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TERROR CAMP is an academic-style fan conference first created by fans of The Terror (2018), intended to showcase the research, work, and ideas generated by a multi-disciplinary, multi-talented fandom.

 

Fans of The Terror and related works have been shaking up historiographies of polar exploration and exploring new ways to do fandom, and TERROR CAMP at its core aims to give that work recognition & a chance to be shared in-depth. Additionally, the event brings in keynote speakers and external contributors in order to give the community a chance to learn from experts in various related fields, giving Terror fans the chance to enjoy the structure of an academic conference with all the informality of a fandom get-together.

 

This year, TERROR CAMP will be held on Zoom on Saturday and Sunday, December 9th and 10th, 2023. It’s free and open to anyone who’d like to attend or present. Keynote speakers TBD!

 

What are we looking for?
 

This year, we’re broadening our scope. Not only are we calling for presentations from anyone who wants to talk through their favorite ideas about The Terror, its themes, and its historical background, but we would also like to hear from all our Antarctic friends! Therefore, the second day of the conference will be entirely dedicated to research on Antarctic exploration history, science, and media. Think of it as Terror day (as in the show) and Erebus day (as in the mountain)! 

 

Presentations will be held on Zoom. Speakers will give a 15-minute talk with accompanying visuals, grouped together on a panel with a few other speakers whose work is similar to theirs. Each panel will be moderated by a Terror Camp volunteer who will lead a short Q&A after the presentation. 

 

In addition to calling for individual presentation submissions, we are open for the submission of pre-conceived roundtables. You can decide who will sit on your roundtable by identifying two to three interested friends with similar presentation ideas, and presenting us with a concept for your joint presentation as one single proposal, including the selection of a panel chair. Each presenter in a round table will give a short 5-minute introduction to their topic, and then the chair will lead a long-form discussion. 

 

We’re also bringing back our poster presentations in a new & improved format! If you want to submit a web-based, asynchronous presentation to be showcased in a digital poster alley, we would love to hear from you.

 

Themes of presented work might include, but aren’t limited to:
 

• Original historical and archival research on polar topics

• The Terror, Franklin Expedition, and polar exploration-related history

• Show meta, media theory, and criticism

• Fan works (art, fiction, cosplay, etc.)

• General film, TV, and performance analysis

• Gender and queerness

• Race, Indigenous studies, and colonialism 

• Polar geography, biology, and conservation

• Fandom culture and communities

• Archaeology and forensics

• Character studies and biography

• Museums, preservation, and digital humanities

 

Submissions for Presentations and Roundtables will open via Google Form on June 15, 2023 and will close on September 1, 2023. Artist’s Alley submissions will also be accepted through a separate form beginning on July 1.

 

To receive updates on submissions opening, follow us on Twitter and Tumblr, and subscribe to the Terror Camp mailing list.

 

If you just want to attend to watch and join in the discussion, never fear and hang tight – registration will open in October, so you don’t have to do anything right now (except let people know!). We’ll also be recording sessions for people who can’t make it. 

 

What happens after I submit? 

 

You’ll hear from us around two weeks after the submission deadline of Sep 1 about the status of your proposal. Then, if your proposal was accepted into the conference, you’ll have two months to create your presentation, before presenting at the conference in December. 

 

We’ll have a few regular check-ins to ask how you’re doing and make sure you’re on track. If you encounter any problems, please let us know at the earliest possible date, and we can figure things out together. 

 

I’ve never been to an academic conference before! Is this for me?

 

Absolutely! This event, though academically inspired, is fans-first, always. We’re putting this together to celebrate the amazing research, discussion, and community building that happens every day in our fandom spaces. 

 

Academic conferences give structure for in-depth presentations, group discussions, and socializing. Fan conventions bring enthusiastic fans together to share in the joy of their favorite things, make friends, and hear from creators and performers. Terror Camp is the best of both worlds—a fan conference, if you will. 

 

Our event is meant to be as accessible as possible, so we’re very open to a wide range of presentation and discussion formats based on people’s comfort and access needs. Informal language, ridiculous PowerPoints, academic pastiching, and fanart Zoom backgrounds are VERY encouraged!

 

I’ve been to a LOT of academic conferences before! Is this still for me? 

 

Also absolutely! We’re lucky enough in our corner of the internet to not only have fans and academics hanging out, but plenty of fans who ARE academics. Your expertise will find an enthusiastic audience, and you’ll be able to provide mentoring, encouragement, and appreciation to a diverse group of ECRs, beginners, and hobbyists. 

 

Got questions, concerns, access needs, or want to be further involved? 

Drop us a line at command@terror.camp!