FINAL SCHEDULE POSTED
This page is outdated; the final schedule for Escapade 35 has been posted here.
Below are the panels that are planned for Escapade 35! Note that some panel titles or descriptions may be revised between now and the convention.
Our backup panels, which will be scheduled if other panels fall through, are “RPF in 2025,” “State of Omegaverse,” “Thai BL: Everything’s Better in Thailand,” and “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye.”
General/Meta Panels
Are You an OTP Fan or Do You See Multiple Possibilities?
I started out in fandom as a OTP girl, but as I matured, and the shows tried to destroy the relationships that seemed to have any slash context. I couldn’t see my favorite character with his OTP anymore and I fully embraced branching out to fertile ground and exploring combinations. Tony/Gibbs was no longer a healthy relationship so it became open season on finding a new OTP. Stiles/Derek forever but Peter is so wickedly fun. What characters have you moved away from the OTP to explore new connections, and what characters can you only see as a OTP (Kirk/Spock, Rodney/John, Jim/Blair) Come and present your arguments for OTPs or exploring brave new worlds.
Big Dumb Hot Cops and Effete Possibly Sociopathic Genius Consultants
This classic pairing continues to appear in media, drawing fannish attention and appreciation across decades, genres, and cultures. Come talk about your favorite instances, from recalling beloved standards (Sherlock Holmes, due South, Merlin, SGA) to sharing newer incarnations (Bones, Psych, Under the Skin, Guardian, SCI Mystery, The First Shot). How does this crime procedural paradigm expand to fit different kinds of narratives?
Comfort Media
When things are looking dark, what media do you turn to? Old favorites? New escapes & distractions? & how & why does that media help you — does it give you hope, a break, nostalgia, or model new possibilities? Let’s talk meta but also share/rec our favorite comfort shows/films/or even fanworks that help us get through.
Do Old Flames Burn Brighter?
What shows or pairings do you keep the flames burning for even though the show disappeared in the rear-view mirror a long time past? What keeps pulling you back? Did you even leave in the first place? How do you keep the fires hot and find others to help fan the flames? Come discuss the fandoms you never wanted to let go of.
Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow
Or maybe, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! Feeling left behind as fandom stampedes to some media type or property that’s just not for you? Let’s discuss where people are going and how to get into those fandoms… or find something else active instead.
Frankencanon
Comics/manga, anime/donghua/cartoon, live-action, 80s cartoon vs recent cartoon, audio drama, video game, pre-Crisis vs post-Crisis vs post-Crisis II… what does it do to fandom when canon has a broad range of clashing source material? What elements are considered “always true” even if they didn’t happen in all versions, and what’s considered drop-able? Do you like frankencanon fics or prefer ones that stick to a single source?
How to Keep Hope
What can we do to support and nurture each other in a political landscape full of hate, bigotry, and wilful ignorance? What have you found that gives you strength and hope; what activities have you decided to avoid for a while? What fanworks have you turned to for inspiration and comfort? We’re in this together – let’s find ways to encourage and help each other.
Internet as a Double-Edged Sword
Thanks in large part to the internet, the speed and immediacy of fandom has skyrocketed in recent years. Streaming platforms allow us to watch and rewatch episodes endlessly, and fan communities and fanworks proliferate overnight. But in the hiatus between seasons, discussion and discourse can lead to headcanons and divisions, and when the next season arrives, it may bear little relationship to what fans wanted or expected to see. We’ll talk about some examples of this phenomenon, as well as whether there is anything that can be done about it.
Monster Non-f*cking
A tumblr post asked: what’s with all the monsterfucking? what if I want monster RELATIONSHIPs? Monster HAND-HOLDING with INTENSE LOOKS?” (and then someone added a pic of Guillermo del Toro pointing up at the words.) How does it change a relationship when the biology is very different? What’s it like to date outside your species? What kind of social problems will the couple face?
Past Its Best By Date: When Should Shows Stop?
We’re all familiar with the first-season show that ends on a cliffhanger that doesn’t get renewed, as well as the one that goes on far too long. Is there a best by date for television shows, an optimum number of season or episodes for peak creativity and storytelling?
Personal Fannish Websites
What types of personal fandom website have existed throughout the online ages? Characters and ship shrines, art galleries, quizzes… and what else? What new types of website would be fun to see? Any websites you miss?
Principles of Crystallization
What makes a fandom form? Is it some property of canon? Is it random chance?
Rec All the C-dramas
Gone are the days when it was all about Guardian & The Untamed. Sadly gone also are the days when we had full on danmei adaptations. But there are many wonderful c-dramas out there, with high drama, angsty bromance, multidimensional characters, political intrigue, epic (or cursed) weddings, and beautiful actors (not to mention the artful spitting of blood). What do you look for in a c-drama? Pimp your favorites, old and new! And bonus for sharing fan works/pimping the fandoms as well.
Things That Shock Fannish People and Why We Love Them
Bully to love interest? May/December relationships? Schrodinger’s incest? What suggests the kids aren’t all right to us lawn-protecting over-21s?
Time-Travel Fix-It
Canon ended all wrong, so… fanfic provides a solution! Some are strong on restarts from the beginning; others return to a key spot in the middle. Some focus on fixing the same couple of events; some are all over in what or how much they fix. What kinds of time-travel fix-its do you like? What’s boring? How is it different across different fandom?
Where My Ladies At?
Where are the good femslash ships these days?
Fandom-Specific Panels
Agatha All Along and Along and Along
Fandom: Agatha All Along
Agatha All Along presented a group of middle aged women and one Teen on a quest for power. Oh, and Agatha’s ex-girlfriend is Death. How awesome? And how will this fit in the larger MCU (even if it doesn’t need to)?
Arcane
Fandom: Arcane
Arcane season 2 is out. What do we think about the relationships between Vi, Caitlyn, and Jinx? How do we feel about the ending? And what, if anything, comes next?
Should Be Making This Movie
Fandom: DC Comics
DC comics, failing to make the movie of your dreams! Tell us what they should be doing.
Healing Factor Your Way to New Kinks
Fandom: Deadpool and Wolverine
This movie had all the chemistry, made all the money, and starred all the characters nobody was expecting. How do we feel about this finale to the Fox-verse? Does it portend anything for the MCU? And how much are we shipping the leads?
For Reasons That Do Not Need Exploring at This Juncture
Fandom: due South
Discuss Hot and Hotter, and which Ray is which.
Beyond Seven Seas
Fandom: Eastern Media Novels
What translations are coming out?
Like A Fucking Valkyrie
Fandom: The Expanse
We read the last three books of the Expanse and we are going to have feelings about it.
Going Down to Dixing Again
Fandom: Guardian
What are you writing, drawing, recommending, and loving about Guardian in 2025?
Gay Divorced Vampire Drama
Fandom: Interview with the Vampire (AMC)
Let’s talk about the queer divorceé vampires being insane, horny and violent at each other on AMC’s Interview With The Vampire!
What’s Up in English Language BL?
Fandom: M/M Romance
M/M Romance novels, Original English Language BL webnovels, the Original Works section on AO3: wherever you look, there’s more and more original m/m content in English. What have you been enjoying lately? Where do we find the good stuff?
Maybe It Won’t Hurt Me This Time
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Will shows like Agatha All Along improve Phase 4 enough to save the MCU from itself?
First Times
Fandom: The Professionals
When? How? Why? Where? Yeah, I want all the details!
Trekking On with Strange New Worlds, Discovery, Lower Decks, and On
Fandom: Star Trek
We’re here, we’re queer, we’re talking TOS through Lower Decks through and Discovery and Prodigy.
A Light Side, A Dark Side, Binding The Universe Not Included
Fandom: Star Wars
What is Star Wars canon these days? Which parts of Legends do you still miss? What unexpected good Star Wars has Disney rolled out lately?
Thursday Nights Will Always Be Spooky
Fandom: Supernatural
Two brothers on a road trip, saving people, hunting things. We make friends along the way, they all die. What’s your favorite monster? What’s the dumbest lore? All pairings welcome, even that one.
We Need More Porn of Wen Ning
Fandom: The Untamed/MDZS
What is there left to talk about in this fandom? Let’s find out!
Pink Goes Good with Green
Fandom: Wicked
We’re all shipping it, right?
Alternative, Tech, and Workshop Panels
Arts, Crafts, and Conspiracies
Come make stylish tin hats and talk about your conspiracy theories.
