by Leigh Wingfeld
As we approach Halloween, many people are picking out their costumes. Some anime, comic, and video game fans take this costuming to a different level, often referred to as cosplay. You may have seen videos or photos of these cosplayers on social media, often with elaborate hand designed outfits and props. As a cosplayer myself, I have designed these kinds of outfits, and I can attest the work that goes into them is methodical.
To understand cosplay today, you need to understand its origin. The First World Science Fiction Convention was held in 1939 in New York City. First Stop Cosplay details this event, recalling how “Forrest J. Ackerman and Myrtle R. Douglas attended the event dressed in ‘futuristic-costumes’, marking the first documented instance of fan costuming at a convention.” Not only was this convention the first of its kind, but it also helped to create a massive subculture surrounding these events.
The most common place you will see people in cosplay today is at Comic and Anime Conventions. In 2019, for instance, I went to Lexington Comic Con for the first time with my cousin; they were really into cosplay at the time, so I went along with the costuming for fun. I’ll spare you the cringe of the photos from this event, but I saw some of my favorite fictional characters embodied.
The community cosplay has created for me and people from all walks of life is hard to find. Geek culture is about expression and connection, and cosplay is an extension of that. When buying your costume this Halloween, think about taking a note from the cosplay community that’s made costuming more available and accessible for all.