Join fans of such serises as Farscape, Firefly, Stargate, Buffy, the Harry Potter books and movies too of course! as they talk about how they keep their favorite series alive via conventions, cosplay, fangroups, and more. Panelists include members of PDXBrowncoats, Harry Potter Alliance and The Signal.
StarKids! Here is your chance to finally meet in person all of your StarKid friends from Team Joey Richter and BeautifulStuff.us. We’ll be completing a special project to be presented to Joey Richter on behalf of the fandom and watching the premiere of our fan-made video for StarKid. Plus the chance to win fabulous prizes, make some new friends, there may be some singing, and maybe we’ll dance, just give it a chance, and come celebrate everything that is Team StarKid.
J.K. Rowling is a master world-builder. Creating a believable fictional world requires evoking settings with rich sensory details, constructing logical rules for how the universe operates, and building social, political, technological and ecological structures. In this panel, five experienced writers will share their world-building secrets with tips about process and exercises participants can use in their own writing.
You know all about the classic hero’s journey—now learn about the heroine’s! We’ll chart the heroine’s journey step-by-step from ancient myths to modern reimaginings like Coraline and The Wizard of Oz. Only after she has defeated her dark side, the wicked witch, can she grow into a bestower of wisdom in this beloved pattern favored by fantasy readers and writers.Like the hero’s journey, this pattern is useful for those who enjoy reading and analyzing literature, and also those who want to write it, especially fantasy and coming of age stories.
Albus Dumbledore was a wise old man. But where did his wisdom come from? How does it apply to the Harry Potter characters? And how does it apply to you? Using our knowledge of Dumbledore’s past and his effect on the future of the Wizarding world we will answer these questions in our presentation of Dumbledore’s most famous quotes.
After its success at LeakyCon 2009 and 2011, the Gryffinpuff Improv Troupe is back for 2013! This program will work to develop improvisational and performance skills using the works of J.K. Rowling as a starting point. The program will teach classic improv games and help teach stage technique and rules. The program will wrap up by moving into long form games that use Potter situations as a basis.
The Mark Reads Harry Potter series, started in 2010, has now been read by millions of people. Since then, series writer Mark Oshiro has started two websites, released numerous eBook compliations of his reviews, and has toured to promote himself. Join Mark as he discusses how MRHP changed his life, the process of self-publishing, and what he has planned for the future.
The cuts throughout the films have sparked a lot of discussion and controversy throughout the fandom. What about the scenes that we know were filmed and still cut? From Sirius and Bellatrix dueling to a proper explanation of Priori Incantatem, WB is sitting on a Gringotts-sized vault of footage that we still haven't seen. In this lecture, I will share pictures and other knowledge of some of these scenes, discuss why they might have cut, if they should have stayed, and if we will ever see them.
Back by popular demand, it's the second annual discussion of the Whedonverse! A round table panel on all of Joss' works, this is for scoobies, browncoats, and avengers of all ages! We will delve into our favorite episodes, characters, ships, battles, etc! If it's Whedon, it's fair game! Other topics are sure to include the sequels to Dr. Horrible and The Avengers, the Firefly Documentary, and whose trench coat reigns supreme!
This panel will discuss and display several BBC Sherlock and Harry Potter inspired "character teas" made by Cara McGee of Adagio. We will discuss how that character would be sorted/exist in the Harry Potter fandom. Everyone is welcomed to be involved in the sorting discussion. Clips will be used to provide evidence and help encourage discussion.
As with series like Harry Potter, names have great significance in Suzanne Collins’s books, referencing sixteen characters out of Shakespeare, all from a particular era of Rome. Characters have prophetic or appropriate names, but they also have names based on how Katniss perceives them. In her series, Collins unites the power of Shakespeare and Rome to retell an ancient epic of betrayal, violence, and glory on the stage of an apocalyptic future.
The Fellowship of the Feels is a project involving 40 LeakyCon goers who, separated into six groups, documented their journey before LeakyCon through the very old fashioned system of pen pal lettering. Each group saved their letters and put them into a book. Here we will talk about the our experiences with the fellowship and our own journeys that we went on. The meetup is a celebration of friendship and getting to know people through a lost art form!
This is a look into the parallels between Greek literature and the seven books that bring us all together. Inspired by the University of Houston class, “The Human Situation,” this panel will look at how Harry Potter and Greek literature have similar views on humanity. In this hour we will try to understand what about these Greek stories have made them classics, and observe these as pieces of literature, and stories of people.
