Doing my best not to sound like bait, but does race influence how you view cosplay?
I recognize that there are bads on all sides of the spectrum, but I often see the Japanese side as pushed as the very best. I tried googling "Bad Japanese Cosplay" and still got professional model tier shoots, yet when removing "Japanese" there's a never ending flood of just fat Americans.
Everyone else (blacks, latino, ect) just gets dumped in a general pool of nobodies and even the most stand out wind up as repeated posts with no name behind them.
English speaking people don't post subpar or mediocre cosplays from Japan because why would they? Therefore, it doesn't pop up when you search English language Google. Only the best make it across the ocean because that's what people save and people want to see.
>>9421922
Well if ita applies to painful to look at lolita, what's the cosplay equivalent?
Weaboos believe the japanese can do no wrong, even cosplay.
Ive seen a few people make mexican versions of superheros and that makes them a hell of a lot more memorable. Im just trying to make giant robot/face covering cosplay to avoid anything like that.
>>9421922
Here's the deal with Japanese cosplay from what I've gathered:
Conventions such as Comiket have certain areas where cosplayers are allowed to get their photos taken and you have to pay to enter the area. Japan also has its fair share of ugly cosplayers, but because you need to pay to shoot/get your pictures taken, photogs tend to focus on good looking cosplayers and those are the photos that get posted online.
Aside from Japan, many Chinese and Taiwanese cosplayers are models or actors who also cosplay, so they're already good looking in the first place.
>>9421919
>Everyone else (blacks, latino, ect) just gets dumped in a general pool of nobodies and even the most stand out wind up as repeated posts with no name behind them.
So I am also going to try to constructively address this without causing a shitshow: That's your perspective, bae. Honestly what I see in the US is that there are two types of "minority cosplay"; 1) people who cosplay & 2) people who try to someone utilize identity politics as a crutch. I have personally always credited EVERY cosplayer in re-blogs, re-posts, whatever and when I haven't it's only because the cosplay was borderline enough that I did not want to help provide a way for trolls to go harass the person for their cosplay.
There are lots of great non-white cosplayers in the US but honestly most of them are pretty level-headed; which is why they don't get as much attention. You know who gets the most attention? It's a combination of drama / fame seeking AND costume quality. If you're just producing good stuff and not stirring the pot; people don't notice you as much (which is how i personally like to be).
With the identity politic people, they put themselves really out there and often are producing Decent to "Okay"-ish stuff; so then they show up more in search results and overshadow the more level-headed people.
I just discovered that I give japanese people extra points. I think because they started this craze. I know cosplay started with star trek but the japanese kinda own anime cosplay.
>>9421919
Everyone else (blacks, latino, ect) just gets dumped in a general pool of nobodies and even the most stand out wind up as repeated posts with no name behind them.
Agree.
>Everyone else (blacks, latino, ect) just gets dumped in a general pool of nobodies and even the most stand out wind up as repeated posts with no name behind them.
These kind of things honestly scare me from cosplay.I have a great body for a cosplay I would love to do of 2B from Nier Automata, but I'm worried that just based on my skin being dark, I'm going to get a lot of slack for it (anon at least). I almost feel like if I want to cosplay, it needs to match my skin tone to avoid harassment. I'm an extreme novice at this kind of stuff so I'd really like to hear what others would think if I was to cosplay with darker skin. Do you all hold a bias?
>>9423849
Slack? You do mean flak? Slack is people going easy on you.
For 2B, I think white/silver hair looks great with darker skin tones. Just look at Fran cosplayers.
>>9423849
Wtf anon? No one gives a shit if you're black if you aren't fat and your cosplay doesn't suck. If anything, people will give you brownie points for being a special blm
>>9423849
No. I personally don't care what race the person is as long as their cosplay is crafted well or shit even if they're just cute in general. Almost every single person I've ever met at cons, doing cosplay, or anything to do with the con scene has been great and very supportive. I'm not black but I'm gay and yes, there are shitty people out there in the scene (just like real life) but most people are extremely supportive. Cosplay is a fun, creative outlet for most just create a nice cosplay and enjoy yourself!
>>9423892
Also Storm cosplayers!! Pale hair can be so flattering on darker skin tones.
There's good and bad in everything, but this thread reminded me of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT_65nv4-6U
Also >>9423849 please do it. I'd love to see a high quality cos of 2B on darker skin. I think the colour scheme would look great. Also I have a bias towards dark skin + light hair.
>>9423892
Dunno about the anon, but in my country slack can mean negative (basically the same as flak) colloquially.
>>9421949
>There are lots of great non-white cosplayers in the US but honestly most of them are pretty level-headed; which is why they don't get as much attention. You know who gets the most attention? It's a combination of drama / fame seeking AND costume quality. If you're just producing good stuff and not stirring the pot; people don't notice you as much (which is how i personally like to be).
Gonna back this up. I've been cosplaying for almost 20 years and I used to be the only black kid at the con. Now there a tons more and honestly you never see them much because they are just folks. They look nice, wore a good wig, got the make up on point, did a good job on their cosplay. They just aren't drama hounds.
Also>>9423849
Do it. The others are right with white hair looking fantastic on our skin tone.
I have an inclination to cosplay my skin tone as well because I like to use what I naturally have as a costume point. I know people subconsciously gravitate towards something looking exactly as they remember. So when met with a different skintone they don't know what it is but they aren't as inclined to gush about it.
