totchipanda (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
totchipanda) wrote2006-07-10 08:38 pm
totchipanda) wrote2006-07-10 08:38 pm
(no subject)
Alright, here's another issue I have to post about before the general fun-ness that was Animethon...
The cosplay half-time show.
J-chan had made up a list of about 26 points that she thought would cover the basics of cosplay, but of course, none of us had the sheet with us, and to make it worse, the three of us only had a chance to talk about it when we were sitting in the hall as cosplay contestants, waiting for the show to start. We figured we'd just wing it. I was worried about coming off as condescending and I really hoped we'd be as non-inflammatory as possible.
But I guess that didn't happen. I've only heard bad points about it. Aside from us not talking into mircophones, people thought that what we were trying to say is that the only way to cosplay is to do it with wads of cash, and it's all about winning competitions. I found this to be really sad, because that's not what we were trying to say, at all.
What we wanted to communicate was that with a little more EFFORT, you can turn out a stunning costume. Choosing nicer fabrics, using interfacing or spray-starch, ironing (omg ironing), taking care with your undergarments, using wigs and makeup, even walking in your costume all makes for a better cosplay. I also don't have a problem with the kind of costumes you choose for your body type, as long as you consider that in the construction of it. There is one semi-famous cosplayer who has been wanked before because she refused to consider wearing sheer nylons to make her legs look nicer in photos because her character wouldn't wear them. This was somehting I forgot in my last two real cosplays... So. Guilty as charged.
We were not trying to say that you need wads of cash to cosplay. We were saying that a truly wonderful costume is made of more than the cheapest materials and shoddiest construction.
We also weren't trying to say that cosplay is about winning the masquerade. I myself love costuming, but I never plan to enter a competition. Partly because I have stage-fright, but mostly because I costume for the love of it. I like to make a costume and wear it, and that's it. This is why I would also love to see a hall-cosplay award, for people who are too shy to get on stage, but who have a really nice costume.
Zoi and I had a chat at some point about how here in NA, cosplay is more about looking like the character, whereas in Japan, its more about BEING the character. I hear so many cosplayers (usually the ones being wanked on Catsonmars) go on about "omg it's just for fun!" It IS for fun, gods know I don't get paid for the costume work I do, but seriously, you can put just a BIT more effort and time and yes even money into and you get a result that looks 50 times better. Seriously. A Fabricland membership is the best $15 you could ever spend.
The cosplay half-time show.
J-chan had made up a list of about 26 points that she thought would cover the basics of cosplay, but of course, none of us had the sheet with us, and to make it worse, the three of us only had a chance to talk about it when we were sitting in the hall as cosplay contestants, waiting for the show to start. We figured we'd just wing it. I was worried about coming off as condescending and I really hoped we'd be as non-inflammatory as possible.
But I guess that didn't happen. I've only heard bad points about it. Aside from us not talking into mircophones, people thought that what we were trying to say is that the only way to cosplay is to do it with wads of cash, and it's all about winning competitions. I found this to be really sad, because that's not what we were trying to say, at all.
What we wanted to communicate was that with a little more EFFORT, you can turn out a stunning costume. Choosing nicer fabrics, using interfacing or spray-starch, ironing (omg ironing), taking care with your undergarments, using wigs and makeup, even walking in your costume all makes for a better cosplay. I also don't have a problem with the kind of costumes you choose for your body type, as long as you consider that in the construction of it. There is one semi-famous cosplayer who has been wanked before because she refused to consider wearing sheer nylons to make her legs look nicer in photos because her character wouldn't wear them. This was somehting I forgot in my last two real cosplays... So. Guilty as charged.
We were not trying to say that you need wads of cash to cosplay. We were saying that a truly wonderful costume is made of more than the cheapest materials and shoddiest construction.
We also weren't trying to say that cosplay is about winning the masquerade. I myself love costuming, but I never plan to enter a competition. Partly because I have stage-fright, but mostly because I costume for the love of it. I like to make a costume and wear it, and that's it. This is why I would also love to see a hall-cosplay award, for people who are too shy to get on stage, but who have a really nice costume.
Zoi and I had a chat at some point about how here in NA, cosplay is more about looking like the character, whereas in Japan, its more about BEING the character. I hear so many cosplayers (usually the ones being wanked on Catsonmars) go on about "omg it's just for fun!" It IS for fun, gods know I don't get paid for the costume work I do, but seriously, you can put just a BIT more effort and time and yes even money into and you get a result that looks 50 times better. Seriously. A Fabricland membership is the best $15 you could ever spend.
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