Kitriana
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Posts posted by Kitriana
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I don't think I'm cosplaying. I would never describe myself as a cosplayer. I do charity work.
But this is mostly all just semantics just because I have a negative conotation to the word "cosplayer" due to people I know/have known. To each their own.
The way many people see it, myself included, is that you are doing charity work while cosplaying. Surely you were drawn to the 501st for the costumes, and not solely for the charity it does? Because you can do charity out of costume. I understand you have a negative view because of some people, but those people are not the sum of the word, and by saying something that could be construed as "cosplay is lesser" is shaming those who work hard, the professionals who also do charity work, the people whose entire lives are centered around it. Costuming is a hobby wherein you make costumes. Cosplay is a hobby wherein you wear those costumes (whether you made them or not) and act a certain way.
Sorry if I've offended you, but I'm speaking about my local area and as far as I know we have a strong Star Wars presence, Ghostbusters, some Star Trek people and I think a couple of Pirates. Beyond that... nothing. Then again I've never really done any research into any other groups and I really don't want to.
So if in your area you have cotumes groups more organized that actually serve a purpose other then dressing up for conventions that's great! More power to you! But 'round these parts, that's not the case.
I'm not offended, personally, but I am very defensive of my professional friends who have put so much of their time, money, blood, sweat, and tears into making high quality costumes that they then wear for cosplay - often while doing charity works. Every region is different, and I think that the presence of some very large conventions in my region have certainly helped ease people into the idea of cosplay.
But, let's face it - some people join the 501st just so they can dress up and look nice, and hardly take part in charity events at all, and simply go to the conventions so they can look nice and be complimented on. Not everyone is here for the charity works, and not every cosplayer is in it for the attention. This is definitely a two way street that both groups travel.
Whether you like the term or not, the idea of it is here to stay, and the word is increasingly seen in mainstream media.
The long and short of it is, as was stated previously by myself and some others:
Costumers are people who make costumes.
Cosplayers are people who wear costumes.
You can be both, or either.
If you make your money making costumes, but don't ever dress up in those costumes, you are a (professional) costumer. Costume designers for theaters, Hollywood, television shows, etc - they are all costumers. Not all of them are cosplayers.
If you dress up in costumes that you've commissioned from a costumer, and especially if you go around acting and posing as that character, you are a cosplayer. I am sorry to say there really is no other word that is used in today's media to describe it (beyond actor, maybe.)
My recommendation? If you don't like being called a cosplayer, then call yourself an actor. If you are going as an original character (as opposed to Darth Vader or Admiral Daala), then it fits well enough.
But be prepared for mainstream media to call you a cosplayer, because as the term picks up and spreads further and further out into society, that is what people will associate with someone who dresses up in a costume on any day that isn't Halloween.
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I don't like being call a cosplayer. Cosplayers don't get invited to hand out toys at Children's Hospital. Cosplayers don't get paid by LFL to come to events and represent them. Cosplayers don't get invited by Disney to march in a their parades.
I do charity work... dressed as Star Wars characters. I know in the grand scheme of everything we're just people pretending to be plastic spacemen. I've seen some great cosplayers that but a lot of time and effort into their costumes, and I've seen a lot of junk. We all have. I'm not saying mine's better because I'm with the 501st, but mine has a purpose.
Superheroes at Children's Hospitals
Actually, a lot of cosplayers not only get invited, but also willingly volunteer.
For example:
- Superhero cosplayers at children's hospitals
- Superhero (and other) cosplayers at various Walk for [Charity]'s
- Anime cosplayers at similar events
Sure, not all cosplayers get paid (only professionals)... but why is payment so important? Isn't the act of charity what we're really aiming for? Why do we need to paid to show up and represent?
I am proud to be a costumer and a cosplayer. The word does not have any negative meanings. It does not diminish what we do in any way. In fact, cosplay has started to grow such a wonderful association that the word is becoming mainstream and accepted in many circles.
My anime cosplay can serve exactly the same purpose as my 501st. My superhero cosplay would not only be more recognizable by some, but also more accepted than the 501st. And I don't require an invitation, nor do I have to jump through bureaucratic hoops, to show up at a charity event - dressed as, say, Dark Phoenix - to garner more attention for the charity.
