So I just received another email interview that asked if I thought cosplay was a form of escapism, and needless to say, Im somewhat bothered. The whole notion that cosplayers are trying to run away from reality is a sad, self-perpetuating stereotype that needs to be dispelled. Yet the hard truth is that quashing such unfair assumptions is difficult if the bulk of the coskids tend compound the problem with how they frivolously portray their lifestyles on social media. Claiming that their entire lives revolve around cosplay on Facebook, or lamenting their poor grades in school, or telling everyone and their mothers son that theyre poorly adjusted, have depression, and suffer nervous breakdowns over cosplay simply contributes to this negative overall image. It then becomes a natural, if erroneous correlation that cosplayers ARE truly people with a host of problems when the truth is, most coskids are actually quite pampered and sheltered. Cosplay has the potential to be empowering - the host of practical and social skills acquired by mastering the craft and interacting with fellow pop-culture lovers needs to be better emphasized instead. However, this can be only accomplished when the community is discerning enough to present a united front to the media and the public. Something to think about, no?
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 21:12:29 +0000
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