Popular Culture Review 30.2
form of conversation is an important thing to have because somebody out there is going to listen . Someone out there is going to be educated in some way ” ( Personal interview . 17 March 2016 ). Panels are a way to educate and activate the geek community , though admittedly , because panels can have audiences that range anywhere from 25 to 250 people , this can happen at small numbers at a time .
Some panelists saw their role as starting a thought process and a conversation . For example , Thor said , “ You plant one seed , that person ’ s toing to go out and do it . And then they ’ re going to talk ... they ’ re going to share . And then someone from them shares it . It ’ s going to spread ” ( Personal interview . 17 March 2017 ). The hope that this discussion about important issues related to marginalized groups and communities is also with the final goal , articulated by Becky : “ We ’ re ready for people to start acting ” ( Personal interview . 17 March 2017 ). As far as what kind of action�beyond sharing information�panelists hoped they would see , the answers ranged from audience members being proactive media consumers to inspiring them to becoming media creators . Interviewees suggested , though , that participation on a convention panel is meant to help educate and activate the audience .
DISCUSSION
The power and influence of comic conventions has expanded , both geographically and culturally . As new cons appear across the nation and become more popular , the importance of studying geek culture becomes more important . With the demographics of geeks�that they are white , male , straight , and cis-gender�breaking down , there becomes a need to address the ways in which marginalized groups enter and experience geek culture . A person of color , a woman , a trans-
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