Mythcon in the Land of Enchantment
For the first time in its history, Mythcon 42 will be held in New Mexico, whose state motto, fittingly, is “The Land of Enchantment.” The last and only other time a Mythcon was held in the desert southwest was 31 years ago when Mythcon 11 was hosted in Reno, Nevada. Because of this, the Society Stewards decided it was past time to revisit this part of the country and solicited a Mythcon proposal from Leslie Donovan. A professor at the University of New Mexico, Leslie jumped at the chance not only to show Mythies the enchantments of New Mexico, but also to introduce many of her students and local colleagues to the joys of a Mythcon. With this in mind, she solicited the help of a student group for which she serves as faculty advisor. This group, the UNM Hobbit Society, along with a committee of varied professionals, will host this year’s Mythcon 42 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from July 15th through July 18th, 2011.
In addition, after the spectacular success of Mythcon 41 in Dallas, the Mythcon 42 committee decided that “attendees’ comfort” and “reasonable options” would be our two motivating forces (along with providing great papers, engaging events, and fabulous Mythcon traditions, of course!). So, accommodations this year will again be at a local hotel (more about the hotel’s amenities under “venue” later in this report) and some options for customizing meal plans have also been made available this year.
New Mexico is a state full of rich cultural traditions and fascinating mythologies. Native American figures such as Kokopelli and Coyote, Hispanic folklore about La Llorona and El Cucui, as well as conspiracy stories about Roswell aliens and Chupacabra, this land is populated with an astounding array of native mythologies and oral storytelling that we expect to intrigue Mythcon attendees more familiar with other traditions. So, the Mythcon 42 Committee and the UNM Hobbit Society warmly invite all types of scholars, presenters, students, and special guests to join us in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for another amazing Mythcon set on our ancient desert sands under endless skies with mythical sunsets.
Our Conference Theme is:
Monsters, Marvels, and Minstrels: The Rise of Modern Medievalism
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