To combat this I make EVERY effort to look the part. Proper proportions, fabrics used, finished seams, wig in a color that not only matches but cannot clash with my skintone. If you do that it pleases the eye in such a way that skin differences fade into the background because you just look good and the observer notes that subconsciously.
That said, I make special allowances for white haired characters. It really does look nice with brown skin.
because America has a culture of mediocrity where it's okay to do something even if you're shit at it hypocrite do-gooders will tell you you're amazing.
Not sure Japaneses are as much hypocritical which means they have less disaster cosplay enablers.
>>9424339
>Not sure Japaneses are as much hypocritical
Oh god, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder.
>>9421932
It doesn't cost any money to enter the area and there are a lot of pics snapped around the complex anyway.
Photographers snap up anything really but Japan is a polite society so they always ask if they can and agree whether or not it can go online. There's nothing stopping someone snapping pics like a maniac and dumping them all online but that would be strange behavior. Most pictures don't ever get posted online or shared.
>>9424459
What cons are you attending? All the ones I've been to explicitely forbid taking photos outside the designated area, which required a cosplay ticket to enter.
>>9424463
Are you still talking about Comiket? If so then this cosplay ticket must be a recent thing because I've never needed one and I've been like 5 times.
You can also snap pics of booth attendants at the kigyou area and lots of people snap pics outside of the designated areas. If you're a real stickler that needs to ask your employer to go to the toilet then it might seem impossible but it happens all the time.
They are more strict with the changing rooms however. Most people don't go or leave the grounds in cosplay.
Other events do require fees but Comiket is basically a non profit paid for by the companies and circles with booths.
I didn't attend any Japanese conventions but there were plenty of terrible South Korean cosplays at Seoul Comic World.
>>9424494
The other thing about this is, Japan has a lot of cosplay shops. I found fully stocked, huge stores in Osaka and Tokyo both with cosplay or cosplay wigs. Access there was so much easier. You could just walk into a store and buy your costume. Easier to be more professional looking, because you pay for it.
>>9424495
I heard of one being in California, but aside from that, I think there's just a weird divide between cultural acceptance for cosplay. Meaning, in Japan, they just buy their stuff and are tiny enough to slip into them. In the US, there's this push for making it yourself and shaming buying it. Understandable for competitions, but I don't see any harm for general wanting to look good and knowing you don't have the expertise.
So Japs get their pictures sent over looking their best while weebs get the shit end because chinese sweat shops charge out the ass for something trash quality but are all kinds of touched up in pictures or outright stolen to make themselves look good. Wish I had one of those pictures where there's 3 different store names slapped over the image.
>>9424495
That's a thing too yes. They have a whole market and culture for it, really condensed in those cities it reaches critical mass necessary.
>>9424563
>while the community shakes their head and says nothing
Absolutely this.
I don't think I've ever seen someone outright tell someone with a shit cosplay they look good.Photographers ignore them, and the only time I see their pictures taken is at shoots when people kind of have no choice. There will always be a first timer weeb to the scene that will be mesmerized by mediocrity. But they are not a majority.
>>9421919
isn't this the virgin killer sweater girl? can anyone tell me her name?
>>9424473
I went to comiket last summer, there was an area up stairs where there seemed to be professional cosplayers getting their pics taken, but pictures could be taken pretty much anywhere and were free (not that I tried to take any of the pros pictures because the lines were long)
>>9421919
When I went to comiket I was little disappointed to see how few cosplays there were, but of the cosplays that I saw, they were great.
As for race, I don't think it matters as long as effort is put into it.
>>9423849
Black cosplayer, here. In my experience, usually I'll receive racist comments when my photos are posted on anime/meme themed pages, or if they're shared in a "Hell" group or something like that. But, I'd say the comments I get are 90% positive.
I haven't really had anyone come directly to my inbox or anything to leave nasty messages, it mostly stays in the comment sections of other pages.
That being said, just do it, anon! Nearly every character I've cosplayed as has not been black/brown, and as long as the costume looks good and you look cute, people will enjoy it! And I've gotten many messages from other black/brown people saying that seeing me cosplay has encouraged them to try cosplaying themselves! You could be an inspiration, anon! Don't be afraid, just do it.
>>9423911
so true! But it's kinda hard to replicate in real life ;_;
>>9421919
The grass is always greener on the other side. 2chan occasionally has posts like this:
http://blog.livedoor.jp/waraerumatome/archives/6542738.html
The girls in the photos from top to bottom
Mainland China
Taiwan
Russian
Ukrainian
English
French
American
Talking about how foreign cosplayer/ school girls/ girls in general are better looking. Mostly due to them only seeing the news worthy foreign girls in Japanese media. Mean while people are exposed to all cross of life in their own country so they have a much more realistic view of the average looking girls.
Even within Asians they has the stereotypes of Taiwanese looking cute, and northern Chinese/ Korean girls have better body proportions. In reality every country has good looking and bad looking people. The only real factor is body weight which is definitely much lower across Asian countries
>>9423849
>>9423892
>Dark skinned 2B
>>9433662
Yes. It would look so good. I'd do it but I do not have that body. I'm 6'0 and I like food.
Also someone should to inverse colors too. Black hair, white blindfold, white dress with black decorations, white boots.
>>9433763
excuse my 500 hours in ms paint
>>9433771
>you will never see a duo cosplay with this level of detail
I wish I could do it. Would have to find a good commissioner though.