Today in Joystiq: October 16, 2007

If it's only for fun, why are there competitions with prizes and people who design cosplay outfits professionally?

That's not to say that there aren't people who don't do it solely for fun. But to say that there is no ulterior motive in entering oneself in a cosplay competition or buying a costume online (other than simply having fun) is sort of naive, I think, both to the nature of cosplay, and to the human condition. Things we do in public venues are rarely only for fun. Purely fun activities are usually done in privacy or with a loved one, without concerns of spectator influence.

If people didn't want people to think their costumes are badddd-ass, they wouldn't agree to photos, let alone badddd-ass photos of them. Honestly, if it's just for fun, why are they having their pictures put on the internet? Why do other people need to see them having fun?

I don't know, this is kind of rant-like in nature, and I apologize. But it just irritates me when people post things in a clearly-public venue and don't expect a public reaction, like they're entitled to criticism immunity or something.

The funny thing is that no-one on here said anything really negative, either. They either said it was a good job, or that what they were trying to do was hard, so it's alright that it's not spot-on.

People who making scathing remarks about cosplay (actual, well-done cosplay--not fat guys in sailor moon outfits. that crap is ridiculous, and mildly offensive) are usually the kind of people that would make those remarks about anyone. In other words, an asshole, and people shouldn't listen to assholes, or let what they say get to them.

But yeah. Tangent. Sorry.

Sure there are costume contests, but not EVERYONE enters them. There are plenty of good cosplayers that just walk around and have fun. The costumes are judged on how they were made, materials used, etc. You can't enter the contest if you BOUGHT or commissioned the costume. At a large convention, there are thousands of people. 1 out of 3 are cosplaying.