Cosplay
Costumed performance art representing fictional characters.
Cosplay, a portmanteau of 'costume play,' is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character.
- field
- Performance art, fan costuming
- known_for
- Costumed role-playing representing characters from anime, manga, video games, and other media
Lore & Background
Cosplay grew out of fan costuming at science fiction conventions. Douglas (known as Morojo) wore 'futuristicostumes' based on pulp magazine artwork and the film Things to Come. Fan costuming caught on, and the 2nd Worldcon in 1940 featured both an unofficial masquerade and an official one. Early Worldcon masquerades included bands, dancing, food, and drinks, with contestants walking across a stage or cleared dance floor. Rules governing costumes evolved in response to specific incidents: a blaster prop that fired real flame led to a ban on fire; a costume made of peanut butter led to bans on food and messy substances; and a trend of nude costumes in the 1970s and early 1980s led to a 'No Costume is No Costume' rule banning full nudity.
Reader's Guide
Cosplay has become a global phenomenon, with events common at fan conventions and dedicated conventions, competitions, social networks, and websites centered on the activity. The practice has expanded beyond science fiction to include any entity lending itself to dramatic interpretation, such as anime, cartoons, manga, comic books, television series, musical artists, video games, memes, and original characters. Cosplay is popular among all genders, and crossplay (gender-bending) is not unusual. The term has also been adopted as slang, often in politics, to mean someone pretending to play a role disingenuously.
Did You Know?
- A costume made of peanut butter at the 1972 Worldcon led to a ban on food, odious, and messy substances as costume elements.
- The first documented case of costuming at a fan event in Japan was at Ashinocon in 1978, where Mari Kotani wore a costume based on a book cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cosplay?
Cosplay is a performance art and fan activity in which participants dress in costumes and accessories to embody a particular fictional character. The name itself is a blend of the words 'costume' and 'play,' capturing the expressive, role-driven nature of the practice.
Who takes part in Cosplay?
The performers in this art form are known as cosplayers, and the activity is open to anyone who wants to interpret a character through outfit, makeup, and props. Participants range from casual hobbyists to dedicated convention regulars who spend months crafting elaborate looks.
What kinds of characters do cosplayers portray?
Cosplay draws its subject matter from a broad spectrum of media, including anime, manga, video games, and other fictional properties. The unifying thread is that the character originates in an existing creative work rather than being invented on the spot.
How is Cosplay typically performed or showcased?
Cosplay is most often presented at conventions, fan gatherings, and themed events where participants display their character interpretations for an audience. The performance centers on visual storytelling through costume design, styling, and physical presence rather than on scripted dialogue.
Why is Cosplay considered significant within the performance arts?
It transforms passive fandom into active, embodied creative expression, letting fans physically inhabit roles they admire. As a recognized subfield of performance art, it highlights how audience engagement and personal craftsmanship can merge into a shared live experience.
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