Culture Fiend

Nerd Alert: The MLA Convention is Coming to Seattle

And we wouldn’t miss it.

Posted by: Allie Oosta on Jan 04, 2012 at 09:45AM 0 Comments

Warning: Participants of the MLA Convention may be geeky.

Typically, any mention of the MLA drums up bad memories of high school and college research papers, but this weekend’s Modern Language Association Convention features less work, more play (especially if you’re a nerd like me). Each year, hundreds thousands of participants flock to the chosen city to attend seminars on literature, music, poetry, and education trends; it’s the Comic-Con of academia. Let me set the scene for this weekend: Grad students, professors, scholars, and well-read citizens will surge through the doors of the Washington State Convention Center. They’ll whip through their program books, furiously highlighting, circling, starring, and grinning over panels that they just can’t wait to attend. These are three of our favorites:

How Seattle Changed Comics 8:30–9:45am

The Seattle Sound: A look at Nirvana, Sleater-Kinney, Hendrix, and More 1:45–3pm

Pinter in Seattle: A Creative Conversation with Frank Corrado and Harry Burton 3:30–4:45pm

Unfortunately, you can’t just pop in. But if you’re as curious as I am about the 750-plus panels this year, buy a weekend pass (the only way tickets are available). If not, stay tuned for my summaries, reactions, and more, coming next week.

UPDATE 1/6/12. Just found out about a free event at Town Hall tied to the MLA Convention: 60 alternative writers (many who are in town for the conference) will read three-minute snippets of their work, this Saturday 7:30–9pm. Writers on the docket include: Johanna Drucker, Rachel DuPlessis, Junte Huang, Susan McCabe, Laura Moriarty, Aldon Nielsen, Evie Shockley, Vanessa Place, Rebecca Brown, and Joe Milutis. —Laura Dannen

Modern Language Association Convention
Washington State Convention Center, Jan 5–8, $205–$265, 646-576-5167, mla.org

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Tags: Poetry, Comics, Convention Center, Nirvana

Are You Going to Comicon?

There are a few things to know before you reach for the tights.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Mar 04, 2011 at 12:00PM 0 Comments

A suit for all seasons Stormtroopers return to Seattle. Photo courtesy Kathy Ann Bugajsky / Emerald City Comicon.

1. Let’s talk Shatner. Captain Kirk will only be in attendance on Saturday, for a one-hour Q&A on everything: the new and old Star Trek, his CBS TV pilot Sh*t My Dad Says. You could probably even ask him about Priceline, since William seems as sassy as ever at 79.
Saturday, March 5, 3-4pm, Room 4A.

2. Seattle native Rainn Wilson and director James Gunn ( Slither ) will also be around on Saturday for a chat about their new dark comedy Super (out here April 15). Wilson stars as a sad-sack who assumes a superhero identity—Crimson Bolt—to rescue his wife (Liv Tyler), who’s been “willingly snatched” by a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). Ellen Page plays the Bolt’s sidekick, Boltie, which doesn’t sound too far off from her tag-along role in Inception. Typecast!
Saturday, March 5, 7pm, Room 4C3-4.

3. It’s at Washington State Convention Center from March 4-6, which means you can do some quality people-watching from the Cheesecake Factory across the street at 700 Pike.

Are you even sure you’re geeky enough to go to Comicon? Take our questionnaire to find out.

Tickets for Emerald City Comicon available at the door—$45 for a three-day pass, $20-$25 single day.

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Tags: Comics, Convention Center, Comicon