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Clergy Keynote - Fr. David Subu - The Golden Path Revisited: Frank Herbert's Dune Series as Religion Critique & Messianic FantasyThe questions Frank Herbert’s writings ask us as Christians should be taken seriously. What are the proper uses versus abuses of religious power, ritual, and imagery and what is their effect on culture and spirituality? How is fear the “mind-killer”? What is a human being and what is human destiny? What is our noble purpose?
In 1965, Frank Herbert published Dune, which would inaugurate one of the most influential science-fiction series of all time. Among the many themes found in the series, a sustained critique of religious institutions is paired with an exceptional imagining of the Messiah myth in a future setting. It would be easy to assume both of these treat people of faith in a superficial, negative light, but Herbert’s treatment is far more sophisticated than that. Christians especially would do well to take heed to the points he makes about the abuses of religious power and authority. At the same time, Herbert neither transcends nor fully subverts the Messiah myth and Christians can also see reflections of their own faith being fulfilled in the religious fantasy of the Dune Chronicles. An unrecorded version of this talk was given at the first Doxacon in 2013, and pairs with Fr. David’s keynote from our online 2021 conference. The Very Rev. Fr. Dr. David Subu is priest at Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia. He is co-founder of Doxacon, the first ever Christian science-fiction/fantasy conference/convention. |
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Lay Keynote - Amy Browning-Dill - "For You, For All of Us": Christ-like Sacrifice in Loki Season 2Themes of the Incarnation may be uncovered in stories and characters we least expect, so how
do they relate to our own spiritual journey? This talk will examine MCU Loki’s journey from Thor to his transformation and sacrifice in the Loki Disney Plus Series, while comparing similar redemptive arcs in other speculative fiction. Weaving together this and T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets with wisdom from St. Maximus the Confessor and St. John Climacus, we will explore themes of humility, dying to self, mortifying the passions and theosis. We will look at how Eliot’s Four Quartets may have influenced subtle choices in the cinematography, costuming, script and acting of Loki Season 2. Through this we will discover how Loki’s journey of exploration to find his purpose and identity echoes our own search for Christ. Amy Browning-Dill is a visual artist whose work is inspired by poetry, nature, and myth, and she teaches drawing and painting at The Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia. Amy is often found at the center of conversations on nerdom, genre fiction, and religion/philosophy, so has a passion for communities like ours that are at the intersection of all three. She has been involved behind the scenes at Doxacon since 2012 and presented for the first time in 2022. Amy is the mother of three girls, who often get to be the testing grounds for her artistic, literary and philosophical ideas. |
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Allison Franklin-Jordan - "Big Damn Heroes" - Christian Morality in the Firefly 'VerseJoss Whedon, a self-described angry atheist, used Firefly to point out what he saw as Christian hypocrisy. Most of the Christians in the ‘Verse are deeply unpleasant, ignorant oppressors. In contrast, Firefly’s hero Captain Malcolm Reynolds explicitly rejects God and lives a life of crime. But is the character of Malcolm Reynolds a successful rejection of Christianity? This talk will discuss how even when creators despise Christianity and actively try to disparage it, their heroes still embody the Christian themes of self-sacrifice and caring for the downtrodden.
Allison Jordan has been in love with historical fantasy and science fiction since middle school. She is a homeschooling mother of two and aspiring novelist in Alexandria, Virginia. She discovered both Orthodoxy and Firefly at the University of Notre Dame while studying Russian literature. |
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Lucia Tosatto - Image, Incarnation, and the Man They Call Jayne: A Response to the Anxieties of Firefly's "Jaynestown" Informed by Athanasius' On the IncarnationFirefly’s “Jaynestown” is an incredibly funny episode that explores a complex set of themes: faith, belief, and the meaning to be found in symbols. These themes are taken seriously and nuanced across various subplots; yet the audience repeatedly finds itself presented with the conclusion that these symbols “don’t make no sense.” Their meaning can only be experienced and appreciated through a faith that separates itself from reason. Lucia will continue the discussion of things that “don’t make no sense” by the world’s standards by addressing the episode’s conceptualization of “image” and mistrust of symbols’ ability to convey meaning and truth. Towards this end, themes from Athanasius’ On the Incarnation will be offered as a means to engage the philosophy of “Jaynestown” on its own terms.
