No offense, but... (a cosplay-related rant)
EDIT: I'm a big fan of this novel concept: If you think something is going to offend you, don't read it. If you choose to read it, don't be angry at me -- these things are, as always, best taken with a grain of salt anyway. Seriously, I dress up for Renn Faires, so don't think I'm putting on my "Superiority Complex" hat. I save that hat for Westboro and Bush supporters.
That said, if you think you're going to be upset by a random fuming session about a fairly common hobby. don't read it. I'm serious.
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I just wanted to mention something that I find myself thinking at least every other time I check dA (even though I've relocated for the most part, I still troll for art
I look down at the recently submitted (or sometimes even the "popular" bar) stuff, and there it is: a photograph that immediately makes me say aloud, "You know, few people really look good cosplaying."
So, here's a nice rant for everyone. Don't flame the shit out of me, please...
1) If you find yourself in front of a mirror eying your costume and thinking, "Eh, people will probably recognize it..." with a kind of hopeful uncertainty, you should consider ditching it. Chances are, you'll make one squeeing fan-person very happy, and everyone else will just laugh at you later.
2) If you're posing for pictures (and let's face it, you should be after all the time and/or money you've poured into your costume), don't even try to make it look serious. Make it goofy, go ahead. Do something that illustrates how ridiculous you actually look, something that clearly says to the viewer, "I'm too fat/skinny/short/tall/made-of-flesh-and-not-ink to pull this off!"
Seriously, no more serious poses, DVD cover pantomimes, favorite scene reinactments... the next time I see obese red-haired Cloud and real-but-poorly-dyed-hair Sephiroth with cardboard swords crossed, they'd better be in an actual fight to the death. Like, over who's staying in the room with the broken toilet, or who has to hang out with who's cousin who "just isn't into it," or who's younger sister is the hottest in a spiky wig. To the death.
3) Most importantly, because I am a Renn Faire geek: Do Not Show up to the Renaissances Faire wearing an anime/game-related costume. I don't know why it is, and I might never understand, but we Renn Faire people really, really don't like anime folks showing up in costume. We don't mind Klingons, cowboys, pirates, or samurai (real samurai, not Kenshin of Jin or any of those fellows), but for some reason, Vash the Stampede is just too much.
If you must dress as your favorite anime/video game character, please don't roleplay with the more appropriately costumed folk. I know it's mean, but I swear, I will never show up to an anime con dressed in my dirty tunic and archer's cap with a saber belted to my side and a dagger in my boot, so don't show up to the Renn Faire with spiky hair. Everyone who plays a character will comment and laugh at your hair, and you'll end up with a nickname like "Dragon Snot," and fail to appriciate that the man who's calling you that has been standing on stilts all day dressed as a very convincing satyr. Then you will storm off and brood, and passing non-costumed fair-goers will comment on your spiky blue hair, Party-City-Grim-Reaper-Costume-Robe, mascara'd eyes, and seven katanas with naught but disdain.
To conclude: Don't take yourself too seriously, there, Rogue Hair-product. Don't show up at a Renn Faire in your anime/game costume and expect anything but laughter.
Most importantly, don't flame me for this.
That said, if you think you're going to be upset by a random fuming session about a fairly common hobby. don't read it. I'm serious.
*********
I just wanted to mention something that I find myself thinking at least every other time I check dA (even though I've relocated for the most part, I still troll for art
I look down at the recently submitted (or sometimes even the "popular" bar) stuff, and there it is: a photograph that immediately makes me say aloud, "You know, few people really look good cosplaying."
So, here's a nice rant for everyone. Don't flame the shit out of me, please...
1) If you find yourself in front of a mirror eying your costume and thinking, "Eh, people will probably recognize it..." with a kind of hopeful uncertainty, you should consider ditching it. Chances are, you'll make one squeeing fan-person very happy, and everyone else will just laugh at you later.
2) If you're posing for pictures (and let's face it, you should be after all the time and/or money you've poured into your costume), don't even try to make it look serious. Make it goofy, go ahead. Do something that illustrates how ridiculous you actually look, something that clearly says to the viewer, "I'm too fat/skinny/short/tall/made-of-flesh-and-not-ink to pull this off!"
Seriously, no more serious poses, DVD cover pantomimes, favorite scene reinactments... the next time I see obese red-haired Cloud and real-but-poorly-dyed-hair Sephiroth with cardboard swords crossed, they'd better be in an actual fight to the death. Like, over who's staying in the room with the broken toilet, or who has to hang out with who's cousin who "just isn't into it," or who's younger sister is the hottest in a spiky wig. To the death.
3) Most importantly, because I am a Renn Faire geek: Do Not Show up to the Renaissances Faire wearing an anime/game-related costume. I don't know why it is, and I might never understand, but we Renn Faire people really, really don't like anime folks showing up in costume. We don't mind Klingons, cowboys, pirates, or samurai (real samurai, not Kenshin of Jin or any of those fellows), but for some reason, Vash the Stampede is just too much.
If you must dress as your favorite anime/video game character, please don't roleplay with the more appropriately costumed folk. I know it's mean, but I swear, I will never show up to an anime con dressed in my dirty tunic and archer's cap with a saber belted to my side and a dagger in my boot, so don't show up to the Renn Faire with spiky hair. Everyone who plays a character will comment and laugh at your hair, and you'll end up with a nickname like "Dragon Snot," and fail to appriciate that the man who's calling you that has been standing on stilts all day dressed as a very convincing satyr. Then you will storm off and brood, and passing non-costumed fair-goers will comment on your spiky blue hair, Party-City-Grim-Reaper-Costume-Robe, mascara'd eyes, and seven katanas with naught but disdain.
To conclude: Don't take yourself too seriously, there, Rogue Hair-product. Don't show up at a Renn Faire in your anime/game costume and expect anything but laughter.
Most importantly, don't flame me for this.