Editorial
Rage Against The COSF*CKERS
OH SNAP!
Cosfuck, as the name implies, refers to “cosplays that are f*cked up”, a term which reeks of elitism in and of itself. By referring to a cosplay as “cosfuck”, the elitist sends out this [hidden/overt] message to the ‘accused’ cosplayer: “Your cosplay SUCKS, F*ck Off. Go Die/Pack Up your Bag and Don’t Ever Venture Into Cosplaying. Ever. Again”, placing himself/herself into this high judiciary pedestal, as though he/she was given the right by the heavens to proclaim what’s a good and bad cosplay, what’s fail and what’s not, or which certain demograph (of people endowed with great physique / features) is only entitled to the “right to cosplay”. Sounds like a cool thing to do huh? Not when it goes out of bounds, like flaming cosplayers in the public domain.
Now before you start accusing me of being an almighty elitist myself, let me just say that I’m not going to whitewash my own elitism crimes because I’m guilty of it too. I’m prone to having what we call “Cosfuck RAGE” among other kind of rage, and even got close to making fun of them in a post too, but stopped in thought as I realize how f*cking wrong it was. It’s not a matter of “wanting to hide my blemishes and show the world how saintly I am”, but a matter of reflecting on whether or not bashing a cosplayer in the blog is a right thing to do. Think about it, what good will that bring? Make my e-penis (or e-vagina, whatever) longer for being able to point out what aspects of the cosplay was done WRONG (especially when commenters all AGREE with it?). Yeah Right. You know what kind of post it would’ve turned out? Nothing else but stupid Tabloid Material, like other silly doramas in the blogosphere. Or even worse, considering that the one being trolled / made fun of is an unsuspecting cosplayer who attended a con filled with nothing else but enthusiasm and love for the game (and a lot of guts).
“But we are entitled to our own opinions, so f*ck off, faggot!” would probably be the counter-argument of the elitists in question. Elitism isn’t that bad, so long as you play it FAIR, may it be in your rage or whatever harsh criticisms you will utter. As Martin has very well said:
While the idea of what makes someone elitist stems from others’ impressions of them, the deciding factor as to whether it’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’ elitism depends on how the elitist projects his or her views. If they state their opinions with confidence and conviction without putting other peoples’ down or disregarding the validity of an opposing arguments, I think they can still be ‘elite’; crucially they aren’t projecting an offensive sense of superiority or ignorance that’s a characteristic of the traditional definition.
So tell me, what gives us the right to trash cosplayers as though they’re vile creatures that should be rid of from the face of the earth?! Being a ‘good cosplayer’ is not an immediate passport to cosplay elitism, it still doesn’t give you the right to trample on other ones who, in your elitist sight, is a COSPLAY FAIL. Some cosplays will certainly turn out to be “not so aesthetically pleasing”, considering the different “standards” we have for judging this, but if that’s how they want to express their fandom, who are we to devoid them of that right? If you can’t respect these people as cosplayers (since in your AWESOME sight they’re not suited to cosplay EVER), can’t we at least respect them as people?
It might seem like I’m trolling a certain someone with this post, and while I can’t deny those allegations, I’d say that’s not really what this post is about, since what we’re trying to deal with here isn’t supposed to be anyone per se, but the _ACT_ — something I even fall short of at times, there’s no denying that.
Before raging, and doing any vitriolic posts, why don’t we all calm down first and spend time thinking of whether the said rage is justifiable, or even necessary to be posted in the blog or in wherever public domain (this act is tantamount to ostracizing, in case you haven’t noticed that). A little reflection every now and then would be good, that’s for sure.
Raging bunny, now signing off!
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I sense dorama. No wait. I knew where this came from!
Does I have guilt!?
word of the day: vitriolic.
And there’s a point to be made here on both sides, one of which is the idea of constructive criticism, and on the other the sheer enjoyment to be had when we make fun of other people.
But since we are blogging, there must be some journalistic integrity to be upheld, so I agree with you completely.