- eugeneeyeo and Rhaethe
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As someone who has been exposed to the costuming and cosplay forum (I was a costume design major) for quite a long time, I would like to describe how many of the serious costumers/cosplayers (and the professionals) see it:
Costuming is the art and act of creating a costume, usually from scratch, but in some cases by putting together modern clothes to create a 'costume'. Costume designers for stage and theater do not always have to create extravagant costumes. Sometimes a costume is just a pair of jeans, a nice shirt, and the accessories. Every movie, every stage production, broadway play, and even circus act has a costume designer.
Cosplay is a bit more specific. It is a mish-mash of the words "costume" and "play". That does not mean that cosplayers don't take it seriously. There are several professional cosplayers out there (Cupcake Cosplay, Yaya Han, etc) who make very high quality, top of the line costume builds. The clothing itself is costume. The act of dressing up and acting as the character you are dressing as is cosplay.
The way I see it, the act of making our uniforms, armor, et cetera for the 501st is costuming.
However, once we get into character (especially those who are playing specific characters, like Asajj Ventress, or Mara Jade, or Darth Vader) are cosplaying the character.
The words are not interchangeable, but are, in fact, quite symbiotic. I am a costumer, because I design and create costumes; in other words, a costume designer. However, I am also a cosplayer, because when I dress in those costumes, I am taking on the persona of the character I am dressed as.
- eugeneeyeo, Verfolger and Rhaethe
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If I choose to buy them, it will be for my living history group primarily, and we can see if they would work for the 501st. While real leather would be better for both, real leather is also a bit more expensive than fake leather.
While it does seem shady because of the picture, they have very good ratings with their other costume pieces. It's really impossible to say without seeing the real deal. I do medieval history, and those boots would qualify for period boots, so I'd be a good candidate for an initial purchase as I won't be losing out even if they aren't able to be 501st approved.
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So, I sent a message asking if they had more pictures available, and also if they could be made knee length, rather than mid-calf. This is what I was given in response:
Dear kitriana,
Hello,
I'm sorry, but this is the only photo that we have right now, could you tell me the exact measurements as follow?
1) Gender: ( Male / Female )
2) Length: ( toe to heel ) in cm.
3) Height of boots: ( Not including the height of the heel )
4 ) For high length boots - Calf girth - The bulky part of your calf - cm.
I can ask the shoes makers and see if they can make them?
P.S I also attached an image to show you how to get the measurements.
Thank you,
AnnaThey have 100% positive feedback, with only 4 neutral responses out of 1006 total sales, so it would seem that they are at least a trustworthy seller. However, there'd be no way to know for sure until a pair gets ordered.
I may do so when I get the money, just to take the plunge. If they don't work for the 501st, I do at least have another hobby that they will work for.
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I was wondering about that. But, they are asking you for height measurements, so maybe you could get them ordered to knee length?
But they do maybe look a bit photoshopped. It would be helpful to see their actual product. Ah, well.
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On Ebay for approximate total of $110
I found these while looking for boots for the staff officer. Has anyone purchased these? From the image, they look like they could be acceptable, and $110 (inc. S&H) is a pretty decent price for what they are claiming as custom boots.
The page says they want the following information when you order:
1) Gender: ( Male / Female )
2) Length: ( toe to heel ) in cm.
3) Height of boots: ( Not including the height of the heel )
4 ) For high length boots - Calf girth - The bulky part of your calf - cm.
( Production time : 14 - 18 days )
What do y'all think? Too risky, or does it look like a good investment?
Costuming vs Cosplay
in The Officer's Lounge
Posted
I'm a member of the SCA, and we call the period clothes we wear "garb" or just.. you know... clothes. It makes me cringe when it's called a costume, because I'm wearing historic clothing, and once I'm "in character" so to speak, it's just clothing.
However, I can't change what people outside the SCA call it. To them, it's costumes. And that's fine. I can see where they get the idea.
When you take a fantasy or sci-fi element, such as this - something recognizable as being from a movie or show - most people nowadays, especially at conventions, will automatically call it a cosplay, or costume, where we might see it as a uniform, or armor, and only call it that.
The fact is, we can't change what people outside the group will call it. There's no way to maintain that level of control. And as more and more people pick up the term cosplay, and realize how entirely accurate it is, that's what we'll be called. Star Wars cosplayers. It is what we are, despite anyone's dislike of the term, because not everyone here makes their own costumes, and so can't really be called a costumer. So, we'll be "those Star Wars cosplayers" or "those weirdos in Star Wars costumes" or similar, even if we were to try and get the public to call it whatever it is to us...and since so many of us have such different ideas on what it ought to be called, deciding on what WE call ourselves is difficult enough without trying to bring the public into it.