I was just informed my speaking time during my reading at Arcana has been extended up to 30 minutes in each session. And I will still be doing all of the other fun panels at this time, including: Women of the Horror Film, and Asian Horror Films 2, and Ghosts in Fact, Folklore, Fiction, and Film.
Arcana is a small convention of die-hard group of horror literature/film buffs that's been going on in Minneosta for quite some time.
Fortunately, films like The Descent this year make these panels very easy to bring these subjects to light in an intriguing manner.
I'm a little fascinated by how many films in the early 2000s decided that American horror themes are best conveyed through the voices of creepy little British girls. (Sorry, kids.) You know that if you hear some urchin in her East End accent going: "I warned you, now you're all going to die," it can't be good.
Films like Ghost Ship, The Others, and Resident Evil will certainly make my point. Issues of culture, gender, class and racism will also definitely emerge as we look at the Island of Dr. Moreau and the Island of Lost Souls, Species, 28 Days Later (not to be confused with Sandra Bullock's 28 Days.) and international fare such as The Eye, The Ring, Ju-On, Shutter, and Uzumaki and how they treat women in these.
Arcana will be an occasion to hear some new and classic examples of my speculative poetry and short stories, not only from the Monstro collection at my main website, but also pieces that have only recently begun seeing the light of day.
One of the funnier points during Diversicon was a discussion of the difficulties that I had getting my Lovecraftian stories into print, because they frequently intertwine authentic Southeast Asian cultural elements (that the editors seem to believe are fake,) with more well-known concepts from the Cthulhu Mythos. The pain of having to explain:
"No, the Hmong are real. The Shoggoths are fake. Yes, there was a secret CIA army in Laos during the 1960s-70s. No, there's no such thing as a Tcho-Tcho."
And on and on.
On the other hand, the Japanese get to do it all the time without a hassle:
Asamatsu Ken's anthology Hishinkai, or Lairs of the Hidden Gods, a two-volume edition, no less, is a great example of the work that's been produced today.
I can't win. ;)
Oh well.
If you can make it to Arcana, it'll be great to see you there!
I'm curious: Outside of speaking at Arcana, what do you expect to get out of it?
ReplyDeleteI would like to meet and talk with the GOH, especially after reading through his and his wife's web-pages - but as a general guest that just isn't likely, so the time and expense of an entire Con' just isn't worth it for me, especially as I've other obligations (urgently) needing to be met.
And, of course, I'd hope to hear what you have to say over a meal at the Peking Garden or something, too, rather than go to the convention to get that interaction. More fun, more time, and much more inclusive, I'd think
Speaking of, we should all do that soon, esp. as Y just had his birthday a few days ago.
Is it primarily about the chance to put your work and ideas forth, for you, or is there more?
C
Good food?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though- I'm just checking it out, and seeing what some of the current opinions are out there in the field, to see if they're similar or different from my own. And I'm always up for learning a new thing or two, you know.
Say, how did it go?
ReplyDelete;D Are you tired yet (you know, the usual, long weekend and all)?
;)
C