I don’t think any cosplayers should be made fun of unless they are specifically cosplaying TO be made fun of , i.e. Man Faye. There’s a ton of fat Narutos and Sakuras running around every anime con I’ve gone to so double’s post about the “bad shinji” was fucking retarded. I’m like gee you must have never been to a US anime con or your fingers would fall off typing a post about every bad cosplayer that you’ve seen.
This shouldn’t matter, people need affection, just like bunnies and kittens. Of course, bunnies are known for other things too …
I think there are two cases:
1) People who have never cosplayed or designed apparel can have no valid opinion … unless someone is a cosplay connoisseur, but that’s seriously WTF
2) People who cosplay regularly, and do it extremely well. Now these are the ones I could only see rudeness being something to pay mind to.
So really, the cosplayer basically doesn’t have to do anything for those of us in the first case … how the hell can we comment when we’ve never even tried … it’s void, any sort of rudeness is just void, it has no effect, but it can hurt feelings… since we’re not all robots. From here cosplay isn’t even a matter, it’s just being an ass … why not just go make fun of cripple or autistic kids while we’re at it… it’s not much different.
The second case is trickier, and any form of true elitism would be found here, because they can and do cosplay, and what they say does/should matter as opinion from cosplayer to cosplayer. Generally, people who know the trials of creating a good cosplay (I sure as hell don’t) can sympathize with those who at least try, even if the world sees them in fail. The other ones, who think lowly of those who try but aren’t quite at the level… that’s their issue, and likely shines on a shitty character/personality.
Basically, anyone who talks the talk of “poor cosplay” better show how awesome of a cosplayer they are, other wise their judgments reveal quite a shallow persona.
Saying one doesn’t like it vs saying it’s bad, there is a difference. Cosplay is for fun, it’s not an industry as say anime, where we can subjectively judge stuff because it is driven by a large monetary system…
just some thoughts.
When I see a poorly executed costume, the first thing that comes to mind is “I wish she did better” and not “what a loser”. Is my behavior truly exceptional?
I doubt it. I don’t even consider it superior or privileged over the rage reflected on in this post.
I do find it useful in managing my own stress levels whenever confronted by anything hideous or truly awful cosplaying.
I am 2938495273495% now sure that IKnight started using “vitriolic” and now everyone uses it. Or at least he’s where I first learned what that word meant.
reading over these comments, elitism seems to be more interesting than I previously thought it. I wonder who the elistist directs rage towards? When usagijen goes all tsuntsun on us, is it because her intentions good and she wants the community to thrive, to grow, to get better? Probably. I don’t think, as other types of elistism indicate, that they’re more self-directed in that they are meant to display, well, how awesomely awesome the elitist is. You could call the former type benevolent/constructive elitism, the latter arrogant, self-serving elitism. (what didinskee said)
As with most social/cultural groups, there is going to be a lot of inner strife. Usually, most factions aim towards common goals; ie. blacks aiming towards the equal treatment of blacks. However, we all know there have been a crap load of different takes on achieving equality – some say “screw it” and go to Africa, while others that remain criticize emmigrants of “selling out”, of taking the needs of the individual over the needs of the collective group. People have called Obama a sellout because, well, he’s an articulate black man, some even say he’s not black, he’s african and white.
I’m not trying to be tangential, but what other things in real life can tell us how to perceive – with any sort of clarity – our own situation, how to analyze it, how to deal with it, how to avoid mishaps. Since we are not nearly a large nor historic group as blacks/african americans, it should be, in some ways, easier to avoid internal strife.
I would end with a nice note, but blind optimism is usually counterproductive to concrete reality.
I don’t think getting enraged makes sense. It’s just a costume on a person you’ll probably never see again. What’s the point?
I am an elitist all cosplayers pale in comparison to LARPers, now there is a group that takes workmanship to a whole new level, and let’s not even start about the Star Wars fans of the 501st. Those blokes build their stormtrooper armor from scratch. That is the very definition of dedication.
