Week 11 [15.12 - 21.12] Fan conventions

Fan conventions

You've probably heard about these, like the world famous Comic-Con or if you're more into Japanese popular culture – Anime Expo or Japan Expo. Maybe you've been at one. Conventions are events that gather people who share similar interest, be it fantasy genre, comic books, manga and anime (or Japanese culture in general) or television series and movies. The most popular conventions in our country center around the first three subjects and these are the ones I'd like to talk about.

Usually they're organized annually, often around the same date and in the same location, but there are exceptions. The oldest and one of most popular Polish fantasy conventions, Polcon, takes place in a different city every year. Conventions last two or three days (which usually corresponds with weekends), sometimes only one day and sometimes they're longer. Fans, both local and from around the whole country often come earlier, before the opening, to save a place in a queue that can later grow into a huge size. After some time, they get inside the building called a conplace. A conplace may be a school building, a hotel, a stadium, a cultural center or a specifically built for this purpose, convention/ conference center.

A queue in front of Atlas Arena, Międzynarodowy Festiwal Komiksu in Łódź, 2014

While at a convention you may participate in a wide array of activities. Firstly, there are lectures (given both by amateurs and professionals alike) on various topics. Of course the subject of these lectures depends on the theme of the convention, but a lot of them will present a specific comic book or anime series, certain trope from culture and history. You can discuss works of a certain author or simply, meet him/her and talk about their work experience, ask them questions personally. You can also take part in contests and win prizes ranging from books, gadgets to the convention’s currency (e.g. pyrfunty at Pyrkon) which you can later exchange for something you like. Besides, frequently there are game rooms - sections where you can sit down in front of a computer or a console and test a game out, or simply have fun with friends.

If you're at anime or fantasy convention, you'll sooner or later meet a person wearing a costume. That person, a cosplayer, impersonates a character from a popular culture (a TV series, a video game, a comic book etc.). There are special contests organized for such people in which the best cosplay is chosen.

Cosplayers, notice the scene is in a school gym, Animatsuri 2013

At every convention there is also a section dedicated to shop stands where you may buy stuff you probably won't find anywhere else and maybe even get a bargain. Among these shops you can spot artists and craftsmen who sell their artbooks, art prints or hand-made jewelry. Some of them will give out autographs, though at larger events the process of signing autographs can be organized, like at MFK in Łódź where you need a ticket with a number, otherwise you may be asked to leave the queue (it depends on an author's decision).

Fan convetions are also a great opportunity for companies and publishers to promote their products. For example, while at Międzynarodowy Festiwal Komiksu in Łódź, I had a chance to play around with Wacom Cintiq tablet (something I missed at Pyrkon earlier).

 Artists' stands, also a school gym

Shop stands at Pyrkon 2013, Poznań International Fair

Last but not least, you can meet people who have the same interests as you! Fan conventions are full of interesting, sometimes strange or even outright crazy people. While I'm aware there are always some downsides of such events, I still think it's worth taking part.

Questions:

Have you ever been at a convention? If yes, what kind of? Did you like it?

What do you think of this kind of events?

Sources:

http://komiksfestiwal.com/

http://animatsuri.pl/

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrkon