Are you ready to trade your end-of-semester fatigue for some Critical Theory hot takes? Join us for an intensive, three-hour "Critical Theory Micro-Conference," diving deep into the media that shapes our lives. We’re putting pop culture under the critical microscope with three stacked sessions featuring nine speakers who will deploy cutting-edge frameworks—from psychoanalysis and deconstruction to critical disability theory—to unpack media like Taylor Swift’s music, Darth Vader, Shutter Island and more! Each session will feature a panel of 3 speakers, each of whom have 12 minutes to deliver maximum insight, followed by a 10-minute Q&A. If you’ve ever wondered how theory explains your favorite fandom, this is your chance to see it in action.

Speakers: Tom Claffey, Savannah Geidel, Farrell Guest, Emily Holden, Reece Littleton, Wise Mayeden, Jamie Sears, Conner Tomlinson, Madison Young

Schedule:

• 4:30 - 4:35: Opening Remarks
• 4:45 - 5:30: Panel 1: "Understanding Self and Others in Media" with panelists Savannah Geidel, Reece Littleton, and Wise Mayeden
• 5:30 - 6:15: Panel 2: "Contemporary Mediated Feminisms" with panelists Farrell Guest, Emily Holden, and Madison Young
• 6:15 - 7:00: Panel 3: "Power and Control in Film" with Tom Claffey, Jamie Sears, and Conner Tomlinson