I am a technical person so as long as the workmanship is sound I take no issue. Otherwise I keep my mouth shut even if my head is loaded with cutting remarks, best to walk away before one says something…unkind.
I need help. My morals compel me to dislike what my dear double has done but this is the counterattack that I am facing at the moment:
Double says, “I did it for the lulz”
So I respond with my stand, “How dare you mask your insidious motives with a condescending statement like that?”
Double says, “I did it for the lulz”
Following which, and with much annoyance, I say, “XXX.”
Double says, “I did it for the lulz”
Following which, and with much annoyance, I say, “XXX.”
Double says, “I did it for the lulz”
-REPEATS-
Also, gosh jen! What is a e-vagina. (=_=)
Hinano > It just so happens that I have found a picture of that cosplayer in my CF card, and with the rage going on regarding May’n’s autograph session in the AFA, I just rode the wave and added more rage.
Like Sojourner said, I did it all for the lulz. If I was really serious in flaming the crap out of him, I would be replying to every since post in the thread I started, instead of just watching people argue among themselves.
Btw, go read the thread and you’ll find out why this cosplayer is “special”.
Oh, and before I forget, I’m perfectly fine with someone trolling me ^^
@Panther: YES, now REPENT FOR YER SINSSS!
@didinskee: all for the love of lulz~ just don’t go overboard :3
@Hinano: lol, my reaction was more of “poor fat shinji” than “this post is retarded”, but oh well. As double said over there, he did it for the lulz
@Ryan: …I’d rather not think of the “other things” rabbits are known for
And I’m all for constructive criticism and playing it fair, not just trash a cosplay for being crap but actually see it in a positive light.
@ghostlightning: we can all just laugh at it, praise the cosplayer for being gutsy and then get over it, and that’s that
@lelangir: I learned of ‘vitriol’ from Stripey’s post, IIRC, and as I saw more and more bloggers use it in their posts and comments it got stuck in my measly vocabulary repository.
For the sake of discussion I’m going to disregard the fact that double just did the “elitism” for the lulz and say my thoughts (coherent or not):
There will always be blurring of perceptions when it comes to interpreting elitism of any kind (or any ‘actions’ for that matter) — my motive in this post, vis-a-vis the readers’ perceived “motive of the author”, how I constructed this while being conscious of the ‘third party’ etc — all in the context of this ‘community’ we have. Sociology at work, as you might call it.
As much as I tried to be fair in this post and avoid misinterpretation, I can’t really say that it’s benevolent, either, though I want it to be. And after the confusing comment I spewed out, I just like to say that awareness is always good.
@Caitlin: to assert SUPREMACY over other otakus, what else?
@Crusader: that is… wow. Guess you could call that “good elitism”, the kind that has the power to push standards to a notch and compel cosplayers to raise the ‘level’ of cosplaying.
@Sojourner: LOL, that’s like a deja vu of what is happening here
If I have to explain about the e-vagina then the joke will be lost T__T;
@double: aha! SEKKRET’S OUT!!
I was kind of suspecting that you did it for the lulz, but I can only wonder about those who commented o.O
there is a “celebrity” cosplayer here in the philippines who once said in a tv interview that you have to be conscious about your body type and the character that you are going to cosplay. according to what i heard, she came there as an unofficial representative of the community of cosplayers (it doesn’t matter if you’re into naruto or bleach or any of that, it’s a big community in one venue) here in the philippines and generally enraged the community because it was like saying that healthier people have no right to cosplay their favorite characters because they’re fat. (i know the rest of the story, but i won’t share it anymore.) whatever happened to cosplaying because of your love for the anime/character. if you are confident enough to cosplay for kicks, why would you cosplay a character you don’t know/like just because that character’s bodytype would suit you? why blast those who cosplay do it to express their love for a specific anime/character? you’re not supposed to be cosplaying because people say, “ah! you look like so-and-so character. you should cosplay her/him.”
personally, i admire these people who can go out and cosplay their favorite characters because i never had the confidence to do it on the years i’ve been going to cons. what exactly are we supposed to be looking at/admiring? the costume or what they look like?
