Academic Programme

London is protected by the giants Gog and Magog, demonstrating how the fantastic is part of the 2,000 year history of the city. It is an incredible history, full of depressing depravation, delicious desires, and feats of derring-do. Today it is an exciting, vibrant and enriching city to experience. Whether you speak only one of its 300 languages, or visit only one of its 300 museums, the range of options open to Loncon 3 visitors is immense. To reflect this variety, the theme of this Worldcon’s academic programme is “Diversity”. We will be exploring the alleys and A-roads where science fiction, fantasy, and all forms of speculative fiction can be found. Whether this is in novels, comics, television, and movies or in art, radio plays, advertising, and music: variety is the spice of life.

We are expecting to welcome academics from around the world and from a unique array of disciplines to offer a diverse range of lectures, presentations, panel discussions, and masterclasses. Sessions may focus on the works of the Guests of Honour or the city of London. Sessions may discuss specific subjects, including the works of individuals like Neil Gaiman or H G Wells, or the output of companies like Avatar Press or Redemption Films. Sessions may be more thematic such as “Alternative Sexualities in Science Fiction”, “Horror in Music Videos”, “Postmodern Fantasy in Graphic Novels”, or “The Uses and Abuses of Speculative Fiction in Advertising”. The possibilities are virtually endless.

The full call can be found on this page. Some answers to frequently asked questions about the academic programme are set out here.

By aiming to reach the darkest depths of academia, we are planning on discussing the latest research on science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction so that everyone at Loncon 3 can find something to tickle their taste buds.

We are happy to able to announce two keynote speakers for the academic programme, both recognised and respected scholars in their fields: Isabella van Elferen and Karen Hellekson. More information about their respective topics can be found here.

Emma England
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