The phrase “cosplaying” wasn’t coined until 1984 by the renowned Nobuyuki Takahashi of Manga Studio “Hard.” He coined this phrase while visiting the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles when he was particularly taken by one attendee’s attire.
He used the term kosupure, English “cosplay,” to describe the elaborate masquerades worn by convention attendees while reporting it to “my Anime” after the conference.
Yes, that’s it. For this reason, countless teenagers today devote all of their free time, energy, and meager resources to creating a costume that speaks to them.
Although the name “cosplaying” was coined in the late 1980s, the practice itself dates back to early 15th-century carnivals where individuals frequently dressed as mythological figures or even inanimate things.
If we go any further in the past, we can say that cosplay and particular role-playing originated with the Ancient Greeks, when performers would don various personalities and costumes to amuse the top strata of society.
What exactly is cosplay, and how does it function?
Cosplay is the action of dressing up as a character or concept. Cosplayers can go beyond simply recreating their character’s costume by ‘role-playing’ as them, emulating their mannerisms and actions.
Acting out a character is one of the purposes of cosplay. This ‘accuracy’ can be achieved by meticulously reproducing a character’s appearance. You can even incorporate your own artistic flair! Costumes, wigs, accessories, and props are used by cosplayers to create their looks.
Cosplayers of all genders, exposures, and expressions are welcome to participate. Cosplayers will even ‘cross-dress’ or ‘gender-swap,’ dressing up as a character of the opposite gender.
Is Cosplaying an occupation?
| When Did Cosplaying Start? | 1984 |
| How Much Do Professional Cosplayers Earn | $30k-50k/year |
Unless you are well-known or regarded by a significant company, it isn’t. In fact, it deprives the bulk of cosplayers of their income.
For the love of our sport and the pleasure of spending time with others who share it, they feel compelled to go out and spend money on costume accessories.
However, some people, like Yaya Han and Jessica Nigri, get paid to attend events and even profit from the sale of their own prints and souvenirs. Yaya even has her own clothing line.
Then there are those who are compensated to represent video game characters at conventions, including Leon Chiro and Li Kovacs.
Typically, this entails that they remain in the business’s booth to advertise it and pose for photos with customers.
However, the common people you see on the streets are not paid. It’s incredible that they would all be prepared to part with their hard-earned money for a weekend of entertainment and escape.
As a cosplayer myself, getting paid would be fantastic, but for me, the draw is in the fun of taking on the identity of a favorite character.
Is Cosplaying a culture?
There seems to be an international consensus that cosplay is related to Japan.
This is untrue, however, conventions were first held in the east, where individuals for years wore masks and, many people cosplayed.
Anime and Manga are immediately linked with cosplay, but not original works like Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings.
Despite the fact that the idea seems to have come from the United States and that it still involves the same activities, albeit, on a lesser scale, cosplay is today seen as being uniquely Japanese.
One could contend that this cultural practice is being renamed Japanese in the West because it satisfies the criteria for otherness. It may be patronizing to role-play and dress up as a literary character if you are Japanese.
Despite the fact that cosplaying is not a uniquely Japanese activity, Japanese culture and the even more significant Manga and Anime subculture have contributed to its advancement.
Therefore, despite the fact that Anime and Manga are now highly ingrained in cosplay, it is still a race-neutral hobby that anybody may enjoy.
What is the psychology of Cosplay?
Cosplaying is a costly hobby, as we have already explained, so if you want to participate without going into debt, you’ll need to construct your own costumes.
Depending on the complexity, subject matter, and character, this can easily take anywhere from 3 to 70 hours.
Therefore, it begs the question of why someone would invest so much time and money in a costume that they would probably only wear once or twice a year at most.
Here’s the answer:
Individual Reasons
“When a cosplayer chooses a specific outfit, they are often trying to tap into a particular character, or an amalgam of characters, because something about that profession resonates with them on a personal level,” says Robin S. Rosenberg, a clinical psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco.
We all take on several roles throughout the course of the day and the week, according to psychology, Rosenberg added.
According to Rosenberg, she became interested in cosplay after spotting it at convention centers where she was giving speeches.