Lucia Tosatto is a doctoral candidate in the Biblical Studies program at the Catholic University of America. Her research utilizes cognitive linguistic theory in the analysis of metaphoric language in both biblical texts and Ancient Near Eastern literature. She received an M.A. in Biblical Languages from the Graduate Theological Union in 2017 and her B.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 2013. |
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Eleanor Bourg Nicholson & Matthew G. Alderman - Popery in Prose: The Incarnational Aesthetic of Nineteenth Century GothicJoin two Gothic experts on a thrilling exploration of persecution and prejudice, and the emergence of an unlikely source of religious dialogue in art and word! From Gothic horrors to Gothic nightmares, see how the Gothic revival in architecture and in literature became an aesthetic as well as a spiritual link between English Protestantism and English Catholicism. With the help of figures such as Pugin, Ruskin, Charlotte Bronte, and Bram Stoker, we will trace the way in which the presentation of grotesque monsters laid the groundwork for the Incarnation of sacramental Beauty.
Eleanor Bourg Nicholson is an award-winning Gothic novelist, scholar, Victorian literature instructor for Homeschool Connections, and a homeschooling mother. The very first piece of fiction she had published was ruthlessly edited (and thus brilliantly improved) by Matthew Alderman. Learn more at eleanorbourgnicholson.com. Matthew Alderman is a church designer, artist, book illustrator, and heraldist. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame's distinguished classical architecture program, he is a frequent speaker on church-building and sacred art. You can find him online at http://www.matthewalderman.com. |
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Lia Lewis - The Incarnation: Humanity's Next Chapter and The Children of MenIn James’s only science fiction novel, The Children of Men, she writes about a world 25 years into her future where the last child to be born was in 1996. James presents a hopeless, dying world until Julian, one of the main characters, is the only pregnant woman in the world. And she embarks on a journey to find a safe place to bear her child. On the journey, are five other people, one of which is Theo, who in this case takes it upon himself (as the Joseph figure) to assist Julian in her quest for a safe place to bear her child as well as protect her from the greed and selfishness that has conquered a world. How does this compare with the Incarnation? Is The Children of Men a cautionary tale for future generations? Is the past and future conquered and reconciled because of Julian’s pregnancy? Is there a second chance for this dystopian future? Once Julian’s child is born will the Word of God, born once in the flesh (such is his kindness and his goodness), is always willing to be born spiritually in those who desire him? And will this miraculous birth lead a greedy society back to God?
Lia Lewis works as an administrator at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She graduated from Holy Cross Theological School in Brookline, MA in 2001 with a Masters of Divinity. In 2023, she presented a paper titled "Culture Wars and Orthodox Christianity in the USA at the International Orthodox Theological Conference in Volos, Greece. She writes essays about theological issues that are reflected in music, books, television, and media. She enjoys reading mystery novels and some science fiction books. Her all time favorite show is Star Trek (especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). Her blog is called Orthodox Chick with a Blog (https://www.orthodoxchickwithablog.com/). |
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Mary Jessica Woods - The Forest in Human Form: An Exploration of Salvific Imagery in Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindIn the poisoned, post-apocalyptic world of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, death seems to reign supreme. A toxic forest engulfs the land, gigantic insects destroy cities, and the remaining human nations wage brutal war over ever-dwindling resources. In this hopeless landscape, the young princess Nausicaä appears as a salvific figure. In her courage and compassion, she stands as a mediator not only between the warring human factions, but also between the world of man and the strange, numinous world of the forest. Come explore the rich incarnational imagery of this epic science fantasy comic, created by acclaimed animator and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki.
