Thoughts on Cosplay?

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Thoughts on Cosplay?
Tweet Topic Started: Jul 31 2013, 11:18 PM (710 Views)
GameEscape	Jul 31 2013, 11:18 PM Post #1
Level 3 Posts: 154 Group: Members Member #6,446 Joined: Jul 30, 2013	I recently watched some videos of cosplayers at Comic Con and, while there were certainly some artful costumes, I wonder if these people are doing this as an expression of their fandom or if self-promoters see "geek culture," cosplay included, as a means to garner celebrity. Kotaku's article and picture gallery on the subject, for example, had reams of scantily clad ladies as super heroes, video game characters, etc.-some of whom were supposedly professionals. To me, this is akin to the booth babe phenomenon-a blatant use of crass sexuality to market something to "gamers," geeks" etc., for whom sex must certainly sell. Marketing managers and cosplay self-promoters seem to have the same agenda: let customers take pictures with half-naked women and they will buy your products (or subscribe to your channel, or give you good pub.) I personally find this insulting. I have never been to a Con, but, were I to go, I would want the experience to be about the games, collectibles, etc. I don't need to consume sex as part of this hobby. And I would imagine this kind of practice can be insulting to some female gamers. Now, I do realize that there are dedicated cosplayers out there who do it out of love for the scene and their favorite franchises, and I am not at all chiding them. I support them and applaud them on their passion. But I do worry that their hobby is being slowly co-opted by people for whom gaming and collecting is seen simply as a way of gaining free publicity. What do others think?
	YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/wcladley Twitter: @Game_Escape_


zaven1718	Jul 31 2013, 11:33 PM Post #2
Level 7 Posts: 1,067 Group: Members Member #4,731 Joined: Feb 2, 2012	I like it and think its cool, unless its the scantily clad women as you mentioned. I hate that so much, half naked women walking around displaying their breasts to get attraction. It objectifys women as objects and trys to bring males to the lowers primitive urges. I think that is what some people think of when they think of gaming coventions and that wrecks the reputation for the rest of people who attend. Its the same with people thinking anime is japanese porn stuff that so many people seem to think it is



OMEGAlomania	Aug 1 2013, 04:44 AM Post #3
...and they shall know no fear. Posts: 813 Group: Members Member #4,869 Joined: Mar 15, 2012	zaven1718 Jul 31 2013, 11:33 PM I like it and think its cool, unless its the scantily clad women as you mentioned. I hate that so much, half naked women walking around displaying their breasts to get attraction. It objectifys women as objects and trys to bring males to the lowers primitive urges. I think that is what some people think of when they think of gaming coventions and that wrecks the reputation for the rest of people who attend. Its the same with people thinking anime is japanese porn stuff that so many people seem to think it is My opinion differs. If someone wants to wear a costume as you describe than it's their choice, they shouldn't be stopped wearing a costume of a character they love just because of what joe schmo might think. If they have the self confidence to do it, I say go for it. As long as it stays sfw at the con of course. I love cosplay the most when you can tell just how much time and effort has gone in to making it, if someone buys their costume it kinda defeats the point to me. Also, my love of 40k demands that I show you THE BEST COSTUME EVAR MADE
	You are slave. Want emancipation?


Mamonuth	Aug 1 2013, 04:52 AM Post #4
Level 5 Posts: 612 Group: Members Member #2,277 Joined: Jun 30, 2010	OMEGAlomania Aug 1 2013, 04:44 AM zaven1718 Jul 31 2013, 11:33 PM I like it and think its cool, unless its the scantily clad women as you mentioned. I hate that so much, half naked women walking around displaying their breasts to get attraction. It objectifys women as objects and trys to bring males to the lowers primitive urges. I think that is what some people think of when they think of gaming coventions and that wrecks the reputation for the rest of people who attend. Its the same with people thinking anime is japanese porn stuff that so many people seem to think it is My opinion differs. If someone wants to wear a costume as you describe than it's their choice, they shouldn't be stopped wearing a costume of a character they love just because of what joe schmo might think. If they have the self confidence to do it, I say go for it. As long as it stays sfw at the con of course. I love cosplay the most when you can tell just how much time and effort has gone in to making it, if someone buys their costume it kinda defeats the point to me. Also, my love of 40k demands that I show you THE BEST COSTUME EVAR MADE I usually just ignore cosplay but damn that's awesome. As far as the showing a little bit of skin objectifies your gender shit goes I just want to say that that's complete bullshit. I've argued way too much about it so I won't even start here.