Rosenberg claims that specific costumes can aid some people in resolving internal conflicts. Batman is one cosplay option that can be very important for someone recovering from trauma.
The dark superhero suffered terrible trauma as a child after witnessing the violent murder of his parents, but he overcame it to become a hero.
You’ll see that when people dress up as a superhero, like Batman, who has experienced comparable trauma as they have, they’ll automatically start talking about their own experiences, according to Rosenberg.
He overcame his challenges and discovered meaning and purpose in the process, which motivates them. Rosenberg said that being shy in real life may be overcome by dressing up.
Wearing a costume communicates an obvious and visible message about the wearer’s love to a persona or fandom, and it commonly inspires complete strangers to get in touch with the character for conversation and photos.
Community Reasons
We desire each other’s attention and admiration because we are fundamentally social creatures.
This characteristic can be seen in a newborn infant as well, thus it’s not surprising to hear someone mention wanting to join a group with which they identify.
The cosplay community is extremely bonded with one another because let’s face it, most cosplayers are still considered “strange” and “cringe” by society.
If society won’t give them the attention they crave, they’ll have to find another solution—enter the massive cosplay community.
Michael Nguyen, a cosplayer and costume design reporter for the “Star Trek” news website trekmovie.com, claims that cosplay not only gives participants special abilities but also helps create a sense of community.
Can 11-Year-Olds cosplay?
In a nutshell, absolutely, if a kid is old enough to wish to play the part of their favorite superhero.
Cosplay is essentially costumed role-playing at its core. So what are you waiting for if you’re 11 years old and want to dress up as Naruto? Get your parents on board and allow them to assist you with your cosplay.
It doesn’t really matter that the characters you want to cosplay as an 11-year-old are different from the ones you want to cosplay as an adult.
There isn’t a rule that says kids under 11 can’t cosplay, unless perhaps at selected conventions. Therefore, you are free to do as you like.
Is Cosplaying Safe?
As long as you stay within the confines of the convention, cosplaying is usually safe.
Actions that cause others trouble are frowned upon by conventions and the offender can be prohibited from attending future events. Thus, there is no need for concern. Within a convention, you are secure.
There are situations, though, when you might draw unwanted attention from other members of the public.
Cosplay Is Not Consent is a movement that was started in the early 2010s with the goal of making conventions a safe environment for women and children.
Since that time, fewer incidences of harassment have been reported.
These days, a lot of conventions have anti-harassment rules that are available on their websites.
Some even have notices posted all over the event advising attendees to always get permission before taking pictures of cosplayers.
But you should exercise caution to keep yourself safe.
Is cosplay a lifestyle?
Cosplaying is a hobby for some, but it is a way of life for others.
Whether you’ve done it before or not, cosplay has grown popular in today’s society. A lot of work and effort goes into making these costumes so that people may participate in events where they can dress up as their favorite characters. To the uninitiated, cosplay is synonymous with dressing up as a witch for Halloween.
Cosplay, however, is more than just dressing up for those who practice the art; it is entirely immersing oneself as a character and performing in front of hundreds of fans.
Finally, what all cosplayers have in common is that they all do it for the sake of having fun. It takes time and attention, but the end product is satisfying. After all, no one spends hours crafting a costume only to unwillingly put it on once it’s finished. It’s an opportunity to represent a fandom, and anyone who wants to learn can do so.
Conclusion
- The phrase “cosplaying” wasn’t coined until 1984 by the renowned Nobuyuki Takahashi of Manga Studio “Hard.”
- Although the name “cosplaying” was coined in the late 1980s, the practice itself dates back to early 15th-century carnivals where individuals frequently dressed as mythological figures or even inanimate things.
- There seems to be an international consensus that cosplay is related to Japan. This is untrue, however, conventions were first held in the east, where individuals for years wore masks and, many people cosplayed.
- Cosplay is essentially costumed role-playing at its core. So what are you waiting for if you’re 11 years old and want to dress up as Naruto? Get your parents on board and allow them to assist you with your cosplay.
Other Articles
- What Can You Learn From Cosplay? (Knowledge)
- Why Is Cosplay Good For Mental Health? (Explained)
- What Are The Values Of Cosplay? (Answered
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