Characteristics of Cosplaying

This list was compiled in the following manner. I took four tapes of conversations and interviews that I had with cosplayers. For every topic of conversation, I wrote down a category. In each category I listed everyone one of the adjectives or metaphors used to describe the category. This is actually more fun than it sounds. Here are listed the most significant categories.

1. Character:
A character who is being cosplayed is often:
Obscure
Awesome
Adorable
The cosplayers relationship with this character is often:
Love
Attachment
Obsessiveness

2. Costume
A costume is well crafted if it is:
Exact
Perfect
Recognizable
Full
Amazing
Photographable
A costume is admired if it is:
Made with Satin or Velvet
Complex
Perfect
Cool
Fascinating

3. Metaphor: To cosplay is to be insane
“I am obsessed”
“You know you’ve done too much cosplaying when it starts breaking you.”
“AX was pure insanity”
“[The costume] consumed my soul”
“manic-geeks”

4. Social Interaction
Cosplaying has contributed to:
Friendship
Awards
Fun
Interaction
Outsiders view cosplayers as:
Scary
Weird
Fangirls
Fanboys

5. Convention
Manic
Geeks
Electric-Rush
Makes my day
Lovely
Laid-back
Fun

6. Cosplaying in a group
Obligation
Circle
Geeky
Patience
Experience
assembly line
drama

7. Cosplay itself
Fun
Interact
Addictive
Foreordained
Happy

Funny story about survey results
Survey Question Analysis
Survey Results
My final paper
Cosplaying Schemas
The ability to Relate to Characters
Zip file of presentation
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