Cosplaying. An Oddity or a Work Of Art?

Cosplay. The art of an individual who wears a specific set of outfits and accessories so that they resemble a specific character, be it fictional or real. It is similar to what other people do during Halloween parties where they dress up as their favourite fictional characters, except that there's also a certain amount of "role playing" involved (mainly emulating the gestures and mannerisms of the character they are cosplaying), and that it's not just done on Halloween.

Some people are put off the idea of cosplaying, saying that it's "weird". Mainly, people do not understand what cosplayers find in this kind of hobby that makes it so much fun to them. What they do not know is that cosplayers find satisfaction in expressing their adoration for the character they have chosen, by seeking to "be" that character. It is no different from the fun we feel as a child when we watch our favourite cartoon character on T.V., and that during playtime, we try to emulate that character. In a way, cosplaying brings out the inner child in oneself.

Other people also reject the idea of cosplaying, citing it as "expensive". In truth, it only depends on the person involved, and on how much time and resources that they are willing to spend. Some characters require only a few household clothes and outfit to fully duplicate that character, and at other times, they only require some minor accessories, like chains, rings, earrings, and wigs to accurately render the hair color of the character (some even choose to just color their hair directly, or use their natural hair color). With the rise in popularity of Asian fashion, mainly Japanese and Korean, finding accurate clothes for the chosen character have become much easier if you know where and what to look for.

However, some cosplay enthusiasts put extra effort into bring their chosen characters to life through their cosplay, and spend a hefty amount on it. This is especially true for characters in the fantasy genre, where their costumes can become exorbitant. For this, those with knowledge in designing and sewing have the distinct advantage, as they can simply rely on their own skills and creativity to construct their costumes, thus saving themselves the trouble of finding a crafter whom they have to pay to take advantage of their services. Still, for others, some become aware of their body figure, and resort to workouts or fat-blocking supplements like garcinia cambogia to reduce their body build and be slimmer, since most fictional characters are more on the slim side, or simply to maintain it so that some of their existing costumes fit.

Therefore, despite all the negative feedbacks that some people think about cosplaying, it's still a worthwhile hobby. While most people see this as kind of immature, it is still a sight to behold for some to see their favourite fictional characters come to life. And for the cosplayers, it's simply euphoric for them to be able to express their favouritism to the fictional characters that they adore.