How not to be a cosplay snob
Aug. 12th, 2010 02:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crankyoldmanIf it isn't obvious, I've been getting into cosplay more and more. It finally gave me an excuse to learn how to sew, and the more complex my costumes get the more things I have to learn. It's exciting! I'm pretty sure it's a hobby I'll keep up for quite a while.
However, there are some pretty fucking stupid critics out there. Some of which are cosplayers themselves, but I'm betting the majority of them aren't.
Recently BoingBoing has been having a series of articles written by someone I'm betting isn't really in fandom and has sort of a "golly gee willikers" view of a lot of it. And while the tourism I suppose is forgivable, a lot of the comments to the articles have been setting me off. Everyone's got an opinion on the "right" way to cosplay. Don't be too fat. Don't be nonwhite and cosplay a white character. Don't be ugly. Don't ever buy anything, make it yourself.
Frankly, those comments miss the point.
While I'm impressed by people that can transform themselves into a doppleganger of a character, or turn some animated person into a real live breathing human with their skills, I am also amazed at people who don't look like the character but do a fantastic job anyway. Sometimes this requires covering yourself in blue paint and glue and creating a wig because the hair is impossible, and sometimes it just means you pick the right clothes and have a passing resemblance.
But that's really only a certain way to cosplay. For most people, they don't look like most anime or videogame characters (especially women) because they have a narrow range of looks. And people are not in this narrow range. It saddens me that there is such a narrow range, but it's what we have to work with. And telling someone that they can't dress as their favorite character simply because they don't look like them or aren't "hot" enough is ridiculous.
Absolute favorite Advent Children Cloud cosplay? This guy. (ignore the shenanigans around him XD) Sure, he doesn't have the spiked hair, but the clothing has a lot of detail to it, his sword is AMAZING, and he obviously likes the character. He's got the attitude to pull off Cloud and was a really nice guy. He's recognizable as the character with what he put together. It's a great homage. But a lot of critics would tear him apart because OMG HE'S NOT A SHORT WHITE GUY.
Cosplay is partly mimickry, but it's also work. And cleverness. Not everyone has the time or means to create every piece of their costume from scratch. And they shouldn't have to! Sometimes people pull out sports pads, paint them, and turn them into armor. Sometimes they have to alter existing clothing. Sometimes they FIND that clothing. Sometimes it's made entirely out of cardboard. Sometimes they commission a friend or a stranger to make their costumes for them.
None of these ways are wrong, or lazy. They're still creating something; even if it's simply a performance or a pose. Cosplay is creation and performance and fun. Some come out less pretty than others, but you know, it takes guts to wear them at all. Especially with all the judgment that gets thrown at cosplayers.
So let's stop with the judgment, commentaries. It's getting ignorant and offensive. I'll dress as a tank character if I want to, and my lovely friends will continue to look awesome.
However, there are some pretty fucking stupid critics out there. Some of which are cosplayers themselves, but I'm betting the majority of them aren't.
Recently BoingBoing has been having a series of articles written by someone I'm betting isn't really in fandom and has sort of a "golly gee willikers" view of a lot of it. And while the tourism I suppose is forgivable, a lot of the comments to the articles have been setting me off. Everyone's got an opinion on the "right" way to cosplay. Don't be too fat. Don't be nonwhite and cosplay a white character. Don't be ugly. Don't ever buy anything, make it yourself.
Frankly, those comments miss the point.
While I'm impressed by people that can transform themselves into a doppleganger of a character, or turn some animated person into a real live breathing human with their skills, I am also amazed at people who don't look like the character but do a fantastic job anyway. Sometimes this requires covering yourself in blue paint and glue and creating a wig because the hair is impossible, and sometimes it just means you pick the right clothes and have a passing resemblance.
But that's really only a certain way to cosplay. For most people, they don't look like most anime or videogame characters (especially women) because they have a narrow range of looks. And people are not in this narrow range. It saddens me that there is such a narrow range, but it's what we have to work with. And telling someone that they can't dress as their favorite character simply because they don't look like them or aren't "hot" enough is ridiculous.
Absolute favorite Advent Children Cloud cosplay? This guy. (ignore the shenanigans around him XD) Sure, he doesn't have the spiked hair, but the clothing has a lot of detail to it, his sword is AMAZING, and he obviously likes the character. He's got the attitude to pull off Cloud and was a really nice guy. He's recognizable as the character with what he put together. It's a great homage. But a lot of critics would tear him apart because OMG HE'S NOT A SHORT WHITE GUY.
Cosplay is partly mimickry, but it's also work. And cleverness. Not everyone has the time or means to create every piece of their costume from scratch. And they shouldn't have to! Sometimes people pull out sports pads, paint them, and turn them into armor. Sometimes they have to alter existing clothing. Sometimes they FIND that clothing. Sometimes it's made entirely out of cardboard. Sometimes they commission a friend or a stranger to make their costumes for them.
None of these ways are wrong, or lazy. They're still creating something; even if it's simply a performance or a pose. Cosplay is creation and performance and fun. Some come out less pretty than others, but you know, it takes guts to wear them at all. Especially with all the judgment that gets thrown at cosplayers.
So let's stop with the judgment, commentaries. It's getting ignorant and offensive. I'll dress as a tank character if I want to, and my lovely friends will continue to look awesome.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-12 08:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-12 09:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-13 03:25 am (UTC)However, I do concur with the "do not be this person" comics in every flyer. There are some things the world just DOESN'T need to bear witness to. Man-Faye comes to mind. xx;;;;;
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-16 12:59 am (UTC)Also, one of the coolest costumes I ever saw was an Optimus Prime getup made entirely of cardboard. I have no idea how the guy did it but he looked epic. XD
And sports pad things make amazing armour. So does craft foam.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-18 06:48 pm (UTC)It's like how Drak is going to be Kiros for Sev and our Laguna-Kiros-Ward (I'm Ward XD) cosplay. She's going to be her, just dressed like femme!Kiros. Just like I'm not a huge dude like Ward. But I think we will still be ridiculously fabulous. Because she's not unaware of baggage or the sheer stupidity that appropriation instigates.
I mainly didn't bring that issue up because the anime/manga/videogame characters are so often quite pale and the criticisms tend to fall on someone not so lily dressing up like, I dunno, Squall. It's stupid.