Can the Harry Potter books be considered a feminist text? Let's talk about it! What stereotypes are present in the books, if there are any at all? And how do they change when the character is of colour, or a squib? Join us in an informal round table discussion about everything female in Harry Potter, from Tonk's romance to how female characters are portrayed in the movies.
Get off Tumblr and level up. Learn how to use your magic powers to make IRL gifs happen in your hometown through this interactive workshop. Recommended for BAMFs interested in HPA chapters, Nerdfighter meetups, increasing awesome and causing a ruckus.
In this presentation, you will hear about the hoops required to create a successful Christian-based Harry Potter Summer Camp. Decorating, costuming tips and shortcuts, curriculum basics, suggestions about staffing and age requirements and priming the community
So, you’re a wizard, a nerdfighter, a gleek, and you never forget to be awesome. Join Anthony Rapp, Hank Green, and a panel of fandom innovators for a Pizza Party! Also, a conversation on how your fandoms give you the power to change the world. (Pizza not included.)
This is for parents of StarKid and Harry Potter fans to discuss and show their appreciation for what these fandoms have done for our children. I have seen many pre-teens and teens feeling like outcasts...until discovering the Harry Potter and StarKid fandoms. It has turned kids from depressed outcasts into proud individuals fighting for the good things in life: friendship, love and acceptance. We want a chance to show our own gratitude and mingle with like-minded adults, and maybe do a sing-a-long or two.
Fans of certain franchises, such as Harry Potter, always want more. Corporate giants like Warner Brothers are always glad to give it to them – for a price. Along the way, people can get caught up in the hype. Using the Core Principles developed NAMLE, participants in this interactive presentation will explore and discuss questions that can help fans and consumers of all levels examine how the merchandise may distort the message.
Dance Against the Dark Arts team is pleased to present an all-new session combining the storytelling medium of dance with J.K. Rowling's beloved characters and settings. This workshop will focus on the building blocks of dancemaking, explored within the context of quidditch. Wizards and witches of ALL skill levels are welcome, from absolute beginners to those studying for their N.E.W.T.s in dance! Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. Participants may want to bring water for hydration. Observers are also welcome to attend.
So much more than the sport from Harry Potter, Quidditch has grown from a simple game played at Middlebury College to an interscholastic phenomenon. A representative from the sport's governing body, the International Quidditch Association, will present on the history of this new sport and will explain everything you need to know to start your own high school, college, or community quidditch team, and to make sure it successfully gets off the ground (no pun intended)!
Transmedia storytelling refers to the delivery of story through a variety of media. Typically, story lines are interwoven and connected but not strictly repetitive. Often, fan engagement and participation in the creative process are facilitated by social media. During this panel discussion, we’ll introduce transmedia storytelling and discuss the collaborative work of writers, screenwriters, filmmakers, visual artists, and other members of the Angel Punk creative team.
The nature of Rowling’s ghosts in the Harry Potter series is complex, as their liminal status is twofold: not only are they textually in between life and death, but they are also in between two literary conventions. Ghosts are deeply rooted within the Gothic tradition, but the ghosts of Hogwarts are friendly, ubiquitous, and even comical. This paper explores these ghosts, who hover between being frightful and comical, and their unique influence over Harry throughout the series.
A place for all Doctor Who fans to gather! We will talk about everything related to the show, such as favorite doctors, companions, quotes, and episodes, and what what house we may sort the characters into. We might listen to some Time Lord Rock or swap cosplay ideas. So if you're a Whovian, basically, run (to this event)!
Death Eaters wished for there to be segregation based not on wealth or color, but blood status. Race relations in Harry Potter seem to be more defined by blood status than by actual skin color. This will be a roundtable discussion on race relations within book canon. Parallels to the civil rights movement in the US will be discussed, as well as current ongoing civil rights issues.
The Harry Potter Club of Gonzaga University has a unique way of sorting their members and then revealing their houses to them. We utilize personality tests to sort members into houses and have created several elaborate scavenger hunts that are used to reveal the member's new houses to them. This program will also leave time for a roundtable discussion on different systems of sorting.
Are students at Hogwarts sorted based on who they are or who they could be? Do we sort too soon? Is the Sorting Hat ever wrong? Join in on a discussion of House traits and how they define us. We explore what the Sorting Hat sees in each student being sorted and whether or not those characters live up to the traits their Hogwarts House is known for. We'll wrap up with a discussion of how we sort ourselves and why we choose the Houses we do.
In our world, undercover groups are protesting unjust authorities, classes of people are living without basic rights, and dissidents of different religious and ethnic groups are standing together right now! Come learn about the current events, with specific focus on the Arab Uprisings, that parallel events in in the Harry Potter books. Returning for its second showing at LeakyCon, but updated with the most current information, this presentation will reveal how relevant Harry Potter’s themes are to the modern Muggle world.
