18 replies to this topic

[Wildcat]

How NOT to cosplay...

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_dec03.php

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_jan04.php

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_feb04.php

[MachV]

How NOT to cosplay...

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_dec03.php

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_jan04.php

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_feb04.php

that was brilliant, thanks for that!

[Metanoia]

Sorry, I'm about to have a whinge...

I really don't like this kind of site. It might be fun to have a laugh, but what would you think if it was your picture up there with them making fun of your jiggly bits?

For some, they may be costumers in the making who just need some experienced people to take them under their wing and teach them a bit more about sewing.

For others (I'm thinking for example the felicia from the second link), yeah she's a larger girl, but damn that must have been gutsy to wear that costume. I know some tiny girls who would still not wear something like that in public. And actually as far as the costume goes, she did quite well.

So really the only thing that site is picking on is peoples physical appearance... and well, I'd rather encourage people to costume for the love of it. Sure it's excellent to take into account your body shape and appearance when you cosplay, but if you really have your heart set on a costume I hope you don't let that get in your way. We can't all look like perfect supermodels.

Some Lolitas Australian wide may remember a recent incident with a community dedicated to this sort of image bashing. I wrote about it on my Live Journal. Girls from SA, TAS and VIC were put up there and though the community has since been shut down (and re-opened elsewhere *sigh*) some of the comments were quite cruel towards peoples physical appearances. Things like that can be quite damaging to a persons self-esteem and confidence.

I'd rather hear a hundred constructive criticisms about how a costume could be done better and directions on where to get the skills to achieve that. And in the end that is what the ACG is all about too.

[morgan-aleghieri]

Yar...
As much as a few of those costumes are attrocities, it does seem to have an echo of "lolitaf***s" about it...

The felicia one, my immediate response was that has to be indecent exposure, actually... At a family event like supanova she wouldn't be allowed in, so I wonder about the sorts of event you could get away with this at. ~ponders~

[Metanoia]

The felicia one, my immediate response was that has to be indecent exposure, actually... At a family event like supanova she wouldn't be allowed in, so I wonder about the sorts of event you could get away with this at. ~ponders~

I think they're all from american cons, but I have seen some really good Felicia cosplays (hers was actually pretty good too I thought). They're a bodysuit with the fur stuck on, so really, everything is covered just as much as if you were in a catgirl costume or anything else where skintight bodysuit is involved... its just that the bodysuit happens to be skin coloure din this instance.

[morgan-aleghieri]

Hon, she definately isn't wearing a body suit there...
(Either that or the commentator is lying to me, and it's very, very translucent...)


Mais oui - indecent exposure aside, I wouldn't have said her costume was terrible. it's just very revealing

Edited by morgan-aleghieri, 14 March 2007 - 08:21 PM.

[Metanoia]

hmm... I gave up reading the crappy commentary and from the pic it is hard to tell. I assumed it was a body suit cause thats what all the other felicia cosplayers do. If it isn't, well its definately gutsy.

[Silver Moonblaze]

The felicia one, my immediate response was that has to be indecent exposure, actually... At a family event like supanova she wouldn't be allowed in, so I wonder about the sorts of event you could get away with this at. ~ponders~

That's a good point, and probably the biggest consideration when choosing costumes like that, not your figure...


Putting on a costume in public is a gutsy thing to do - no matter your figure or even your sewing expertise. Everyone deserves to be encouraged rather than laughed at for doing it - constructive criticsism is one thing, but spiteful bashing is quite another.

Good on them for not letting their physique, sewing talent or anything else get in the way of them having fun.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

[Merrick]

Half those costumes are better than anything I can do!

[Wildcat]

Oh my... I am SO sorry! I had NO idea that would be offensive...

I found it funny at first but now I see the more serious side to things...

*dies of embarrassment* >.<

[morgan-aleghieri]

Hey Wildcat, don't worry about it
I probably wouldn't have thought about it either had we not had the Gothic Lolita shenanigans a few months ago
Don't fret.

[Wildcat]

Hey Wildcat, don't worry about it
I probably wouldn't have thought about it either had we not had the Gothic Lolita shenanigans a few months ago
Don't fret.

Thankies, I'll try not to

[MachV]

Well if it makes you feel bad about enjoying reading them, read this one:

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_jan04.php

on that bottom 10, all the photos are submited by the forum readers of themselves. and there is even a bonus photos of the guy running the bottom 10 in a bad cosplay. So at least they can have a sense of humour about it!

[morgan-aleghieri]

http://catsonmars.com/otaku/cosplay/shame_may04.php
I think you mean this page, MachV

[Reactor drone]

Yeah I thought the comments were a little rough,some of those were quite well done I thought and as they said in Bambi,"if you can't say anything nice then STFU"

[Atory]

I find that if you are going to wear costumes (of any kind) you have to be prepared for criticism. No matter how great your costume may be there is always going to be someone out there making fun of it, be it out of envy, difference in taste, bitterness, etc. If the affects of such insults are going to have a large impact on you, you really shouldn't put yourself under so much pressure. On the other hand, fear of something like criticism shouldn't stop you from doing something you know you'll enjoy. If you are really determined, don't let anything stop you. Who cares about the negative things people may say? Most people who criticise do so because they are lacking self-esteem and have to bring other people down to give them a false sense of superiority. I know it can be hard for people who are concerned about the way they are viewed especially when it comes to physical appearance. Remember, for all the people out there whose aim is to bring you down there is always at least one, most likely many, that are there supporting you. It takes a lot of courage to be different to the stereotypical norms of society and I applaud anyone who dares to be truly individual. If everyone could instantly please everyone else the world would be a boring place void of all creativity.

[mdb]

I think it's less a fear of being criticised that is being expressed here than disgust as the Schadenfreude being shown.
They are gleefully taking these people apart because they have made faux pas in many instances (how many languages can I borrow from in one post...). It's not like quietly talking with a friend about a bit of shock over seeing rather too much of anyone in public.

Also instead of posting "dear lord I saw far to much of one guy at XYZ con!" and another to post his photo in a public forum with the comments shown.

[Loli-Goth]

Oh my GOD! That was terrible. That baka completly killed Sephiroth!

[Metanoia]

Locked in the interest of maintaining positive and constructive criticisms.