Actually, I don’t see what’s wrong with those who commented. At least they are being their true selves, not hypocrites. The truth is harsh.
@biankita: Alodia, by any chance? Anyways, I think it’s but typical for people like these (the primadonnas) to be insensitive to the this. Though of course, statements like that do great damage to the morale of other people, sigh, ignorance =/ I am guilty of being really insensitive at times, but I smack myself in the face after realizing what I’m doing >_<
@double: Nothing wrong with those who commented? I’d have to disagree. It shows elitism, a cancer that must be resolved ASAP or it’ll get worse! We can’t really say that the ones who defended the cosplayer are hypocrites either (they’d know that best). Hypocrite or not, this post is aimed at the ones who thought of the cosplayer as a “loser” (so for the ones who know they’re guilty: plead guilty!) — all for open-mindedness, acceptance and all that jazz. I’m still in the process of being more open and accepting of this, be filled with love than hate (eww cheesy)
I think it boils down to respect for someone’s hard work. If a person wears a ready-made Akatsuki cloak and a headband protector to a con, I won’t consider it a cosplay. But when it comes to people who go through the trouble of making a mech costume (which is goddamn hard to make and wear), I can only salute them.
And I consider Alodia’s photographer to be hotter than her. Am I doing it wrong?
@usagijen: i’m too updated with philippine cosplay community politics (first-hand controversy audience = me) like crusader, i admire craftmanship in a costume.
if the costume is bad, blast the costume not the person who’s wearing it. i don’t find anything wrong with his costume. if people mistook him for cosplaying rei, it’s their own damn fault for not knowing what eva characters are supposed to be wearing. ~hell, i’ve never seen eva yet and i know what the three main leads look like and wear.
the thing is, some people take cosplaying as a serious hobby. and some take it as something sacred, specially seasoned cosplayers who make their own costumes. attention to detail, studying the character bio, studying mannerisms etc.
and of course, some people just wanna cosplay for fun. one good example would be crappy crossplaying (cross dress cosplaying).
there are examples of cross play that are perfectly respectable(ex. Jin Joson and Marky the Dark Magician Girl)but some are just downright…errr…funny. crappy crossplay people dont even study the character, they go and wear the costume and walk around like normal men do.
the problem is when the hardcore cosplayers meet the cosplayers who arent so hardcore. well, the perfect response for the hardcore people would to let the not so hardcore people just do what they want. Most usually, hardcore people are competitive so they know costumes that arent even at the level of competing wouldnt matter. but of course, deep inside, it feels like a mockery to the hobby (for some) so they go on flaming crappy costumes.
personally, i go criticizing costumes. but not because i want to attack them personally but because i want them to do better next time. if they have the time to go to a con, stand around for hours, and get their pictures taken then they can probably take some time too to improve their costumes. because cosplay is not just dress up. its an art. you cant make random scribbles and call it art. you have to do something better. spend time thinking about it. study a bit. pour in some sweat and blood if you want to. coz in the end, you’ll only get the respect of your fellow cosplayers and the crowd if you make decent work. dont just go out there to embarrass yourself.
as for the body type thing, its actually ideal to follow that but its a free country. anyone can cosplay who the hell they want as long as they stay within the bounds of the law. its just that is a theatrical art for some. the best way to mimic the character fully is to bear the same likeness of the character. this includes body type and such. cosplay attracts crowds to cons and GOOD cosplay attracts more people. i love seeing cosplayers who really are carbon copies of the characters they portray. going the extra mile to choose the proper character for your body type( or actually slimming down or fattening up to get the proper body) shows that cosplay is not just wearing a costume and parading around, but an art that requires careful judgement and dedication.
