Debate on Cosplay

[godwine]

I agree, people do all kind of things to have fun, and this can very well be one of them, we shouldn't judge because we don't understand it... I am trying to understand it myself too, i mean, I don't do any cosplay stuff, but i don't see it as anything bad, don't get me wrong.. i am trying to understand it (again )

MMM, thanks for clarifying it, but isn't it a general assumption or stereotype that cosplayers ARE otaku? At least, thats the impression i get when talking to my uncle and cousin, but then they are a bit old fashion

[MMM]

Originally Posted by godwine

MMM, thanks for clarifying it, but isn't it a general assumption or stereotype that cosplayers ARE otaku? At least, thats the impression i get when talking to my uncle and cousin, but then they are a bit old fashion

SHOKOTAN is a very popular otaku cosplayer on TV these days, but it doesn't hurt that she is very cute. The cute factor goes a long way.

http://xorsyst.com/wp-content/upload...a-shokotan.jpg

Her blog is one of the most popular in the world.

I think that opinion might be more extreme in the US than in Japan, but cosplayers are considered otaku

YouTube - cartoon KAT-TUN Ep.69/20080730[1]

[emiluvsjmusic]

Originally Posted by MMM

YouTube - Cartoon KAT-TUN Ep.80/20081015[1]

Go about two minutes into this video and you can see the two guys on the left are dictionary-definitions of manga OTAKU in Japan.

”すみません分かりません”　”えっ！”
haha, stupid kat-tun

Just wondering, where is this Mandarake?

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by emiluvsjmusic

Just wondering, where is this Mandarake?

It's in Nakano, not far from Shinjuku.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by MMM

SHOKOTAN is a very popular otaku cosplayer on TV these days, but it doesn't hurt that she is very cute. The cute factor goes a long way.

http://xorsyst.com/wp-content/upload...a-shokotan.jpg

Her blog is one of the most popular in the world.

I think that opinion might be more extreme in the US than in Japan, but cosplayers are considered otaku

YouTube - cartoon KAT-TUN Ep.69/20080730[1]

I remember walking around Akiba seeing someone sniffing a new toy he just bought... Otaku!

[ThirdSight]

Originally Posted by Uriko

but some people take pride in the fact that they're different, no?

Different isn't always a good thing.

Originally Posted by Keaton421

It's not rude to say that these two people are, in nearly every way, rediculous. Sure, being a fatty may be an issue, but that's an issue only with dieting habits. And look at the girl's face in the picture; you can't tell me with a straight face that even she thought her costume was a good idea.

Back on the subject, people cosplay for various, individual reason, but the blanket reason seems to have been stated already: it's fun to do. For Americans (for those are the only people I can really speak for), it's like another Halloween, where instead of candy you get your picture taken. This, of course, leads to half-assed cosplay like the photo's above and the one below:

For me, wearing the coat's fine enough, even though my friends were egging me to dye my hair blonde. More or less though, it's a way to express your like for your hobby.

What I do know though is that the Japanese have a very different way of looking at Cosplay, and you'd have to do a good amount of digging to see it. Of course, there is nearly no bad cosplayers over there, which explains their difference in opinion on the subject.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by ThirdSight

Different isn't always a good thing.
It's not rude to say that these two people are, in nearly every way, rediculous. Sure, being a fatty may be an issue, but that's an issue only with dieting habits. And look at the girl's face in the picture; you can't tell me with a straight face that even she thought her costume was a good idea.

Back on the subject, people cosplay for various, individual reason, but the blanket reason seems to have been stated already: it's fun to do. For Americans (for those are the only people I can really speak for), it's like another Halloween, where instead of candy you get your picture taken. This, of course, leads to half-assed cosplay like the photo's above and the one below:

For me, wearing the coat's fine enough, even though my friends were egging me to dye my hair blonde. More or less though, it's a way to express your like for your hobby.

What I do know though is that the Japanese have a very different way of looking at Cosplay, and you'd have to do a good amount of digging to see it. Of course, there is nearly no bad cosplayers over there, which explains their difference in opinion on the subject.

I think, in general, its a case of "one thing leads to another". As MMM pointed out, Otaku's are beling looked as being someone with hygiene issue, and the obsession is being judged. Cosplayer are being considered as Otaku so therefore it was stereotyped to be the same as these other otakus?

[ThirdSight]

Originally Posted by godwine

I think, in general, its a case of "one thing leads to another". As MMM pointed out, Otaku's are beling looked as being someone with hygiene issue, and the obsession is being judged. Cosplayer are being considered as Otaku so therefore it was stereotyped to be the same as these other otakus?

Yup. I bathe regularly, but if I'm wearing something odd at a convention, I'm an Otaku.

Same kind of thing happens a lot for various things. I was in a fraternity, and I had a hard time getting friends and family to believe that I wasn't a crazy party-goer-get-crunk kind of guy. I also play WoW, which means that I'm addicted to it, never go outside, and would choose that over hanging out with friends any day of the week .

People are more than willing to lump something into a stereotypical category to explain something foreign, unknown, or strange. This seems odd though, since you can't judge someone based on their hobbies.

Sadly, those Otaku that never bathe, are a bit obese, and believe they're fluent in Japanese and martial arts put into question the validity of the above statement.

[ChisaChi]

Interesting topic. The first time I attended a con and saw cosplayers I thought the whole thing was quite laughable too, although some of the costumes were undeniably awesome and very well constructed. I changed my mind after a while that day when I realised how much more fun they were having than I was - they were really getting into the spirit of the event and participating completely. The next year I cosplayed, took photos and helped run a group art stall, and it was a really great experience. It comes down to different things to do different people, but for most people the main reason is for fun!

For the record I am not overweight, like to think I'm not unattractive, bathe often, have developed social skills and my life doesn't revolve around anime =P Considering the fact that I do cosplay and create doujinshi/fanart I suppose I would be classified by most as an otaku though.

I do know of some people who wear cosplay outside of these events, and personally I find it the same as wearing alternatives clothes, or dressing up to the latest fashion, or whatever you choose to wear. It's about self expression in the end, and just because mainstream fashion is considered more 'normal' doesn't mean that people don't have the right to be a bit different.

[emiluvsjmusic]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

It's in Nakano, not far from Shinjuku.

kewl thanks I might go there ^_^