Ithaca College\'s Ed Catto lectures at Syracuse University\'s CONFluenceonline convention

By Edward Catto, March 10, 2021

The virtual CONfluence convention at Syracuse University will feature Ithaca College Instructor Ed Catto as a speaker, in the opening block, delivering his "Groovy Tunes- the Submersion of Rock Music in the Bronze Age" presentation. This presentation is partially based on his work to be published in TwoMorrow's Back Issue Magazine.

Geek/Art CONfluence is an online convention taking place in conjunction with Syracuse University, and will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 10 am to 6 pm EST on ZOOM.  The convention is a celebration of pop culture and, is open to everyone, anywhere, for free. The website, which will host the CON’s schedule and include Zoom information, is:  https://geekartconfluence.com/

THE 2021 GEEK/ART CONFLUENCE WILL FEATURE

• Four panels on geek culture by faculty, students, and other members of the geek culture community, with presentations on topics such as disabilities in the circus, Chinese web-based C- novels, rock music in Bronze Age comics, and zines about human-computer interaction.

• Presentations by the Bird Library Special Collections Research Center and the Syracuse University Art Museum, on their geek culture holdings.

• An online cosplay contest, judged by Kate McKay (Andromeda’s Alchemy), Wendell Smith, Sr. (Skorpking Costuming), and Jay Stilipec (Jazmine Cosplays).

• A session of Tolkien Reading Day, where people get together to read the works of J. R. R. Tolkien aloud.

• Lightsaber and cosplay demos, featuring The Gathering of Sabers, Ithaca Sabers, and Christina Lavinski.

• A scavenger hunt and discussion of Star Wars costuming with the 501st and Rebel Legions. • A workshop on accessible, healthy, digital art-making spaces by SU alum, Gilles Stromberg.

• Video chat rooms to relax and talk about comics, movies, your collections, and anything else with like-minded geeks.

• All-day gaming, including a one-shot RPG (sign up in advance for the RPG through our website). • Links to local artists and vendors.
• And more!

The Geek/Art CONfluence is dedicated to providing a diverse, inclusive experience—with a focus on increasing awareness of disabilities within geek culture—in partnership with Syracuse University’s “Cripping” the Comic Con, aka CripCon.

Attendees are encouraged to contact Chris Wildrick cwildric@syr.edu with any questions. CONFluence can also be found on Facebook and is partially funded by the School of Art, Syracuse University.