GameEscape	Aug 1 2013, 08:44 AM Post #5
Level 3 Posts: 154 Group: Members Member #6,446 Joined: Jul 30, 2013	To me, the issue isn't so much showing skin or objectification as such, but rather that certain people may be using cosplay to garner attention and publicity at the expense of those who really care about the hobby.
	YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/wcladley Twitter: @Game_Escape_


pokemonzrpg	Aug 1 2013, 09:34 AM Post #6
Zach Archer Posts: 4,563 Group: Admins Member #1,104 Joined: Aug 5, 2009 Currently Playing Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life Twitter @ZRPG	OMEGAlomania Aug 1 2013, 04:44 AM zaven1718 Jul 31 2013, 11:33 PM I like it and think its cool, unless its the scantily clad women as you mentioned. I hate that so much, half naked women walking around displaying their breasts to get attraction. It objectifys women as objects and trys to bring males to the lowers primitive urges. I think that is what some people think of when they think of gaming coventions and that wrecks the reputation for the rest of people who attend. Its the same with people thinking anime is japanese porn stuff that so many people seem to think it is My opinion differs. If someone wants to wear a costume as you describe than it's their choice, they shouldn't be stopped wearing a costume of a character they love just because of what joe schmo might think. If they have the self confidence to do it, I say go for it. As long as it stays sfw at the con of course. I love cosplay the most when you can tell just how much time and effort has gone in to making it, if someone buys their costume it kinda defeats the point to me. Also, my love of 40k demands that I show you THE BEST COSTUME EVAR MADE I agree with you there. I'm in that weird wheelhouse where I don't think the sexuality is that much of a problem. If we forced women into cosplaying like this, then sure it would be a problem. But as it stands, it is just out of the woman's choice on whether she wants to do that or not. I just don't see why us men really should have any say in the matter, or be able to criticize it much. Women have made careers as models and they don't get too much crap from us. But when they mix good looks with gaming, all of a sudden it often becomes controversial topic. I just don't understand that personally, but I definitely understand why many think otherwise.



majinpowers	Aug 1 2013, 10:11 AM Post #7
Sega Does What Nintendon't Posts: 3,285 Group: Moderator Member #792 Joined: May 25, 2009	That Blood Angles suit is totally bad ass!
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amb3Rly11	Aug 1 2013, 10:13 AM Post #8
Level 4 Posts: 284 Group: Members Member #5,848 Joined: Jan 26, 2013	Okay, here's my thing with all this. If a woman wants to cosplay as a character that happens to be half naked and has the confidence to do so, go for it. If a woman purposefully augments her cosplay costume to make a normally conservative character into a sexy one, that is not okay. Another issue I have with cosplaying as a female speaks about the gaming/comic industry itself. The majority of popular characters available for us to portray are half-naked to begin with. I can think of very few conservative female protagonists. And this is frustrating to me because I refuse the flaunt my tits in public, but I don't want to dress up as Grunty from banjo kazooie either. Awesome topic, btw
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MetalJesus	Aug 1 2013, 11:53 AM Post #9
Level 6 Posts: 805 Group: Members Member #2,658 Joined: Aug 25, 2010	Having attending E3 for several years, as well as PAX Prime and several other Expos, I really enjoy Cosplayers and people who dress up. It's awesome to see people putting all that time and creative energy into something they love.... and it's the one place where they won't be looked at weird, but instead celebrated. For me, it's not really different than theater and the costumes they put on. But then again, my wedding was Rocky Horror Picture Show themed...so maybe I'm biased
	A long haired metal dude, with a passion for video games! http://www.youtube.com/MetalJesusRocks


tri4ceofpowr	Aug 1 2013, 12:07 PM Post #10
Existentialist Posts: 0 Group: Members Member #5,310 Joined: Aug 1, 2012	I also really enjoy seeing cosplayers. I love going to anime conventions and taking pictures with my favorite characters, especially when the costume is really accurate. Its awesome. Personally though, I'm not one to cosplay. Edited by tri4ceofpowr, Aug 1 2013, 12:08 PM.
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lol_pc	Aug 1 2013, 12:23 PM Post #11
\m/ (>_<) \m/ Posts: 754 Group: Members Member #583 Joined: Apr 16, 2009	I enjoy watching cosplayers, however I hate it when someone wears a bad outfit or cosplays a character that he/she doesn't remotely resemble.
	Fin moron do Taazokaan fen kod zeim ul


KingJames88	Aug 2 2013, 07:38 AM Post #12
Ds Games! Posts: 3,129 Group: Moderator Member #511 Joined: Apr 6, 2009	I see all sides to this that everyone has brought up. Woman don't have many options in the way of conservative type characters, however some still use it to get attention. People that are dedicated to it and put a lot of thought and effort into props and clothing are always good to see. I think at cons there can be a nice middle ground between having some woman dressed up walking around to add to the experience, and having walked into what you might have thought was a whore house at first glance.
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kman050	Aug 4 2013, 11:15 PM Post #13
New User Posts: 3 Group: Members Member #6,454 Joined: Aug 4, 2013	Weird for men to do, very sexy for women to do.



S_Pac316	Aug 5 2013, 12:02 AM Post #14
EL PACO LOCO! Posts: 301 Group: Members Member #3,696 Joined: Apr 9, 2011	I like cosplay, people do wear some cool and outrageous costumes. About scantily women...as much as I like to look at them(yeah, I admire the female body like any other red-blooded hetero-sexual male, sue me!) they are a bit cock-teasing.
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HeavyMetalGamer	Aug 5 2013, 02:54 PM Post #15
The new guy here Posts: 935 Group: Members Member #5,849 Joined: Jan 27, 2013	I don't mind cosplayers, although I myself would probably never do it. Although there are some people that take it way too serious as in, they think they are the character outside of E3, Comic-Con, etc, and that is where I start to hate cosplayers, but the majority of them do it for fun, and don't take it serious.



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