Mary Jessica Woods is Byzantine Catholic author of sci-fi and fantasy. Her debut novel, Markmaker, released from Chrism Press in 2022. She formerly served on the editorial team for the literary magazine Dappled Things, and her nonfiction has appeared in America Magazine, Catholic World Report, and First Things. In her mind, she spends most of her time on distant planets or alien spaceships, but she actually lives in rural Michigan. Follow her work at maryjessicawoods.com. |
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Ken Hite - Revealing the Numinous in TTRPGsWriter and game designer Kenneth Hite examines the concept of the numinous, and offers possible methods and techniques to express or incorporate the divine experience within the design and play of tabletop roleplaying games. Questions encouraged, answers not guaranteed.
Kenneth Hite has written or designed 100+ tabletop roleplaying games and supplements, including GURPS Horror, Trail of Cthulhu, The Fall of DELTA GREEN, The Dracula Dossier, Night’s Black Agents, Bubblegumshoe, and Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition. His other works include the two-volume Tour de Lovecraft, Cthulhu 101, The Thrill of Dracula, the “Lost in Lovecraft” column for Weird Tales, an annotated edition of Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow, and four Lovecraftian children’s books. His essays and criticism have appeared in National Review, Amazing Stories, University Bookman, and in encyclopedias and anthologies from Ashcroft, Ben Bella, Dagan Books, Greenwood, and MIT Press. An Artistic Associate and dramaturg at Chicago’s WildClaw Theatre, and half of the award-winning podcast Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff, he lives in Chicago with two Lovecraftian cats and his non-Lovecraftian wife, Sheila. |
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Rae Grabowski - "In Christ, there is neither Slave nor Free, neither Human nor Goblin": the Implications of the Incarnation on "Monstrous" Races in FantasyThe trope that certain races are Always Chaotic Evil has been around almost as long as fantasy literature. In this talk, however, Rae argues that the radical logic of the Incarnation-- that all people have inherent dignity and worth simply by virtue of being--should apply in fantasy worlds as well. No matter what fantasy race they belong to, all beings who have reason, speech, and free will are made in the image of God. Consequently, they should be judged according to their correspondence to the likeness of God, that is by their morality. She’ll examine the depiction of stereotypically “evil” races, focusing on orcs and goblins, in the works of two recent titans of fantasy literature—J. R. R. Tolkien and Terry Pratchett. Ultimately she hopes to show that by abolishing this trope, the Incarnation is able to echo more strongly in fantasy media as we see the affirmation of the goodness of creation even in the imperfect or grotesque.
Rae Grabowski is the director of the Newman Center at George Washington University. Her background is in Medieval Studies and previously she has taught at several universities, at an all-girls high school, in New York State correctional facilities, in adult and teen RCIA programs, and, for one very chaotic year, 2nd-grade religious education. In her free time, she enjoys either reading stories or telling them through role-playing games, cooking for people, trying to resist taking up new fiber arts, and attempting to knit through the yarn that has accumulated in her apartment. |
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Erin Lazzari - Spaceships Against Manichaenism: the Influence of the Flesh upon the Soul in Ann Leckie's Ancillary JusticeAncillary Justice, the first book in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch Trilogy, introduces us to Breq, the last remaining ancillary of the powerful warship Justice of Toren. Breq has a problem: when the opportunity arose, she — the human ancillary formerly known as One Esk, whose will was allegedly united to that of the ship — made a choice that was slightly different from that of Justice of Toren. Investigating the Manichean presumptions of the Radch, this talk aims to put the carne in incarnation, exploring the influence of the flesh on the soul and how Justice of Toren — and, crucially, Lord of the Radch Anaander Minaii — can be at secret war with herself, quite literally.
