PANELS
On this page, you can find descriptions for all the panels presented at SwampCon, as well as special panels presented by UF students and faculty as part of our Lecture Series. Live Panels will be presented on Discord; pre-recorded panels will premiere on YouTube.
Our Lecture Series panels will appear in a variety of places to accommodate the needs of our faculty, so make sure to pay extra attention to the description of you want to attend one!
PANEL ROOM 1 (DISCORD)
SATURDAY
Competing in Cosplay with Avera Cosplay (1:00PM-2:00PM) : Description pending!
Can We Talk? with William Hatfield (3:00PM-4:00PM) : Dialogue helps you present the characters, and defines them. Published Author William Hatfield and other authors show you ways to use the dialogue to show information beyond the actual words spoken, to define your characters. Methods to use, and pitfalls to avoid along the way.
Cosplay on a Budget with cbt_cosplay (5:00PM-6:00PM) : In this panel I’ll show you how to find great alternatives, techniques, and more that will save you money in this really expensive hobby. Over the years I have been cosplaying, I have had to find ways to cut corners and cut costs on cosplay, though I did not want to lose quality. This takes some practice and knowing what to look for, which without some help can be overwhelming but I’m here to help out! Join in with any questions you may have and I’ll help you with your cosplay on a budget needs!
SUNDAY
Getting it Write! with William Hatfield (2:00PM-3:00PM) : You’ve managed to write the first draft of your novel. What is next? Published Author William Hatfield, with the help of a writer friend or two, leads you through the steps and missteps of the editing process, and related topics. Questions and participation in the discussion will be encouraged.
Face paint? How does it work? with cbt_cosplay (5:00PM-6:30PM) : We all love those alien, gem, orc, and demon cosplays, but hate the face painting that comes with doing them. Join me in this panel for a live demonstration of a face paint application for all of your cosplay needs. Here ill share tips and tricks i have found through my many years of face paint cosplay, what to avoid, what you can try, and other methods that have worked for me. Face paint can be a struggle and cause more problems than it seems its worth, with a little help and practice you’ll be on the road to bringing your favorite characters to life.
PANEL ROOM 2 (DISCORD)
SATURDAY
Accessibility in the Cosplay Scene with Kiicosplays (2:00PM-3:00PM) : Disabled cosplayers and congoers often face additional challenges when attending conventions, many of which are not openly discussed. Whether you’re a disabled congoer yourself, in the business of hosting events, or just want to learn, you’re invited to join this discussion on accessibility, cosplay, and conventions.
Tips for Cosplaying While Black with Donutkun (4:00PM-5:00PM) : This is a panel going into the details of the positives and negatives of being black in the cosplay community. There are various tips and bits of advice for black individuals who may be interested in starting the hobby as well as tips for non black allies to keep in mind when interacting with black cosplayers.
SUNDAY
The Meta-Panel: A Panel about Panels (4:00PM-5:00PM) : Spend hours viewing panels, but have no clue how to build one yourself? You’re not alone! Learn step by step how to build a panel on just about anything from the ground up!
PANEL ROOM 3 (YOUTUBE)
SATURDAY
Rhythm Games for the Uninitiated (1:00PM-1:30PM) : For many, rhythm games are often intimidating and are only looked at from the perspective of what is the most popular or accessible. However, despite perceptions, rhythm games are perhaps one of the most rewarding genres of game to play and have some of the most tight-knit and welcoming communities.
Welcome to the World of Lobotomy Corporation! (3:00PM-3:30PM) : This is an informative panel about the video game, Lobotomy Corporation, as well as some of Project Moon’s other works (Wonderlab, Library of Ruina), hosted in the style of an employee orientation for the company Lobotomy Corp! Lobotomy Corporation is a SCP-esque monster managing simulator, where you take care of strange creatures in containment in an underground facility, where lots of terrible things can happen to the employees.
Thinking Outside The Dungeon: TTRPG Design and DND Alternatives (5:00PM-5:30PM) : I talk about TTRPG design, a brief history, some game design principles, some critiques of DND or situations where it doesn’t shine, then explore the world of independent tabletop games.
Kpop Random Dance Game (7:00PM-8:00PM) : Join us to dance to and enjoy all your favorite kpop songs! With a mix of older classics and new hits, everyone is sure to find songs they love. Come dance the night away!
SUNDAY
Basics of Photography at a Comic Con (1:00PM-2:00PM) : The description is the Title, just some basics on how to take photos and how to make quick edits to make them better.
KDrama Adaptions of Manga with Seoulmates Podcast (3:00PM-4:00PM) : You love the manga, now you can love the Kdrama. Seoulmates Podcast covers Korean adaptations of Japanese manga.
