Wiscon

WisCon is an annual convention called "the world's leading feminist science fiction convention". It is held in Madison, Wisconsin at the Concourse hotel. 
Wiscon started in 1977. Guests of Honor have included many women authors of science fiction and fantasy books.
The Carl Brandon Society awards are presented at Wiscon for sf works that address issues of race.
See the Geek Feminism Wiki for information on the 2008 WisCon Troll Incident, when an attendee took photographs of other attendees and later posted in a forum to mock them.
In 2014 WisCon was criticized for mishandling the banning of a serial harasser, former TOR editor James Frenkel, from the con. See WisCon's flaky response to harassment incident sparks Internet uproar by Aja at The Daily Dot. The 2013 discussion about sexual harassment at science fiction conventions started as a result of the reporting of Frenkel harassing another attendee at WisCon.. Despite widespread knowledge of the 2013 incident, Frenkel was allowed to attend WisCon in 2014 because the official paperwork got lost. WisCon subsequently issued a temporary ban and indicated that he could return sooner if he behaved.
==1977==
==1978==
==1979==
==1980==
Professional Guests of Honor were Octavia Butler and Joan Vinge. Guest Editor of Honor was David Hartwell, Fan Guest of Honor was Bev DeWeese.
==1987==
Professional Guests of Honor were Emma Bull and Iain Banks.
It took place March 9-11.
==2006==
==="Arcana"===
Among the MANY other events of this con was the controversial nomination by Liz Henry of a fanfic called Arcana for the "James Tiptree Jr Memorial Award." 
* by Matt Ruff (May 18, 2006)
* by Cesperanza (May 18, 2006)
* (May 19, 2006)
* Some thoughts on fanfic and the Tiptree, by Liz Henry (May 19, 2006)
* by Kameron Hurley (May 31, 2006)
==2012==
* by CDisoriented (May 31, 2012)
==2019==
There were two fandom panels that year:
*"Fanfic: Threat or Menace" - an attendee live tweeted notes from the panel. Part 1: and Part 2 and Part 3 
Additional notes here: 
==2020==
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 44th Wiscon was held online on May 22-25, 2020.
==2021==
Due to burn-out and lack of technical expertise, no virtual Wisconline was held in 2021. However, organizers announced Visioning Wiscon, a virtual planning event for future Wiscons.
==2022==
In November 2021, the convention announced that future Wiscons faces an uncertain future and put out a call for volunteers and funds to keep the convention going:
As a result of the outreach, an in person Wiscon 2022 with a limited amount of virtual programming was announced in December 2021:
Laster in 2022, the following virtual programming was finalized:
The public schedule for all the events is archived here
==Wiscon Vid Party==
===Origins===
The current Wiscon Vid Party began in 2010 with a single vid show and it has grown to multiple shows.
Prior to 2010 however, cofax and veejane hosted a vid show/panel. It was held in an event room on the first floor of the hotel. The organizers received last minute approval from the con and put up signs. But because it dd not show up in the preprinted program guide, some attendees did not know it took place. 
cofax explained in 2019: 
fairestcat wrote in 2019:
The pre-2010 event referred to above may have been the panel "Their Images, Our Stories: Vidding as Feminist Critique". Particpant heyiya wrote in 2009:
The ideas of a Wiscon vid show was floated by cofax7, veejane and heyiya in early 2009:
cofax:
heyiya:
The following vids were selected and shown (links were from 2009 and may no longer work):
*Introductory:
**I Put You There by laurashapiro
*Celebrating women:
**One Girl Revolution by arefadedaway
*Slash:
**The Glass by thingswithwings
**I'm Your Man by charmax
*RP/complex feminist cultural commentary
**Piece of Me by ]obsessive24
*Critique of sexism and racism in media representations
**Women's Work by Luminosity and Sisabet
**How Much is that Geisha in the Window? by lierdumoa
**Origin Stories by giandujakiss
**A Fannish Taxonomy of Hotness by Clucking Belles
*Audience Request:
**Boom Boom Ba by charmax
**Us by lim
===Vid Show Playlists/Panels===
A detailed list of the vids shown at Wiscon can be found here. 
====2010====
The 2010 Vid Party Playlist was not recorded. In 2011, organizer damned colonial wrote:
One attendee attended and wrote: 
In 2021, one attendee reconstructed a partial playlist from memory: 
====2011====
In 2011, 3 themed vid shows were proposed:
Other vids shows included:
Intro session (Vids with a message) (9pm-10pm) - 
Premieres and Nearly New (11pm - midnight) - 
A sample vid show description from the themed show "Vids With Something To Say:
In 2011, the organizers also formalized their trigger warnings policy and offering subtitles. In order to do so, they solicited volunteers to assist in pre-viewing vids and to create detailed trigger warnings:
The list of trigger warnings
The list was later modified to include
They stressed:
A handout was prepared and posted online before the show.
They also attempted to secure permission to show vids along with permission to create subtitles for the singalong vids:
====2012====
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====2013====
By 2013, the organizers began offering subtitles for more vids, not just the singalong vids:
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futuransky posted her notes from the Vid Discussion panel: 
====2014====
In 2014, the group requested that the themed vid shows be shortened to only 3-6 vids:
They also planned a few vid specific panels and workshops:
Panels/Workshops
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Vid Shows
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They also held a vid discussion:
====2015====
The organizers included their first AMV themed vid show that year. They also asked attendees to vote on what vids to include in the Singalong.
</ref>
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====2016====
A filk song was written for the Vid Party, set to the tune of "The Story of Tonight"from Hamilton. They also struggled to find volunteers to keep with subtitling an ever more complex set of vid shows. And they held a "How to Vid - Ask a Vidder" panel.
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====2017====
The convention's guest of honor was Kelly Sue DeConnick, an American comic book writer and editor so the group organized a themed vid show around her works.; Due to its popularity a second SingAlong vid show was held. And jackshoegazer designed a poster. 
They also expanded on the type of vids they were looking for and why they were seeking them:
*
====2018====
The organizers took over the role of contacting vidders for permission to show their vids and allowed curators to solicit premiere vids for their themed vid shows. jackshoegazer designed a pink themed poster. And a poll was held seeking feedback on the following topics>
The vid programming ran over 3 hours that year.
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====2019====
The vid party was featured in a comic panel by: ; 
Vid Shows
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====2020====
The 2020 Virtual vid show playlist is here: *
====2021====
There were 14 themed vid shows
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====2022====
Playlists for Wiscon 45 can be found here: 
==Further Reading==
*WisCon entry at the Geek Feminism 
*Help, help, the MENZ are being oppressed!, LJ post by Ithiliana
* by Annalee Newitz (June 2008)
==See also==
*OdysseyCon
==References==
Category:1970s Conventions
Category:1980s Conventions
Category:1990s Conventions
Category:2000s Conventions
Category:2010s Conventions
Category:2020s Conventions
Category:Conventions in United States