From Fan History Wiki

WisCon is a feminist science fiction convention which takes place annually over Memorial Day Weekend. It is considered the leading convention of its kind in the world, with programming focusing on such issues as race, gender, feminism and class in science fiction and fantasy.

[edit] History

• The first WisCon took place February 11 - February 13, 1977 at the Wisconsin Center. [1] Katherine MacLean and Amanda Bankier were the honored guests. [2]
• In February 1991, "Pat Murphy announced creation of the James Tiptree, Jr., Award for sf or fantasy that explores and expands gender roles." [3] It helped to re-energize the convention's engagement with feminism. [4]
• In 1996, WisCon celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Ursula K. Le Guin and Judith Merril were the guests of honor. The attendance was about 750 people. [5]
• In 2006, WisCon celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. [6]
• WisCon 32 took place May 23 - May 26, 2008, at the The Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.
• WisCon 33 took place May 22 - May 25, 2009, at the The Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. Guests of honor were Ellen Klages and Geoff Ryman.

[edit] Impact on fandom

[edit] cliquishness

Some have commented on or discussed the perceived "cliquish" nature of WisCon, and whether the convention is a welcoming space to those who do not come with already established friends or fannish/professional connections.[7][8][9]

[edit] Janus

Janus is a feminist science fiction fanzine. Some of Janus's special issues doubled early WisCon program books as the group behind the creation of zine created the convention. [10][11]

[edit] Kerfluffles

• After WisCon 32, there was a kerfluffle on-line after an attendee secretly took cell phone photographs of other attendees and a mocking post featuring these pics appeared on the Something Awful Sycophant Squad messageboard.[12] The photographer in particular targeted larger individuals and transsexuals. This generated a great deal of upset and reaction from convention attendees, as the convention is considered by many as a "safe space" for women in fandom.[13] Later the photographer claimed she was receiving threats and harassment from those who had been upset by her actions, including "outing" her personal information. She also claimed that she had not been the one to post the photos to SASS, that she had posted them elsewhere and later taken them down; she claimed in fact that someone had taken her livejournal icon to make it look as though it was her posting to SASS.[14] There was a post on the WisCon livejournal community to ask people to stop any harassment of this individual, no matter how much her actions were inappropriate.[15],[16]

• At WisCon 33, there was controversy over the moderation of the panel titled Take Back the SciFi, which was to focus on the use of rape and sexual assault in science fiction writing and the influence of rape culture in the genre. An official statement was offered by the convention after the fact, addressing how male sexual assault and victims were marginalized in the discussion.[17],[18],[19],[20]

[edit] Panels

This section needs more information.

[edit] Dealers

This section needs more information.

[edit] Fans attending

This section needs more information.

[edit] External links

• WisCon website
• The Society for the Furtherance & Study of Fantasy & Science Fiction
• WisCon livejournal community

[edit] Discussion and convention reports

[edit] WisCon 2004

• WisCon report (long) by Jed Hartman on June 2, 2004

[edit] WisCon 2008

• The Deviations Journey: WisCon
• WisCon Trip Report
• This is what an ignorant jackass looks like by mystickeeper on May 26, 2008
• Some words about the issue with the photographer at WisCon this year. by kalmn on May 27, 2008
• Real solidarity attempt by badgerbag on May 27, 2008
• What Rachel Moss Did by theangryblackwoman on May 28, 2008
• Rachel Moss and the Situation She Created by K. Tempest Bradford on May 28, 2008
• Why does Rachel Moss hate your fat (/trans/disabled) body? by Sheana on May 28, 2008
• Three Quotes on the WisCon Drama by Kate Harding on May 28, 2008
• A Modest Invitation by Lesley on May 28, 2008
• A report on an anti-fat, anti-trans Wiscon report by Ampersand on May 28, 2008
• WisCon by Elissa Malcohn on May 28, 2008
• Wiscon 32: Can Internet Drama Change the World? by coffeeandink on May 28, 2008
• Meanwhile, WTF? by misscam on May 29, 2008
• An Open Letter to Rachel Moss and the Rest of WisCon 32 by hederahelix on May 29, 2008
• Wiscon panels, part one. by resolute on May 29, 2008
• WisCon by intheyear2004 on May 31, 2008
• Wiscon panels, part two by resolute on June 1, 2008
• Wiscon panels, part three by resolute on June 2, 2008

[edit] WisCon 2009

See main article, WisCon 2009 convention reports

[edit] WisCon 2010

• Proposed program item for some future Wiscon: "More Oppressed than Thou": Kathryn Cramer on September 9, 2009

[edit] See also

• Conventions