My complete panel list for Salt Lake Comic Con. Some great and thought provoking discussions, two of which I moderate.

Harry Potter is My Bible: Fandom as Faith
Thursday September 21, 2017: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
People turn to fandoms for more than just entertainment. We find comfort and inspiration, guidance and even spirituality, in the art we consume. Drawing on the example from the podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text” this panel will discuss the deeper ways fandom can help us in life.

Digital Geek Etiquette: How to Remain Civil and Not Feed the Trolls
Thursday September 21, 2017: 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Sometimes a healthy debate online turns personal. This presentation will talk about ways to encourage civility and communication on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and other online forums. We will also discuss cyberbullying, trolling and how to better share your fandom passions—without coming across like a jerk.

Planet of the Apes: A Mirror for 21st Century Humans
Friday September 22, 2017: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
1968 saw the launch of the PLANET OF THE APES phenomenon. Years later this was rebooted with a new trilogy with the final film in the summer of 2017. The original films addressed things like potential nuclear warfare and human self-destruction. This panel will discuss how the rebooted trilogy has tackled contemporary questions, such as animal rights, human violence, dehumanization and genocide.

War and Peace in Science Fiction and Fantasy
Saturday September 23, 2017: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Based on a prospective course I have created – Since the inception of popular science fiction and fantasy into the human psyche we have gained great insight into our own nature in fantastical ways. Notions of appropriate and inappropriate patriotic behavior, in times of war and peace, as well as varied aspects of weapons of mass destruction, evil, torture and genocide are frequently transmitted by fiction, film and television. This panel will strive to encourage dialogue and debate as well as create a deeper understanding of issues of war and peace using science fiction and fantasy conflict.