[ SECRET POST #5986 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5986 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.



__________________________________________________



02.



__________________________________________________



03.



__________________________________________________



04.



__________________________________________________



05.



__________________________________________________



06.
























Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 30 secrets from Secret Submission Post #856.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

01. https://i.imgur.com/ozopb9j.png

[(Anonymous)]

I would give it a pass if they commissioned or bought every part of their costume, but they were also the ones that custom designed at least some the things that other people produced and also were the ones that sourced things and put it all together. Design and arrangement and having an eye for what pieces look fitting or authentic together are skills; it's what costume designers do.

But I agree if someone bought a wholly premade mass produced costume off the rack and did nothing to it though, I wouldn't call that cosplay. I don't consider off the rack Halloween costumes as cosplay either for the same reason

[(Anonymous)]

I like costumes. I like supporting creators. I can't create or sew worth a fuck. I will buy my costumes and enjoy the hell out of them at every chance I get!

[(Anonymous)]

Commissioned my Star Trek uniform and about to go to a convention tomorrow to have fun :3 have fun being mad OP! <3

[(Anonymous)]

Comment but not secret OP here and have fun tomorrow; I'm aware cosplay is dumb to get so riled up about.

But also idk anything but the most basic fandom osmosis stuff about Star Trek; I've seen one half of one TOS episode and that's it.

One of the things that's fun for me about talking to cosplayers that make their stuff is learning a little about their fandoms while talking shop. Always interesting to me if someone has only five minutes of a show to work with when copying a costume or something.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for making my massive rant into a secret, OP!

[(Anonymous)]

I disagree with you heartily, but really appreciate this rant! Quality griping.

transcript?

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone have one, I can't make out half of this.

Re: transcript?

[(Anonymous)]

Um, sure I'll give it a shot. Be aware that I'm not sure which order the two columns of text down the middle are supposed to be read in, so I went down the left and then down the right because it seemed to make sense that way, and then inserted the conclusion before the explanation, even though I had to jump around to do that. This secret says ...


I learned to sew so I could cosplay. But even after almost thirty years and a dozen sewing classes, I still find actually sewing to be a grueling slog, and since my hand-eye coordination and fine-motor control both suck in general, my finished costumes aren't great.

I still hate it when cosplayers don't make any part of their own outfits, especially when they're amazing, expensive works of art. I want to talk shop and admire your skill and/or determination, not hear where you bought your custom, $10,000 light up fairy ballgown or laser lightshow mecha suit.

You dyed your hair six different colors, made your horns from papier mache, and spent four hours applying individual scales to your face and arms to match your cheap bodysuit? Hot damn!

You painted your own boots, styled your own wig, and stenciled the fine detail on a party city base? Cool!

You traded your beadwork skills for a custom-made hat? Awesome!

You dyed half a dozen thrift store finds, 3d printed a swordhilt, and added a belt? Wow!

You spent two weeks just drafting that pattern and hand-dyed the fabric and stayed up sewing the night before the con? You look great!

You comissioned your light up wings and made your dress? Twirl so I can see the back!

You bought a premade costume off a shoddy online store and sewed on some trim and made your own prosthetics? Sweet!

You comissioned or bought every single part of your costume? Fuck you.

I get that disabled people who can't do handwork can cosplay too. I realize that I'm being irrational about a stupid hobby. At some point, I'll probably not be able to sew anymore myself. But if I just wanted to admire the pretty costumes, I'd stick to movies and tv and live theater.

99% of the fun of cosplay for me is knowing other hobbyists made the work they wear, and talking with them about it.

[(Anonymous)]

You know, in general, I'd tend to support your point, because I don't like the way commercialism encroaches on fandom, and recreates a situation where awesome skills are concentrated in few hands and instead of sharing what they know, the people who get used to being commissioned keep everything they've figured out to themselves and just go "pay me." And cosplay has a certain glamour about it, so it unfortunately attracts a lot of posturing and arrogance and nonsense.

At the same time, ever since a pagan friend of mine who works with both traditional gods and the muses from newer stories observed to me that putting on the mask and clothing that symbolizes a deity is how you invite their presence into your body ... it really clued me in to the fact that, for some of the people wearing a character's clothes, the point is very much NOT "credit my effort, I made it myself!" It's being able to look in a mirror and not even recognize themselves, and disappear so completely into their performance that other people will look their way but see the character they mean to portray.

