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If you can't make it, break it!
Posted by
ZeroEnna
,
18 December 2011
·
71 views
I like Facebook! As a musician and prospective documentary host ("Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files" meets anime, but that's another story), I appreciate the possibility of direct communication with friends, fans and partners. But I have to admit, I make the mistake to read other people's entries as well. Not that this is a problem or a mistake by definition. That's what Facebook is for, isn't it?
But what I have read two days ago totally blew my mind and raised my anger level to new heights!
The entry itself seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. Person A wrote about "revenge for something" on person B, a link attached. I didn't think about it and clicked on it.
The link referred to a picture of a WoW cosplayer. She looked quite good compared to the original picture. She was a little bit to heavy, though, but in the end, the total look was alright and quite Bull's-eye.
I wondered why this should be revenge for anything, as this cosplayer looked okay. But then hell broke loose, and to sum it up, the comments resulted in spiteful remarks about how fat this person was, and how s*** it looked.
This reminded me on an incident a few months ago. A good friend of mine celebrated her birthday. It was a veeery improvised party inside her car, but it was fun, though. On our way back home by train, we went together with another girl from the party for some time. We chatted about all and sundry, and eventually our talk got onto the subject of cosplay. She said (quote) "if the person doesn't fit the character in minute detail, he or she should give it up. It would look like shit at all, and this is not what cosplay is about."
My objection about "have fun when cosplaying" was rejected before I could even finish the sentence.
"Cosplay is about being the character, not more and not less! If you are not able to be the character in every possible aspect, you musn't call yourself a cosplayer"
I just mentioned eBay and got some more bitter comments on how important it is to be perfect, and that fat cosplayers actually have no right to cosplay at all.
After 45 minutes she left the train. To be dead honest: I have never been that angry. I literally was about to smack her! It would have caused much trouble in terms of assault, but it would have been worth it!
All I can say about this: BULL SH*****
To be honest, I blame those cosplay contests! I don't have anything against them competing against each other, and if it is limited to the convention, there is no problem, but I would like to give you an insight on European cosplay.
First of all, we have the German Cosplay Championships (GCC, in German "Deutsche Cosplay Meisterschaft (DCM)"), with 7 to 9 preliminary decisions on several conventions. We have the European Cosplay Gathering (ECG) AND last but not least the World Cosplay Summit (WCS), which I assume is not unknown to the U.S.A. as well.
All of these competions only lead to one manner: eat or be eaten!
I have never seen any Germany cosplay tutorial pages. Why? Because they don't want their "secrets" (Yes, I believe they think their approaches are top secret) to be copied. When a costume is bought, you're less worth than a maggot on a dead body! Because you did not do it on your own!
When my wife entered the anime scene in 2003, she said everything was literally said peaceful. There was much more appreciation and esteem for other's costumes, the cosplayer's shared their experiences, there was much less show-off.
I have a dream (where did I hear that before? :rolleyes: ) that there will be appreciation again! That cosplayers will be judged only by their effort and their dedication, and not their look and their overweight or their mistakes in tiny details!
I am sorry for this hatred filled blog entry, but I really have a deep respect for you American people with your beloving and supportive mindset! If I could, I would move to America!
Because all that counts here is: If you can't make it, you better break it!
But what I have read two days ago totally blew my mind and raised my anger level to new heights!
The entry itself seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. Person A wrote about "revenge for something" on person B, a link attached. I didn't think about it and clicked on it.
The link referred to a picture of a WoW cosplayer. She looked quite good compared to the original picture. She was a little bit to heavy, though, but in the end, the total look was alright and quite Bull's-eye.
I wondered why this should be revenge for anything, as this cosplayer looked okay. But then hell broke loose, and to sum it up, the comments resulted in spiteful remarks about how fat this person was, and how s*** it looked.
This reminded me on an incident a few months ago. A good friend of mine celebrated her birthday. It was a veeery improvised party inside her car, but it was fun, though. On our way back home by train, we went together with another girl from the party for some time. We chatted about all and sundry, and eventually our talk got onto the subject of cosplay. She said (quote) "if the person doesn't fit the character in minute detail, he or she should give it up. It would look like shit at all, and this is not what cosplay is about."
My objection about "have fun when cosplaying" was rejected before I could even finish the sentence.
"Cosplay is about being the character, not more and not less! If you are not able to be the character in every possible aspect, you musn't call yourself a cosplayer"
I just mentioned eBay and got some more bitter comments on how important it is to be perfect, and that fat cosplayers actually have no right to cosplay at all.
After 45 minutes she left the train. To be dead honest: I have never been that angry. I literally was about to smack her! It would have caused much trouble in terms of assault, but it would have been worth it!
All I can say about this: BULL SH*****
To be honest, I blame those cosplay contests! I don't have anything against them competing against each other, and if it is limited to the convention, there is no problem, but I would like to give you an insight on European cosplay.
First of all, we have the German Cosplay Championships (GCC, in German "Deutsche Cosplay Meisterschaft (DCM)"), with 7 to 9 preliminary decisions on several conventions. We have the European Cosplay Gathering (ECG) AND last but not least the World Cosplay Summit (WCS), which I assume is not unknown to the U.S.A. as well.
All of these competions only lead to one manner: eat or be eaten!
I have never seen any Germany cosplay tutorial pages. Why? Because they don't want their "secrets" (Yes, I believe they think their approaches are top secret) to be copied. When a costume is bought, you're less worth than a maggot on a dead body! Because you did not do it on your own!
When my wife entered the anime scene in 2003, she said everything was literally said peaceful. There was much more appreciation and esteem for other's costumes, the cosplayer's shared their experiences, there was much less show-off.
I have a dream (where did I hear that before? :rolleyes: ) that there will be appreciation again! That cosplayers will be judged only by their effort and their dedication, and not their look and their overweight or their mistakes in tiny details!
I am sorry for this hatred filled blog entry, but I really have a deep respect for you American people with your beloving and supportive mindset! If I could, I would move to America!
Because all that counts here is: If you can't make it, you better break it!
