A few weeks ago I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Denver Pop Culture Con 2019, gathering with thousands of people to talk about the movies, TV shows, comics, and yes, COSTUMES that we all love. For me, this was a welcome foray into a venue that is really all about the public. Regardless of where we live or what we do to making a living, walking around the convention center, it was all about appreciating who had the best costume or knew the most about a given movie, TV show, or book. As someone who has spent the last five years participating in academic conferences, this was such an enjoyable experience!

First of all, I got to spend a few days with an old friend, Chad Federwitz. I have known Chad since we both we at Naropa, and I was honored when he and our mutual friend, TJ, invited me to join a panel they did last year at Denver Pop Culture Con on religion and the Jedi Order. Their panel last year looked at Buddhist and Daoist influences/resonances with the Jedi Order, and this year we expanded things to include Sufism. At the last minute, TJ was called to go on a spiritual retreat to Japan, so Chad and I handled things by ourselves. Our other panel was what I like to call a “light Marxist critique” of the Star Wars franchise. Chad and I talked about how the Star Wars movies, books, comics, and TV series invite the audience to identify with the downtrodden and oppressed, but we wanted to point out some ways in which the Resistance/Rebellion is not quite as “free” as we might want it to be. Also…people in the audience wanted to talk about how Disney was the equivalent of the Evil Empire/First Order, so that was a fun dynamic to negotiate. I’m already looking forward to attending (and hopefully participating) next year. With it being an election year, I think some good discussion and critique of the equivalences that some folks want to draw between particular political parties and “sides” of the conflict in the Star Wars universe would be particularly appropriate. So much deconstruction to do!

Lastly, I have to saw that one of most enjoyable parts of speaking at this gathering was that I didn’t feel like I was performing. That might sound strange, given that many of the other participants were literally in costume, but in the past when I have spoken at AAR or MESA, I can’t help but feel like I’m supposed to put on armor and wade into battle as some type of superhero academician, all-knowing, all-confident, etc. Some of that pressure comes from being in the precarious position of a graduate student and contingent faculty member, but it’s also true that there are a lot of egos crowding the room at academic conferences, and beyond the pressure to do a good job presenting your paper, there are the added expectations of networking and job searching. In attending Denver Pop Culture Con 2019, I really focused on hanging out with my friends, sharing some ideas and listening to what the audience thought, and just soaking it all up the wonderful atmosphere.

I’m taking the rest of 2019 off from academic conferences, but I am sure I will be back in 2020 and beyond. When I do get back to those spaces, I will be sure to take some of the Pop Culture Con vibe with me. Also, perhaps a light saber…:)

Chad and I…looking far too serious at our first panel!

Two great Jedi Knights, ready to attend our panel on Buddhism, Daoism, Sufism, and Star Wars!

Not sure these guys would be able to handle crewing the Rocinante from The Expanse, but props to their “Pur’n’Clean” uniforms, and for organizing a panel on my favorite current sci-fi show! — Not sure these guys would be able to handle crewing the *Rocinante* from *The Expanse*, but props to their “Pur’n’Clean” uniforms, and for organizing a panel on my favorite current sci-fi show!

All credit to local Denver LEGO master and “Brickitect” Ken Klock for putting together this amazing rendition of the Imperial shield generator from Return of the Jedi. What this photo doesn’t show is that the wings on the Imperial shuttle actually m… — All credit to local Denver LEGO master and “Brickitect” Ken Klock for putting together this amazing rendition of the Imperial shield generator from *Return of the Jedi*. What this photo doesn’t show is that the wings on the Imperial shuttle actually moved up and down. Wow!

Probably my favorite cosplay from Pop Culture Con - Ahsoka Tano, complete with her twin light sabers! Photo Credit to Sarah aka Miss Marvel/She-Ra.

In a few days I will speak on two panels at Denver Culture Con 2019 (formerly known as Denver Comic Con). This is an exciting opportunity to have more public facing conversations than are usually possible (or welcome) at the run of the mill academic conference.

The first panel is titled, “Why Supporting Star Wars Helps the Empire, not the Resistance,” and takes place on Friday, May 31, 2:30-3:20 p.m. in Room 704/706 at the Denver Convention Center. Here is the abstract:

“Star Wars is one of the most popular franchises around the world, spawning films, TV series, books, comics, and – by some accounts – a new religious movement. Whether labeled as the Rebellion or Resistance, viewers are consistently invited to identify with the downtrodden and oppressed in every book, film, or TV series. However, this identification with the oppressed belies the reality in which the SW universe itself is a powerful force driving us to consume SW media and related products. These modes of production and consumption do nothing to address the deep inequalities that exist IRL. To the contrary, consuming the SW universe does more to empower the neoliberal capitalist "Evil Empire" than it does any type of Resistance. Through examining the tension between the ideals promoted by the SW universe and the effects of fans’ consumption of that universe, audience members will critique their own relationship to this much beloved universe.”

The second panel is titled “The Jedi Religion: Sufi, Daoist, and Buddhist Themes and the Jedi Order,” and takes place on Saturday, June 1st, from 2:30-3:20 p.m., in Rooms 704/706. Yes, that’s right, the panels are at the SAME TIME and in the SAME PLACE, just one day apart. This means that I have no excuse not to get to the second panel on time!

Here is the abstract for the second panel:

“Many researchers, writers, and fans alike, lay claim to the Jedi, insisting that the Jedi Order is basically Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, etc. The Jedi, however, are not Muslim or Buddhist, or any other modern religion, they are Jedi. George Lucas has pointed to numerous religious influences in his stories, yet many want to put Yoda or Qui-Gon Jin in a particular camp of religious influence. In this talk, we will explore possible influences and parallels between the Jedi Order and Sufi, Buddhist and Daoist religion/philosophy. Using source material taken from the “official canon,” we will search for common ground between the Jedi Order and three rich and diverse religious traditions. We hope that this presentation will provide participants with greater knowledge of these three world traditions, and how they might connect to the world(s) of Star Wars and the Jedi Order.”

Click here for the full schedule, as well as information on buying tickets.

Check back for my after action report, which will be sure to include some great photos of people dressed up as their favorite scfi-fi/fantasy characters!