I love fandom for its resourcefulness and creativity and dedication. But I also love fandom for its desire and willingness to create bridges between our world and fiction. Different methods are more attainable to different people, but I think the overall directions they're striving for, with cosplay, harmonize.

[pantswarrior]

I mean... I kinda get it? Because I also really like talking shop to fellow cosplayers, and it's kind of disappointing when you find out... you can't.

But the thing is, cosPLAYing just means you are playing in a costume. So it's not so much that I like talking shop with "fellow cosplayers" as "fellow costumers". The two used to have more overlap. Now they have less overlap so any random cosplayer I'm talking to may or may not also be a costumer

So I adjust my expectations. For me it would never be satisfying to just buy a pre-made costume to wear around, but for others it is, and that is okay. They're still cosplayers, just not costumers. We can have different kinds of conversations.

(Just, y'know, if they buy their costume, don't freaking enter it in contests, but that should be well-known by now. :P)

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, this! I'm friends with someone who makes their own costumes from scratch, and she always has a great time talking with other people who do that. But she also has fun taking photos with people who obviously didn't make anything. These can and should be two different ways to enjoy yourself.

[(Anonymous)]

not secret OP but someone who agrees with most of their points: I wish we could make/keep the costuming = creating and cosplaying = wearing distinction in fandom. I enjoy costuming SO MUCH, it's been a hobby of mine off and on for more than two decades, but I'm incredibly allergic to the "pretend to be the character" side of things. Like, people can do it! they can enjoy it! It's just not my scene, and if I never had to explain the difference to another well-meaning acquaintance again I'd be overjoyed.

[capsulecorp_tm]

same page as always, man. I've known a lot of people over the years who got started buying and moved into making because they wanted something that fit them better or would last more than one convention, and others who approach cosplay the same as Halloween (it's throwaway and that's all they want), and filtering out the latter just makes a better pool of the former to talk shop with. I remember seeing people who started out thrifting or buying showing up in local con contests with their first homemade costumes, and now some of them are on my level and judging themselves! /wipes tear I'm so proud.

[(Anonymous)]

Some people just want to dress up as a character they like, and the way they get there doesn't matter. Cosplay means different things to different people.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think it's irrational. I would much rather see someone who pieced together a costume from things they bought at the thrift store than someone who just went on TaoBao and clicked "Buy."

[(Anonymous)]

I don't necessarily mind if people buy their cosplay but it always irritates me when attractive people in store-bought cosplay get more attention and accolades than less attractive people in homemade pieces.

[(Anonymous)]

YES, THIS. To me, someone who might not really know how to sew but who tried their best anyway is way more deserving of attention and praise than someone who didn't do a thing. Maybe the quality level isn't the best, but they clearly worked hard and deserve to be recognized for that alone.

[(Anonymous)]

I get where you're coming from, but the "fuck you" part of this secret gets a brow-raise from me for being weirdly hostile.

This is F!S, and you acknowledge you're being irrational, so you're doing everything right as far as venting bad takes goes, and hey, credit for that. But I DO think it's a bad take--particularly the part where you seem actually angry at other people for not having the same cosplay values as you do.

[(Anonymous)]

While I kinda get where you're coming from, and hey, you're in the perfect place to vent it, I kinda disagree with your end FU.

If I had money and could pay someone/help someone whose livelihood was based on making cosplay costumes, I would love that! I would definitely credit them if people took my pictures, like "check out this designer! They made this whole costume, isn't it great?! "

That said, I get the feeling (dare I say almost gatekeeping element) of enjoying seeing what people cobbled together. I did my first cosplay this past year -- I was an anime character maybe 5 people knew who it was lol -- and it was just a bunch of different pieces I had pieced together to make a version of the character -- Character X, but make it fashion. I drew on the face makeup and styles my hair accordingly. I took pictures with folks from the same anime who clearly bought their outfit from party city -- like it didn't matter at all to me! It was just such good fun! And exciting to see everyone excited about the same thing (it was may first con, can you tell? Lol).

I just feel that if we're all having a good time, what's the point of being a hater? Like I don't have time for that! But you feel how you feel and thanks for making this secret and generating conversation!

[capsulecorp_tm]

As a commissioner who literally makes their living off making other people's cosplay, I'm with you, actually.

