Schoolgirls & Mobilesuits

sidebar sgms

Schoolgirls and Mobilesuits (SGMS) is an internationally-recognized, three-day workshop that explores and celebrates anime and manga. Through its unique merger of academic and fan audiences, SGMS engages both anime's and manga's creative and cultural implications and practices.

SGMS 2011: Culture and Direction

September 29th-October 2nd, 2011

This year, the SGMS Workshop announces its first annual Mechademia Conference focused on scholarly work on manga and anime. Institutionally-affiliated as well as independent scholars are encouraged to submit individual or panel proposals related to the conference theme of "Creation and Direction." Scholars at any level, including graduate students and undergraduates, are encouraged to apply. Authors of selected proposals will be invited to present at SGMS's Mechademia Conference, potentially as part of the popular "Mechademia Emerging Scholars" panels. Presentations may be selected for publication in the Mechademia book series.

The theme, "Culture and Direction," provides for a play of ambiguous "directions," and the Mechademia Conference organizers welcome paper or panel submissions on any of the following themes, as well as on related themes not directly indicated:
 

  • Analyses of specific artifacts, creators, or directors
  • Future directions of manga and anime
  • New technologies and influences, such as keitai novels
  • Historical directions of manga and anime
  • Cultural implications of manga and anime
  • New directions in fan cultures
  • Structural directions in historical and contemporary work
  • Old and new narrative and visual directions in manga and anime
  • Emerging topics in manga and anime

 

Conference Registration

Online registration is now closed. On-site registration
begins Friday, September 30th, at 6:00 p.m. in MCAD's Main Gallery.

Accommodations

The conference organizers have reserved rooms at a reduced rate at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Minneapolis and in close proximity to the campus of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.