Calibre – FanFicFare
Learn how to download fanfiction directly into Calibre, create custom columns for warnings, genres, challenges, pairings and more! If there is time I can also share how to generate your own custom covers per fandom.
Classic Fanvid Analysis
We’ll review 3-4 popular fanvids – watch each one, and then discuss how it was made, what makes it work, why these scenes out of canon – and then compare all of them as a group. (Panelists to choose vids in advance.)
Fan Video is Dead, Long Live Fan Video!
Does the traditional form of vidding persist, or is it becoming a lost art form? Short form fan edits are everywhere — do they share qualities with more traditional old-school full-length vids? Do you watch short form edits and have you come to appreciate them? Have you even tried to make them/would you like to try? If so, how would approaching short form edits differ from conceptualizing a full fan vid? And/or do you think it’s a matter of time before full length fanvids re-emerge as a predominant form?
Fanbinding: the Old, the New, and the Pricey
We’ve come full circle: Paper fanfic is now the exotic novelty version. And people are willing to pay ridiculous amounts for their favorite fics as paperbacks – sometimes without the consent of the author. We’ll look into Manacled and All the Young Dudes, and how those relate to the ethical practices of fanbinding with permission, or at least, not for profit.
Fandom Hipsters
You’ve probably never heard of my fandom, and now I’m going to pimp it to you.
Foods of Fandom
Come share your favorite fannish recipe, whether it’s a food from your canon or a meta joke on fandom in general.
The Fujoshi Guide to Web Development – Building a Fandom from Scratch
Come hear about our adventures attempting to build a “slash fandom” from first principles (for a good cause), and let’s talk about what makes fandoms and ships stick! Project website: https://www.fujoweb.dev/
It’s All in the Research
Spent the last semester learning how to research better. Some of this might apply to writing. A lot of it is devoted to interviews and surveys, but nothing wrong with that.
Language Learning for Fandom
Let’s discuss resources and tips for learning various languages for fandom purposes.
Pegging and Butt Stuff! A Delightfully In-Depth Intro
Have you ever wanted to bend over your boyfriend and have your way with his sweet ass? Come learn how! Are you new to butt stuff and want to learn some basics? Do you want butt sex info for your fic? Come join us! Panel will feature in depth info on anatomy & techniques plus how to entice nervous first timers.
There’s Too Much Fic To Filter (Or Is There?)
Can’t find what you’re looking for on AO3? Learn the secret search operators to find That One Fic.
They Said What!?!
Doctor Beth and Kandy name the fandom & the episode, then shows a slashy/out of context picture. The player picks which of four quotes matches that scene. This will be followed by a presentation of rare 35mm Film clips of your favorite shows.
Vidding 101
Basics for vidding newbies and those who want to get into vidding but don’t know where to begin
What’s Up with BlueSky?
What is BlueSky and how is it different from (or similar to) platforms like Tumblr, Twitter or LiveJournal/Dreamwidth? And how is it different from other efforts to create decentralized social platforms like Mastodon? But most importantly, can fandom use it, and should it?
Where Did the Comments Go? Discord, Apparently.
Apparently people are gushing about fics on Discord and not leaving any feedback where the story is posted. This sucks for writers. Come talk about solutions to encourage readers to leave comments for writers before they fuck off to other fandoms with better commenters.
Annual Panels & Activities
Auction
Don’t miss the fun and excitement as arts, crafts, and even food are auctioned off! We’ll also be choosing the winners of the raffle at this time, so make sure you’re there!
Closing Panel (Escapade Review)
Closing Ceremonies, and your chance to discuss what we did well and what we could do better next time. Come and say goodbye!
Dance Party
Come dance Friday night away with a curated list of fan-made music videos, all tailored to this year’s theme!
Dead Dog Party
Once all the panel rooms are packed up, take a load off and relax!
Songvid Show
Saturday night wouldn’t be complete without the songvid show!
Tea Party
An elegant break for tea and cookies.
Vid Review
If watching the Escapade Songvid Show isn’t enough, and you want to dig into why a vid did or didn’t work, analyze technique, and basically geek out over vids, this is the panel for you!
Wayback Panel
Voted on during opening ceremonies, which panel will we revisit from 10 years ago?
Welcome Panel
Opening ceremonies! Join us in welcoming back old friends and new attendees!
Wildcard Panel
Voted on during opening ceremonies, what is the newest thing that everyone’s talking about?