Icon 2008

the essence of the existence of the state of israel is a combination of miracle, expectations of utopianism and distopian anxiety.

Its revolutionary foundation and its countinious survival is often described as what fantasies are made from.

However fantasy and sci-fi literature never received the worthy attention in the public academic conversation in Israel.

For the first time, the department of English and American studies in the faculty of humanities of the university of Tel Aviv, together with icon festival invite the researchers public to submit lecture offers, to complete session, to " round table " discussions , to the banners ( posters ) and to special events on the convention's subjects.

Specific subjects that are likely to come up during the convention : -Political revolution ( Heinlien, Martin, China Miewill).
-Sexual revolution (Samuel Dileini, La Gwain).
-The struggle for the legitimation of sci-fi / fantasy in
the literature world.
-Science fiction as revolutionary literature.
-Literature as a social agent for change.
-Sci-Fi literature and the Russian voice behind the Iron Curtain. --Subversive messages.
-Utopianism and Dystopianism.
-Political violence (terror and guerilla) and sci-fi.
-Political violence in sci-fi.
-The reflection of science in sci-fi.
-Scientific revolutions – conceptual revolutions.
-The diffrences in perception of "what's possible"in science and sci-fi.

The convention welcomes discussion on the reminded above subjects through up-to-date and Israeli points Of View, and open to offers in additional varied academic fields.

Lectures – researchers that want to lecture in one of the seats are asked to send lecture summaries of 150-200 words.Lecture's duration: 75 minutes lecture and 10-15 minutes of open discussion/questions (total time for a lecture is 2 academic hours).

Seats/Round Table/Panel Discussions- researchers that want to suggest a whole panel discussion are asked to indicate the subject of the discussion,the names of the Lecturers that are interested to participate in it,a short explanation on the reason behind the discussion, and of course summaries of the suggested lectures. Duration time for each participant is 10-20 minutes + time for questions and open discussion of 5-10 minutes. (Tota time for a Panel Discussion is 2 academic hours).

Banners - researchers that want to present a research banner are asked to submit a draft of the banner.

Special Events - reasearchers and research institutes are invited to suggest special cultural events. Please attach a short desciption of the nature of the suggested event and the names of it's participants.

Suggestions should be submitted until 31.07.08 to: gali.somer.golan@icon.org.il

Confirmations of the commission on the receival of the materials will be sent in e-mail form. Commission's decisions will be issued until 31.08.08.

Members of the organizing comitee: Dr.Ilana Gomel (Tel - Aviv Univ.), Dr. Keren Omri (Tel - Aviv Univ.), Dr. Aharon Houptman (Tel - Aviv Univ.), Dr.Emanuel Lotem (Israeli Society For sci-fi and Fantasy).