#icon2014

ICON IS COMING UP AND I'M PRETTY DAMN EXCITED

okay no more Internet yelling for now.

Icon is Israel's official sci-fi and fantasy convention. It's like the Israeli version of SDCC, only smaller and super-grassroots. For 3 days, tens of thousands of geeks descend upon the high school behind the Tel Aviv Cinematheque (and this year, the Cinematheque as well!) and turn it into Geek Heaven.

There are tens of booths selling all kinds of merch - from imported to hand-made. There's a special part of the basketball court cordoned off for foam sword fights. There are entire rooms devoted to a myriad of RPGs, and some pretty ones scheduled throughout the 3 days. There's even a cosplay contest. And my personal favorite - the second-hand booth, where people sell various things (mostly books, but there *was* a Katniss wig there last year) for ridiculous prices. I scored a sonic screwdriver there for 40 NIS (12 dollars). Yes. Be jealous.

There are lectures on every subject - from feminism in Buffy to economics in Game of Thrones to Doctor Who as apocalyptic literature, just to name a few. There are panels, and plays, and movies screened throughout the night, and you can bring a sleeping bag and make a week of it because hey, some rooms are just for that.

"It's just a con," some of you might say. "What's so special about this one?"

First of all, it's totally community-organized. We might not have Emmy-nominated shows lining up to give panels, but we have tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of volunteers who make a huge group effort to produce an amazing festival.

Second - it's a haven. Many of the kids who come with backpacks and sleeping bags go back to schools where the fact that they're into Homestuck or anime isn't exactly widely accepted. So for three days, Icon is a home to many a teen who don't feel very at home in other places.

Third - the cosplay. I'll be showcasing a bunch of it on my blog, and then you'll get to see what these crazy mofos can throw together. (I have two words - LOLITA THOR. Yes, it's real, and yes, it's awesome.)

Paste your name district and division for icon. Then reblog