Erin Lazzari is a wearer of many hats, both literal and metaphorical. Professionally, she's an independent editor, copyeditor, and proofreader whose clients past and present include Word on Fire Press, Baen Books, and Christopher Ruocchio. Personally, she's married to Doxacon panelist Eddie Lazzari with whom she is raising their delightful children with vocabularies bigger than they are. She desperately wants to talk about liturgical calendars in space. |
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Fr. Evan Cummings - How (not) to be Incarnational in GamesGames have an incarnational quality to them by the role of the player stepping into the world through the characters. Some games, as they’re made by those who bear the image of God, are able to share and communicate glimpses and echoes of the Incarnation of Christ. Ironically, sometimes it is the secular games that do this better than the intentionally Christian. Join Fr. Evan on a discussion of comparison of games and how the Incarnation is (not) shown in them.
Hailing originally from Utah, Fr. Evan Cummings serves as a member of the Paulist Fathers in New York City. After graduating from Utah State University in 2013, he joined the Paulist Fathers and studied in Washington, DC at The Catholic University of America. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in May 2019 and has served in campus ministry at The Ohio State University, in the parish of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan, and in media ministry with Busted Halo. |
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Sara Esker - Ambassadors of Light: Metaphors of Grace in the Ultraman Franchise
This talk presents several shows from Ultraman’s decades-long history which powerfully illustrate important Christian themes of hope, compassion and courage in the face of suffering.
Sarah Esker is a lifelong nerd who spent twelve years in Catholic schools, but only learned how to argue in support of her faith when she found herself in a public university taking Religious Studies courses. The experience left her with a thirst for knowledge and a drive to talk at length about any topic of interest to any captive audience. Currently, she channels this as a science teacher and freelance writer, who has contributed perspectives on comic books, video games, anime and tokusatsu to many podcasts, blog series and news outlets over the years. She is a contributing writer for Ultraman Connection, the official English-language source for news and events related to the Ultraman franchise. Sarah is not representing her employer in her talk and takes personal responsibility for all embarrassing views, opinions, and/or theological misstatements presented therein. |
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Star Wars Panel: Grace, From a Certain Point-of-View(?)Come listen to (and weigh in on!) a panel debate of the compatibility of the Force and Jedi from Star Wars with Christianity. Is the Force a good analogy for God's grace? Or does the Jedi philosophy of renunciation tread too closely to gnostic dualism? Perchance these are the wrong questions to be asking and instead the Jedi approach to the Force ought to be judged more by its moral-cultural impact?
Rae Grabowski Jeanatan Hall (J.C.) is a PhD student in bioethics at The Catholic University of America, where he lives as a recovering engineer. He spent his formative years delving too deep on Wookieepedia and captaining his undergraduate’s Star Trek Club, and still refuses to get over that time theLibrary of Alexandria burned down. J.C.’s list of hobbies is too numerous to mention – highlights include exploratory cooking, comics-accurate crochet, and spaceship origami - but in his professional capacity, he spends a lot of time thinking about plants. Eddie Lazzari is a member of the Theology Department and Consortium for Interreligious Dialogue at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. While he has never been a Jedi, the closest he came were his years as a Catholic seminarian. A classically-trained trumpet player, he is now happily married to another Doxacon speaker, Erin Lazzari, with whom he pursues various nerdery like fencing with the Society for Creative Anachronism, a very slow play-through of the Legend of Zelda series, and running linguistic experiments on their children. He is the author of a forthcoming book on miracles and science in Routledge’s Science and Religion Series and Why Nature Matters, wherein he briefly treats the Force as an analogy for grace. |
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What's Doxacon All About?Steven Christoforou, a favorite speaker and attendee of Doxacon, gives a brief overview of the event's atmosphere, experiences, and purpose.
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Doxacon in PersonThe convention is at its best in the flesh! In 2019, we offered beautiful Orthodox prayers and a stellar round of edifying speakers. Worship and thoughtful presentations drew attention to issues that are important to us through the lenses of the fictional universes that inspire and influence us. Remember Doxacon 2019 with us below, or get a glimpse of what the convention is normally like!
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Doxacon Prime of Washington, D.C. is sponsored by
Protection of the Holy Mother of God Orthodox Church Orthodox Church in America — Romanian Episcopate
7223 Roosevelt Ave, Falls Church, VA 22042 stmaryorthodox.org |