I fully understand the valid reasons why people have to or want to buy 100 percent of their costume, and it does keep me in business. But there's always that disconnect between crafter and consumer, you just can't talk shop with consumers, and while it's not the end of the world or worth a crusade, it's a genuine disappointment. I get it. Honestly, I do. But that opinion doesn't resonate with everyone, clearly, and that can be frustrating.

Frankly, the way I see it, cosplay can and should be sourced the same as sustainable food. Do you know someone local, or with a small business, doing their best with good customer service and ethically-sourced fabric? Support them before you click "buy now" on Amazon or some other bootleg shop making bank off poor Chinese sweatshop workers. There's not a lot of accessible information, anymore, about what you're actually supporting when you just go to one of the big cosplay sites and click a button. The costumes are not any better than what you'd get at a Halloween store, they're not cheap (gone are the days of $20 costumes), and they don't actually fit plus-sized folks no matter what the website says. idk how things are now post-pandemic but I'm still getting work, so at least there's still a market for actual hand-made product.

[(Anonymous)]

Okay, OP.

Have fun when your conventions are JUST people who can make their own. I guarantee there'll be like twenty people and the con will die.

The fun of cosplay for MOST people is that they get to dress up and geek out about their fave characters. Otherwise they'd go to a fucking ren faire.

[(Anonymous)]

I do not have the strength or the time to sew my own costumes. I cosplay to "become" a character for a few hours, not to get admiration for my craft and sewing skills. I do it for fun, and sometimes it also makes other people smile. I'm certainly happy when I can meet a cosplayer of my favourite character. It seems that what you want is a craft and sewing con, not a cosplay con. Why do you crave admiration for an activity you seem to despise so much, along with people who just want to have fun? The last time I went to a con, I went in a store-bought cosplay, and so did my partner. She's disabled, so we could only be there for a few hours. The nicest group of people we met were cosplayers from the same fandom, with a quickly thrown together cosplay, and we had the time of our lives just laughing together and talking. I personally don't look at how attractive someone is, I just want to "meet the characters" I like and bond over fandom. But of course, some people are going to be incredibly petty, competitive, and clique-y, and make something that's supposed to be fun unnecessarily stressful and unnerving, especially for those who are already anxious. At least you are aware that your own view is subjective, I guess.

[(Anonymous)]

I’m glad you included the part about disabled people, because others haven’t in the past on here. And it was extremely frustrating to see people defend cosplay, only to say that people who buy costumes don’t deserve to call themselves cosplayers. And I know they probably didn’t think about people with disabilities, but when they said there’s no excuse to not make your own cosplay, I couldn’t help but feel indignation. Like, “Excuse me for having a debilitating injury in my arms that makes doing something repetitive and time intensive like sewing extremely painful to downright impossible, but I should be able to show up with a costume I bought and not get gatekept!”. And I do really hate that gatekeeping that people are trying to enforce on people who buy costumes instead of making them. No matter their reasons, it shouldn’t matter, just let them be. Cosplay is literally a portmanteau for “costume play”, and nowhere in that title is an indication that you’re required to make it. Just wearing a costume is considered cosplay, and that should be that. I still get thinking it’s cool to make your own costumes, good work should be appreciated. Just not done while looking down on buying costumes. And obviously, people with cosplay they didn’t make shouldn’t be allowed to enter contests, I’m not saying that they should, considering most contests require you to have made your costume.

But as you said, your feelings are irrational, and you made a special case for people who actually can’t make cosplay. So while I disagree in some ways, and made a long-ass comment to share my feelings, I don’t actually have anything against your secret. Except maybe the “fuck you” at the end. While I think it’s valid that you admit your feelings are irrational, I think it’s excessive to feel that angry at people who’re just having fun wearing costumes they bought, just because they’re not cosplaying the way you approve of.

[(Anonymous)]

Hmmmmm. I also learned to sew to cosplay (but much later, when I was already an adult) and used to sew my own costumes but I was often bullied for the end result because my hand-eye coordination is world records levels of bad. Some people were kind but not most. Once I started making money I started purchasing costumes secondhand, because I realized those people selling costumes needed to make money too and I often liked older "non-hip" series anyways.

I think both are valid. Those who buy readymade also work on makeup and shows and such. I think planning is much more special but I understand I suck at it so I don't not anymore.