Remember when cosplaying or dressing up was saved only for Halloween? But what if you don’t have to wait for the spooky season to put on a cape or funky makeup and step out as your favourite character?
Cosplaying today has become almost a subculture of sorts. It originally derived from a Japanese portmanteau ‘kosupure,’ drawn from the words ‘kosuchuumu’ (costume) and ‘pure’ (play).
The beginnings of cosplay can be traced back to Japan in the 1970s. A Japanese reporter named Nobuyuki Takahashi coined the term when observing fans dressed as their favourite characters from different science fiction and fantasy movies at Worldcon in Los Angeles. Japan quickly caught on and it became a popular hobby for fans of anime, manga, and video games.
Cosplay caught on fire from the 2000s onwards. Movies like ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Batman Begins,’ and ‘Iron Man’ made the culture more mainstream. It was a huge gateway to nerd culture, which was previously viewed in a derogatory manner.
Cosplay not only created a community in real life but was also an enjoyable internet hub for nerds. Fans were able to connect with other fans and create fandoms to welcome others. The sharing of cosplays on social media soon helped the community grow even more. Conventions and cosplays soon became popular as nerd culture blended with pop culture.
Soon, cosplayers were gaining popularity, leading them to even make a living through their hobby. Through advertising, sponsorships, paid appearances, cosplay tutorials, and even modelling for costumes and props, people were able to live on their passions.
Why does cosplay culture inspire such passion? With dedicated conventions like Comic Con and others, it has almost become a tradition for people to attend. The reason is that dressing up allows freedom of expression.
Not only is it an escape from reality, it is also a way to freely express yourself through your fashion and creativity. It also helps people make friends and be involved in a community without being shamed for their preferences. It’s a place and moment to truly be yourself without the fear of being judged.
“The main reason why I love cosplay so much is because it provides some sort of escape from reality,” shared Morgan Looney, a special effects makeup artist and cosmetology student. “As someone who hasn’t been the strongest person and has often felt alone in the world, cosplay and going to conventions brought me into a whole new atmosphere of supportive and accepting people that I didn’t know existed.”
Another cosplayer explained: “I consider cosplay as safe – it’s like a shell where I can be attractive, sexual, feminine. And the real me is inside there somewhere, but I’m safe. Because when you look at a cosplay picture and then look at the real me, oftentimes you don’t even recognise that it’s me. I look so vastly different in a cosplay picture. I don’t even recognise myself.”
Cosplay culture has undoubtedly changed the pop culture landscape. This fun and passionate community has brought together all types of people from around the world. It lets anyone be who they want to be. It’s also a place for fans to nerd out over their favourite movies, games, and books. Cosplay creates a supportive community where all the nerds and weird kids can hang out.
Look out world, nerds are becoming cool again!