Coasting Through a History of Japanese Amusement Parks (5:00PM-6:00PM) : Sit down and enjoy the ride on a brief history of amusement parks and roller coasters from the land of the rising sun. From gardens, arcades, baseball, Hamtaro, to economics, this panel has it all! Sister-panel to “Theme Parks: The Good, the Bad, and the Weird”
PANEL ROOM 4 (YOUTUBE)
SATURDAY
How to Make Enamel Pins with artist Anna Jano (12:00PM-12:30PM) : Have you ever wanted to make your own enamel pin but didn’t know where to start? I’ll take you through the step-by-step process I used to create my animal pins. We’ll cover what makes a good design, how to prepare artwork for a pin, and touch on how to find and work with a pin manufacturer.
Theme Parks: The Good, The Bad, and the Weird (2:00PM-3:30PM) : NEW! NOW OPEN FOR 2021! Where on Earth can you pose with armor-clad dinosaurs, eat Sonic the Hedgehog popcorn, or ride the dog-fart roller coaster? Hop on board to this panel and find out, ’cause it’s gonna be a wild ride from beginning to end!
So You Wanna Be a Vampire? (4:00PM-4:30PM) : A brief overview of Vampire: The Masquerade LARP, played locally in Gainesville FL. What it is? What it’s all about? How to get involved? Basics of the different Vampire Clans? Getting Started?
Room Escapes and How to Make One (6:00PM-7:00PM) : From the creators of Mothman’s Great Escape and Monokuma’s Despairful Room Escape comes an informational panel all about escape rooms–what are they? How are they made? How do /we/ make them? Learn everything you need to know about how to put together a (low-budget!) escape room!
PANEL ROOM 5 (YOUTUBE)
SATURDAY
Introduction and Etiquette to Con Goers (1:00PM-2:00PM) : Is a brief introduction to the world of comic cons and some implicit rules of harmony that are present on any event that involves cosplayers and why Consent is important on comic cons.
Thieve’s Guilde: 28 Years of Local Stage Combat (3:00PM-3:30PM) : Thieves Guilde is Non-profit Theatre Combat group located here in Florida. Please watch if you want to know more about local stage combat scene.
KDramas You Should be Watching with Seoulmates Podcast (5:00PM-6:00PM) : Seoulmates Podcast covers the best television South Korea has to offer.
LECTURE SERIES (VARIOUS)
SATURDAY
Cross Cultural Engineering Education (9:30AM-10:30AM at twitch.tv/swampconofficial) : Presented by University of Florida professors Jerimiah Blanchard, Gloria Kim, Andrea Goncher, and Amanpreet Kapoor.
With the rise of globalization, engineering disciplines increasingly serve an international community. Teams of designers, developers, and administrators work across borders to develop solutions suitable in varied cultural contexts. At the same time, the prevalence of international education within engineering programs has become more prevalent. This panel brings together several faculty from the University of Florida’s Department of Engineering Education with personal experience in cross-cultural engineering to discuss the importance of international education to their disciplines, the challenges engineers face on the global landscape, and how engineers can prepare their solutions for international audiences.
Japanese Lolita: Dreaming, Despairing, Defying (2:00PM-3:00PM on Zoom) : As it exists in Japan, Lolita Fashion, like other Japanese subcultures developed as a response to social pressures and anxieties felt by young women and men in the 1970s and 1980s. This lecture will discuss the historical origins and evolution of this peculiar fashion subculture as well a the psychosocial factors driving it’s ongoing popularity in Japan.
From Bakugo to Butler: Trans Cosplayers and Gender Performativity Theory (5:00PM-6:00PM on Discord) : Presented by University of Florida graduate Ripley Olmstead, this topic was their thesis for their degree in Cultural Anthropology.
Gender, as analyzed through Judith Butler’s Performativity framework, is something one does rather than something one is. It is enacted through a constant back and forth between how one acts out one’s gender (with clothes, speech, body language, etc.) and how one’s social world responds to that act. So what does this have to do with Bakugo kinnies? Everything, of course. Based on an ethnographic research project consisting of 27 in depth interviews and years of life experience as a trans cosplayer, this presentation will connect your understanding of that Gamzee cosplayer who keeps screaming “buckets,” and the conceptual framework upon which we build our sense of gender.
SUNDAY
Japanese Lolita: Dreaming, Despairing, Defying (2:00PM-3:00PM on Zoom at https://ufl.zoom.us/j/96005583324) : As it exists in Japan, Lolita Fashion, like other Japanese subcultures developed as a response to social pressures and anxieties felt by young women and men in the 1970s and 1980s. This lecture will discuss the historical origins and evolution of this peculiar fashion subculture as well a the psychosocial factors driving it’s ongoing popularity in Japan.