Sarah and Mark from Mark Reads and Mark Watches are back with their Buffy panel. Mark was in the middle of Buffy last time around so some things were left unsaid...but not this year! Join Sarah and Mark for even more Buffy and Harry Potter fun as we discuss characters, seasons/books, story arcs, etc. If you're a Buffy fan, this is one panel you're not going to want to miss.
Did Potterheads help you with your self-confidence? Have other StarKids, Gleeks, or Whovians been there for you when you felt you couldn't talk to anyone else? Fandom is a part of our lives, and whether you mildly associate yourself or you're fully submerged, a lot of us have used fandom to get through some tough times.
Harry Potter canon is fairly heteronormative, yet the fans have taken this world and thrown it in to slash fanfiction. This roundtable will discuss issues of heteronormativity in canon (in relation to relationships) and discuss how slash fanfic became a dominant force. We will be discussing the evolution of Drarry, Wolfstar, Snarry, and the lack of fem/fem fanfic. We will explore as a group why we feel this may occur.
Have you ever wondered what your preferences for a particular wand wood and core tell about you? In this presentation, you will discover your secret connections to certain wand woods or cores, and what they tell about yourself. Each wood and core has a symbolic meaning, and through this lecture and discussion, we will discover what the wands within the canon say about their owners and their spirituality. Hopefully, you'll find out a bit about yourself in the process!
We will have receptacles for each of the crew members and tickets for each of the houses, so guests can drop their proposed house ticket for each crew member. The will be totaled and the crew will sorted using a Jayne hat.
The coming months will see many exciting movies, from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments to Laini Taylor’s The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Why are angels and demons so popular today? Are any of these novels historical portraits, or are they all cruel angels and gorgeous hunks lost in our urban landscapes? What do teens want to read this year? And what about their parents? Bring your favorite topics and join in the fun.
Dive deep into your creativity and past the muggle mindset. This interactive workshop will explore the power of story, our human experiences and the magic of our imagination. Includes activities, discussion and meditation. To paraphrase The Doctor: this may change your life.
These days, anyone can be part of a fandom: do a couple of Tumblr searches, join a few Facebook groups, comment on a Web site, read some fan fiction - hell, write some fan fiction - and you become part of large-and-getting-larger communities all over the world. But back when you had to listen to two minutes of the AOL grind-up noise - or when writing a handwritten letter to the star of your favorite TV show was the only way to interact - fandom operated a lot differently than it did now. Then, two-megabyte video files were an inch wide and took an hour to download: now, hi-res animated gifs basically tell our emotional lives. Pat Brady, Melissa Anelli, and Anthony Rapp were all members of (and in Anthony's case, at the center of) fandoms that lived before this magical get-anything-you-want-instantly age. We'll tell some stories and have some fun together.
Taking a story and applying it to how we view the world is the greatest magic we can create. In John Green's third novel, Paper Towns, we see how much can go wrong when we don't take the time to view people as complexly as we imagine ourselves. Come and learn how Paper Towns is similar to a model of psychoanalytic therapy, Object Relations.
Join us as we discuss two of J.K. Rowling’s favorite characters and share the lighthearted fun of why we love harmless pranks, but hate to be the target of them. Born on April Fool’s Day, Fred and George's love of pranks reflected their similar temperament and their distinctiveness from the rest of the family. They were clearly skilled wizards who used their proficiency to create fun and mayhem instead of following their brothers into more serious and responsible pursuits.
Last year we laughed, we sang, and we had totally awesome story time. This year, the best StarKid family on the Internet will meet again at LeakyCon Portland. Come to meet up with the people we love the most, and expect some supermegafoxyawesomehot surprises as well. Bring your beautiful faces and awesome StarKid attitudes! Less than four, and let's do this thing!
Other than the obvious “death” and “resurrection” of Harry himself, did you know that both death and rebirth occur alchemically many times through the series? This presentation will attempt to discuss the key death and rebirth elements within the Harry Potter series, focusing on those found in the last two books of the canon.
What is a Hufflepuff? We need to meet and find out. If you were sorted into Hufflepuff, and either embraced it or wondered how this could possibly be, come out and meet some of your Housemates. Professor Sprout will be there to welcome you.
La Vie Boheme. One Day More. Lights up on Washington Heights. Kristen Chenoweth. Saturday Intermission Pics. HASA DIGA EEBOWAI! If any of those things mean anything to you, then 1) You're obviously a really cool person and 2) You probably want to meet other really cool people who share your love...I mean PASSION...for musical theatre. Broadway is life, and life is Broadway, and if you love anything and everything about the Great White Way, you've gotta check this out!
