So I want to start the week off by talking about a growing problem I’v seen in the cosplaycommunity. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Cosplay (AKA costume play), is a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character or idea from books, movies, comics, tv shows or video games. Cosplay has been around for awhile and has come a long way from its simple beginnings. Back in the day “cosplayers” were few and far between. This was generally a hobby that few participated in, but if you did, you knew everyone locally that was in on it. Because of this, you had a small tight knit community where support and help was common.
Since the 70’s, Cosplay has come a long way. Conventions have gotten bigger, competitions have become a staple, and now there are even cosplay TV shows. And while it’s great that cosplay has become a widely accepted phenomenon, many of us that participate have noticed some growing animosity amongst the community. I’m going to call it “cosplay shaming”. Frequently I hear or see people making fun of other cosplayers because of the quality of their costume, their weight, or even implied sexiness of the costume. People, this shouldn’t be happening!! We should be out there supporting each other! Don’t hate on the person who couldn’t afford to make a screen accurate metal replica costume, or the bigger framed girl who was brave enough to go for that risky cosplay. In fact, applaud them and their efforts. At least they tried.
In an attempt to rally all nerdoms together, next time you're at an event, support and encourage each and every person around you. Imagine how awesome conventions would be if everyone was on the same page. This doesn't mean I'm saying conventions are a disaster, I personally love them. I'm simply pushing for Cosplayer unity so that everyone enjoys themselves and is proud of their work.
Posted by: Chleo @cleo622