Cosplay Mania

Cosplay is derived from "costume" and "play" and is a practice where people dress up as a characters from fiction. (Think of it as a specialized Halloween event if you will.) Most cosplay topics are characters from anime or manga who often have rather unusual hair styles and strange
clothing. To imitate the complexity of the various outfits, cosplayers are often skilled in textile, sculpture, face paint and other crafting skills. Of course, because of the cost of the materials required cosplay is also a business management. Some photographers are devoted to this culture and make a living from working with cosplayers. There are stores and websites devoted to selling cosplay items and accessories. To many, cosplay is not only a hobby for fans, but is also a subculture in Art due to the creativity, work and time involved in creating a single outfit.

Some people object to the notion of cosplayers devoting time to their hobby because it "takes away them away from reality". Most cosplayers do what they do because they are fans of the characters they portray but some may go as far "becoming" the

characters themselves. Some cosplayers wear their art pieces not only at specialized conventions, but in their daily lives as well. There are some who wear them to work or school and act like their characters at a daily basis. They essentially "become" their characters. Critics claim that the obsession takes over their lives and overcomes reality itself.

Although I'm not a cosplayer myself, I find the subculture very interesting. The notion of just "being" your favorite character for a day, fascinates me.

I chose this topic because it is a way escape from reality into fantasy (without being a psychopath). To incorporate art and design into the culture makes it all the more the interesting. Cosplay is not just a simple dressup game but a way of life where you devote time and creativity to fabricating someone's life into cloth.

http://www.japanlinked.com/Japanese-Culture/cosplay.html

Questions:

1. How far is too far for cosplay's role in real life? Why?
2. Should cosplay be banned because of its affects on young people's lives (time, money...)? Why or why not?
3. Should all ages be allowed in the cosplay conventions?