Last year, we had a great conversation as we sought to sort some of our favorite Hunger Games characters. This year, I thought we should take a crack at some of our favorite Pride and Prejudice characters. Is Charlotte a Ravenclaw or a Slytherin? Is Lydia really a Gryffindor? Does the sorting change if we're talking about Pride and Prejudice and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries adaptation? Why? Grab your sorting hat and get ready for some stimulating discussion!
If you know what DFTBA means, you belong at this meet-up. This is a LeakyCon tradition: Hank Green takes an hour to play some songs, tell some jokes, and talk nerdy to you. If you've ever needed Harry Potter like a Grindylow needs water, we'll see you there!
This roundtable discussion will talk about the marginalized populations within the Wizarding World. The focuses will be on disability, race, gender, and LGBTQ, and the issues surrounding these populations. The discussion will focus on the book portrayals of these characters, or lack thereof. Discussion on issues such as werewolves, giants, Muggles, and age will also be discussed. Come prepared to talk about your opinions on the books stance on these issues.
We will discuss the binary oppositions in the novel that force readers to view Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, Slytherin House, and other characters as the "bad guys" when maybe they aren't so bad. We will also discuss themes like good versus evil, formation of opposites, and wizard versus muggle society. We will further discuss how to avoid becoming an unreliable narrator in our own life and how the Harry Potter novels show the importance of opposites and different opinions.
The Mark Reads Harry Potter series, started in 2010, has now been read by millions of people. Since then, series writer Mark Oshiro has started two websites, released numerous eBook compliations of his reviews, and has toured to promote himself. Mark added reading of Harry Potter fanfic to his last tour to much praise. He will continue this tradition here at LeakyCon.
Pokemon has had a massive impact on many lives. We will discuss how we were introduced to Pokemon, our fondest memories, whether we still play the games and TCG or watch the show, and if we think it’ll still be around when we have children ourselves. Prepare for a nostalgic and feelsy session. I’ll also be handing out packs of Pokemon cards - while stock lasts, of course.
Twelve sub-types of heroes have been identified in psychology. They inspire us, and when we identify with them, their circumstances can help us make sense of our own lives. Who is your favorite hero from Harry Potter? Join us as we explore the psychology of heroism in the Harry Potter characters and talk about the type of hero that is your favorite character.
Are you convinced Severus Snape is really a vampire? Will no one believe that Dumbledore is Ron from the future? Come and share your theories with us! What makes a theory 'crackpot' anyway?
General info SPEW meeting. Members should check their gallons for more info. Newcomers welcome!
In this interactive workshop, participants will peel back text to examine how and why some characters brought about the fan responses that they did. There was no doubt that Harry, Hermione and Ron would be favorite characters, but who could have foreseen the Draco or Neville love? Yes, we’ll discuss the Blaise Zabini situation, and why poor Hannah Abbott, or Malcolm Baddock, never got the same treatment.
Explore the common ground between the steampunk creative movement and the world of Harry Potter. Recent books featuring maverick engineers, corseted adventuresses, and dastardly sky pirates are filling bookshop shelves next door to Harry's exploits. Where did they come from and why should you crack their covers? What does steampunk have to offer the Wizarding world (and vice versa)? Share recs for your favorite steampunk novels and steampunked HP fan works.
Dance Against the Dark Arts team is excited to offer a full session of choreography. This workshop will consist entirely of fun and challenging routines set to some of your favorite Wrock songs. Anyone is welcome, but the choreography will be geared toward those with an intermediate to advanced background in dance. Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. Participants are encouraged to bring water. Observers are also welcome to attend.
The Harry Potter story lines are replete with magical and not-so-magical animals. These include basilisks, blast-ended skrewts, bowtruckles, cats, centaurs, dragons, flobberworms, gnomes, hippogriffs, phoenix, werewolves, winged horses, and so many more. Some of them are loved and pampered. Others are misused and abused. This presentation will explore the laws of muggle society applicable to the care, maintenance, and exhibition of animals, and will discuss how those laws would apply to the creatures in the Wizarding world.
Today, the word "fool" is used as an insult to intelligence. Historically, the fool has had a rich and varied literary presence, manifesting not only as characters lacking intelligence or common sense, but also as characters of great wit whose jokes may or may not belie the depths of their emotion and intellect. By tracing their lineage back to Shakespearean fools both natural and artificial, we can gain greater insight into the personalities and purposes of modern fools.
