COMMUNITY IN COSPLAY
The most story-worthy experiences of my life have happened by my friends dragging me into them. The best example of this is cosplaying.
Cosplaying is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game... and something I NEVER thought I would do.
I was a nerd, but not THAT big of a nerd.
Although, my friends begged, and I half-hearty agreed to be apart of a Lord of the Rings cosplay with them.
I would have never thought it would completely change my view of what art is, and its impact.
Think your any good at creating? Try cosplay.
My friend Bethany.
One thing I learned FAST was that cosplaying wasn’t just a cheap art project (it’s actually very expensive) it takes intelligence, creativity, passion, and intense attention to detail.
Not only does cosplaying test those capabilities (and your patience) but it forces every other artistic and talent as well.
Photography for one! Taking a good photograph is hard work! And choosing locations and compositions to match your fantasy character is more difficult.
The process of getting a good shot.
It's what happens after...
The challenge of making the costume is long and tedious. Then taking the photos consists of a lot of wig de-tangling and long dress hiking-up and is definitely not as glamorous as it looks.
It wasn't until I attended a cosplay convention that, after all that suffering, I realized what draws people to cosplay.
It's what happens after the costume and the pictures.
A community of creators.
Through posting our cosplay pictures online and meeting cosplayers at this convention, I learned how huge of a role it plays in people's lives.
Mindy Weisberger explained in the article Getting in Character: The Psychology Behind Cosplay that cosplay is a therapeutic experience.
I could clearly see that when seeing the pride on people's faced when complimenting their outfit.
Cosplay has created a community for people to share their interests and passion for creating. Something that many have never experienced before entering the cosplay community.
Like Miranda mentions in her article, not only does it bring pride and joy the the cosplayers, but to the people around them.
To get to be your favorite character from media then put smiles on other peoples faces, it's more than typical people can do at their day jobs.
I stood there in the middle of the convention center with a big sword and a crazy wig and felt embarrassed. But then people started approaching us, raving about our outfits and getting pictures with us with huge smiles.
First there was 10 people, then 60, then over 100 people smiling and happy, just because we were dressed up sort of funny.
Being at that convention and seeing the joy shown by every person there made me rethink art. Had anything else I ever created brought this much happiness to someone else?
Since then, I ask myself questions every time I start a new project.
Will what I'm making connect me to other people? Will it bring others happiness?
Even though I started out as a non-believer, I learned that cosplaying might be one of the most passion filled, intelligent and unifying art projects a person can ever take on.