Hello Followers,
This is not really important in concerns to my cosplay process but it is something that I find really necessary to say, because if you follow me and you do anything like this I want you to stop. Just stop.
Here is what initiated this. I posted on a social media website what I was cosplaying as for Denver Comic Con because someone asked me. A different someone then commented
"Don't do Kiki there are hundreds of Kiki's"
to which my response was "There are hundreds of thousands of cosplayers, so of course there are multiples of costumes. I don't really care if there are other Kiki's. I am doing it because I love the movie and character, that is why people should cosplay, no other reason really matters." I figured that would get my point across, that I am doing it regardless.
This someone responded saying "Eh, something just seems cheap to me about throwing on a white T-shirt and calling yourself another L." I will admit at this point I got really pissed off because did I ask for your critique on my or anyone else's cosplay choices? No? Then shut the fuck up and keep your rude ass opinion to yourself
I responded saying "Eh, something just seems cheap to me about commenting on someone's cosplay choices unless they asked you to. Not really your business why someone chooses to cosplay who they do, regardless of if you like it or not. Doesn't matter how easy a cosplay seems, someone put work into it and made that choice to be that character for a day and unless someone asks for your damn opinion you can keep it to yourself. Cosplay is not about being the only person dressed like that character, its about acting and dressing as a character you like for whatever reason you like them. Someone likes L they can cosplay L, someone likes that obscure character that shows up in one episode and doesn't speak, then they can be them because in the end it doesn't matter what people think. Especially when they think they are entitled enough to say anything about someone else's cosplay without their permission."
So here are the three big points that I just want to tell anyone who follows me.
One: it does not matter what you look like. If you want to cosplay someone then you go right ahead and cosplay them. You can be curvier, thin, black, white, tall, short. It does not matter. I repeat: IT DOES NOT MATTER. Stop judging people’s cosplay on what they personally look like. In fact, don’t judge people’s cosplay unless they ask you to. It is not your job to critique them at your whim, at all. Unless they ask don’t do it. But seriously, I can’t stand hearing things like “that girl is too fat to be wearing that costume” or “oh my god, that character wasn’t even that ethnicity”. You want to say stuff like that, just leave and say it to yourself. It is a person’s choice to do their cosplay however the hell they want to, so let them.
Which brings me to my second point also known as…
Two: Your cosplay is your choice. And as horrid as it sounds, you have to understand that if you wear almost no clothing that people will notice. I have been harassed at conventions, I have been cat called walking back to my room. However, I understand that those are things that come with choosing a “sexy” costume. Now I am not condoning that behaviour. Because it is fucking wrong, no matter how little clothing someone is wearing (of either gender) it is not consent to touch them. However, you have to know that those kinds of things will happen, because nothing is ever sacred and people like to ruin nice things when they can. So here are your two options: Wear your sexy costume, be confident and go about your day ignoring or confronting people about harassment and cat calls. Or don’t wear it. You cannot change what other people will do, but you can change the way you react to it and if it happens.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t wear costumes that expose yourself. Just make sure to be safe. Stay in groups to avoid confrontations of sexual harassment and make sure to know how to handle a situation like that (You don’t need to hit someone, its often more likely to get you in trouble than it is to help. Find a convention staff member and tell them about it, what the person looked like and tell them to keep an eye out).
Third: RESPECT. Jesus, it is apparently one of the hardest things for people to realize. It doesnt matter if you are in public, or at a convention or at a convention and walking around in public. You respect people around you. If you feel disrespected you tell that person, you don’t disrespect them back because then it just creates a vicious cycle. You like someones cosplay, tell them. You don’t like it? Its not a very nice thing to down someone because something is the wrong color -because they probably spent a very long time working on it. So if you don’t like it, don’t say a damn thing if it isn’t nice. Respect the room if you are staying at a hotel. Don’t leave it trashed, don’t have loud obnoxious aftercon parties, don’t be a douche to the people who earn their living by being hotel maintenance staff. Respect the convention staff, the convention space and the convention rules. DON’T TAKE PICTURES IN HALLWAYS. And to the utmost point, respect fandoms, regardless of whether or not you like the cosplay or fandom itself. We are a community here in the cosplay world, we can be nice and respectful and safe.
So that was my rant, you can ignore it and go on with your life.
Keep on Cosplaying
--Max
