Dara Fogel, Ph.D. watched the original broadcasts of Star Trek with her father as a wee lass, and has been attending cons since the age of nine. Her Orion Slave Girl costume won multiple contests back in the day, and she taught several Star Trek- and Matrix-themed philosophy courses at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of New Mexico. She was the first queen of the Norman Medieval Fair and is still an active volunteer; and was the founding director of the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair. She is the author of the bestselling Steampunk series the GrailChase Chronicles, which combines the unholy combination of speculative science, conspiracy theory, metaphysics, and romance. She has published academically and presented extensively on the philosophies of Star Trek, Steampunk, and Holographic Universe Theory. Her essay “Life in the Holodeck,” was included in Blackwell’s The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy, and in the forthcoming college textbook Philosophy and Popular Culture, due out this fall. She is delighted to be returning to SoonerCon.
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10:30 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Open sci-fi-oriented philosophy public discussions. All are welcome. (1.5 hours)
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD
Tracks: Culture & World Affairs, Meetup, General Interest, Science Fiction
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Imposter Syndrome is when an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. We who suffer from this believe we don't deserve all that we have achieved. The panel will discuss ways to help get past perfectionism and insecurities. You don't have to get it right the very first time … or the tenth!
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Amber Hanneken, vickey malone kennedy, Elizabeth Leggett, Rynaga, Tall Chick Cosplay
Tracks: Business & Marketing, General Interest, Health & Wellness
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
The Hero's Journey, one of the most appealing narrative structures, takes a person from the ordinary to extraordinary then back again. How do these steps define a hero? How do our encounters with fictional heroes shape our worldviews when we face similar challenges IRL?
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, Selina Rosen, Bradley H Sinor
Tracks: Cosplay, Writing & Publishing, Gaming, Comics, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV
5:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Since the earliest times, we have experienced the world and shared that experience by creating works of art. New ideas emerge from creative expression. Examine this symbiotic journey, as how art eventually becomes reality and vice versa.
Moderator: Jan S. Gephardt
Panelists: Jan S. Gephardt, Daniel Erickson, Dara Fogel, PhD, Chaz Kemp, Tracy S. Morris, Steven E. Wedel
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Writing & Publishing, Art, Anime, Cosplay, Film & TV, Internet Life
7:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Join panelists in the hotel lounge for lively conversation. BYO beverages, please.
Moderator: Rosemary Clement-Moore
Panelists: Rosemary Clement-Moore, Daniel Erickson, Everyday Futurist, Shai Fenwick, Mark Finn, Dara Fogel, PhD, Tyrell Gephardt, Sally Hamilton, Sheila Hartney, Carolyn Kay, Chaz Kemp, vickey malone kennedy, Melinda LaFevers, Julia S. Mandala, A. Lee Martinez, Tracy S. Morris, Michael Mosley, Ethan Nahté, Ted Pennella, Rook Riley, Rie Sheridan Rose, Seth Skorkowsky, Karen Thrower, Mel. White, Craig Wolf
Tracks: General Interest, Food & Drink, Writing & Publishing, Meetup
9:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Join panelists in the hotel breakfast area for morning networking and conversation. BYO coffee, please.
Moderator: Mitzi Bartlett
Panelists: Mitzi Bartlett, Matt Cavanaugh, Charles Dane Clark, Cal Custard, Brenna Deutchman, Pete Dixon, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Muriel Fahrion, J.H. Fleming, Dara Fogel, PhD, Tim Frayser, Hall of Femme, Amber Hanneken, James Hollaman, Carolyn Kay, Chaz Kemp, Mike Kennedy, Kimber, Melinda LaFevers, Elizabeth Leggett, Lollalotus, Luna Reign Cosplay, Madi, Dennis McDonald, Mimic Rae, Harold Neal, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, Jeff Provine, R Karch Photography, Rook Riley, Rie Sheridan Rose, Rynaga, Bradley H Sinor, Sue Sinor, WandererTJ, Mel. White, Craig Wolf
Tracks: General Interest, Food & Drink, Meetup
10:00 AM | Location: Boomer B
#neveragain: Artists, costumers, crafters and makers share ugly truths about the toughest creation they've ever made, and how it shaped their work going forward. Pics or it didn't happen!
Moderator: Kathleen M O'Brien
Panelists: Kathleen M O'Brien, Julie Barrett, Tim Chessmore, Cal Custard, Dara Fogel, PhD, WandererTJ
Tracks: Art, Cosplay, Maker, Costuming & Fashion
11:00 AM | Location: Sooner B
Survey the behavior of those caught up in societal panics. Examples are the Red Scare, (fictional) child-abuse rings, Satanic panic and D&D, mad gassers, and such. Must a group define itself by defining and condemning an Other, even if the Other ain’t there?
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Dr Paisley, Mark Finn, Pigeon, Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman, A C Smart
Tracks: Culture & World Affairs, General Interest
1:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Open sci-fi oriented philosophy public discussions. All are welcome. (1 hour)
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD
Tracks: Culture & World Affairs, General Interest, Meetup, Science Fiction