^_^
What’s interesting is that though this article is interesting and well written, there’s some inconsistency in the censoring
I’m not a cosplay enthusiast but I must say that reality’s really harsh. Sometimes, people really are just wearing costumes for the lulz that they don’t know that it can already be annoying sometimes (but oh lol they really gather some attention X_X). I really admire it when I see creative and well-made costumes but I actually praise the confidence of those who wear lame ones
I believe that an anime fan would not venture to cosplay if he/she knows he’ll damage the perception of people towards it. lol~ for me that’s how I see it so I don’t really really want to do a cosplay even though I badly wanna try it. ^^V
@schneider: Custom made cosplays FTW! That’s what shows the real art of cosplaying after all.
My friend also thinks Alodia’s photographer is hotter than her lol.
@bianks: I found his costume to be awesome actually, so it’s like the insults thrown at the cosplayer (the serious ones) is targeted at the other aspects of his cosplay. Though my officemate thought the cosplayer was Rei too, loool.
@jusmak: epic comment! I can understand how hardcore cosplayers can feel agitated over other ones who just seem to treat it like a joke, but so long as the criticism is done right (in a civil way or something), and the cosplayer changes for the better, then it’s all good. I’m sure the not-yet-hardcore cosplayer will also feel the love and care from the senpais
@Omisyth: f*ck censorship inconsistency!
@kanzeon: you can either classify that as ‘confidence’ or stupidity (who’d want to embarrass themselves in a con?!)
@jitensha: depends on how ‘delusional’ the anime fan is, considering that there are certain hardcore fans who are… ‘too energetic / thick-skinned’ lol.
Clearly everyone forgot about Meido Shin.
@Shin: Meido Shin would need more exposure, memes, etc to become immortalized! Or better yet, CROSSPLAY MOAR!
Whoa, I totally read this wrong the first time through:
I was like “OMG they have a term for that?!?!?!?!”
Then I realized you were talking about elitist pricks and everything started to make more sense
.
I went to the very first anime con in the Philippines… or at least I think it was
(Can’t remember what year, but it was when Yuu Watase was a guest). I regret now that I didn’t go to the rest now that I’m in a far flung area in Canada.
Alodia’s a really good cosplayer
(@ schneider by her photographer, do you mean Tricia? 
)
As for the actual topic of this post, I admit that I sometimes do react in a WTF??? manner when I see some cosplayers. However, it’s simply a reflex. I always step back after my initial mental outburst and think more rationally. I don’t think it’s right to bash cosplayers.
Critique, not criticize. Easy to say but I usually react before I think so sometimes it’s difficult to do. I try though
@Kabitzin: looool
@picchar: the 2000 epic anicon! I was still in the province back in those years
And it goes without saying that Alodia is one of the best cosplayers out there, hehe.
I’m surprised to know you hail from the same country as we do! *waves a late ‘musta!*
I’m prone to bashing cosplayers (and people) too, which is why this post is actually addressed to me, more than anyone else. I’m still in the process of changing my tactless criticizing ways, so all the best to both of us!
It was in that con that I saw cosplayers for the first time. Fusigi Yuugi was really popular at that time so most of them were dressed up as the characters in that series. That was also the first time I started mentally bashing cosplayers. I can still remember it clearly as if it were last week.
Basically this was my reaction:
Must change. Good luck to us~!
I like your definition. They shouldn’t act all mighty and say what’s right and wrong. Nice!
@punkrockingeek: Not ‘they’, but rather ‘we’. Many of us have the tendency to think that our opinion is greater than other people’s, naturally elitist?
My last con was around 2002. Haven’t been attending cons since then. So, I don’t know if its still the same, people who trash the cosplay arena. haha. I have my own say on whether it’s an OK or not. You know, yuck-ish perception on a cosplayer. haha.
There’s nothing wrong with being an elistist (regardless of arrogance level), or bashing elists in spite.
When you wear the suit, you must be prepared to be trolled. Simple as that. Sycophants being dishonestly respectful (giving praise when the object in question looks like crap) defeats the purpose of conventions and is bad for the overall quality of the hobby. Surely, they go wear suits to express themselves, not to soothe their ego, don’t they?
No one is entitled to another man’s respect. If they were, there’s no point in trying to earn it.