FIGURE 2.45 Atlanta’s Dragon-Con. Cosplayers (short for costume players) dressed as Star Wars Storm Troopers at Atlanta’s Dragon-Con, a 4-day multi-genre convention that focuses on science fiction, fantasy, comics, cartoons, and associated fan cultures. Dragon-Con is one of the city’s largest conventions, drawing 50,000 participants each year and contributing over $25 million to the metro economy. Atlanta is widely considered the capital of the American South subregion, given its large population (just under 6 million people), its central location within the region, and its historical importance. Courtesy John Amis/AFP/Getty Images