So I finally got to catch up on Heroes of Cosplay this week, and all in all I'm liking the second half of it. I feel like theres a little bit more information and explanation of each cosplayers process, and it seems more focused on the cosplay aspect than the social interaction/drama. As you may know from a previous blog post of mine, I am one of the few who enjoyed, appreciated and read past the scripted BS the first half of the season, but I'm still happy to see a stronger Cosplay focus.
One thing, however, rubbed me the wrong way. It's not Cosplay related in any way shape or form, and I don't feel anyone on the show meant any harm by it at all, but it's something that needs to be brought up.
What I'm talking about is the big effing stink made about Carl's choice of beverage.
Chocolate Milk.
HOLY SHIT GUYS! HES NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL! WTF IS WRONG WITH HIM!? SHOULD WE QUESTION HIS MASCULINITY? HIS MATURITY? HIS DRINK ISN'T PRETTY WITH CHERRIES IN IT! (three cherries, right?) WHY WOULD HE NOT WANT TO DRINK ALCOHOL THIS IS SO CONFUSING!?!?!?
Here's the thing. It's really not that confusing. Maybe he just personally doesn't like drinking alcohol all that often? I don't know Carl, I can't speak for him, but I too am someone who generally doesn't drink. I have no personal issues with alcohol, I just don't enjoy partying, clubbing, and drinking. I could list my reasons for not drinking much, but I won't because the point is, why is it your business? Why should it affect your opinion of me as a person? Why does my personal choice matter to you? It shouldn't, but for some reason the concept of consciously choosing not to drink is incomprehensible to so many people (most people) who do. I am constantly asked why I'm not drinking when I am out with friends, and when I politely say I'm not in the mood for alcohol they try and list off drinks they'd suggest in case I just can't make up my mind. Even some of my closest friends try and shove alcohol down my throat so that I can "loosen up" and "have a good time". I don't personally feel that I need to drink alcohol to enjoy myself. I'd rather be fully aware of my surroundings and enjoy my night to the fullest extent.
It's even worse for people who don't know me. Aquaintances and people in passing at bars who have tried to buy me a drink almost always turn to speulation. People have bluntly asked me "what, were you date raped once or something?" and others have treated me with pity, assuming that I was a victim of some sort of abuse from an alcoholic relative. I am happy to say that neither horriffic event has ever happened to me, but is it any of their business anyways? What is so wrong with the fact that I CHOOSE not to drink? Why do I need to justify this to anybody?
How often do you find smokers asking non-smokers why they don't smoke? How often do you find gay people asking straight folks why they aren't gay (and vice versa)? You don't hear about that too often and when you do it's deemed extremely taboo behaviour. Cosplayers don't ask non-cosplayers why they don't Cosplay, but if a non-Cosplayer asked a Cosplayer why they cosplay and made assumptions about them and their reasons (fetish, fake geek argument, attention whore, etc) it would be deemed extremely intollerant and rude.
The next part that bugged me was that everyone proceeded to jump on him about how milk is bad for you. I'm sorry, Milk may not be the healthiest thing on the planet. I myself can't drink milk at all, but you think it's any worse than the sugar loaded, high alcohol content beverages you're sipping on, topped off with the artifically enhanced cherry decorations? This just seemed like a very hypocrital, desperate attempt to try and justify them alienating him for not drinking.
Carl, you seem like a super cool dude and I'm not speaking for you in any way shape or form, this was just a prime example of the type of bullshit myself, and other people who don't drink often go through on a regular basis.
Food for thought. Maybe that person who doesn't drink IS a victim of abuse, date rape, or a recovering alcoholic? Your ignorance, judgement and need to make things your business could be making things much harder for a person trying to move on and improve their life.
P.S. If you don't watch Heroes of Cosplay, or if you don't know who Carl is, check him out on Twitter and Facebook. His Silent Hill Mannequin is freaking awesome.
P.P.S. DRAGON AGE INQUISITION GUYS! THIS MADE ME LESS ANGRY BECAUSE YESSSSSS!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Creation vs. Commission
I have slacked horribly on this blog. I missed 2...maybe 3 weeks and for that I apologize. I recently started selling things on my Etsy store which took a lot out of my spare time. Combined with cosplay, wedding planning, and my regular job, I have been RUN OFF MY FEET. I may have had a few beakdowns,
/end rant
Today I am going to discuss Creation Vs. Commission in the Cosplay community. It is a touchy subject for many and I certainly have an opinion about it (I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things, hahaha!)
I am going to start this off on a positive note and state that I LOVE ALL COSPLAYERS! I love people who make Cosplay, people who wear Cosplay, people who Photograph Cosplay, people who think about maybe Cosplaying, anything. I think it is awesome. For someone to have the balls to put on an outrageous costume and own it like nobody's business, I just can't respect Cosplayers enough. It is fantastic.
Having said that....
I can't shake this pet peeve I have for Cosplayers who commission 90-100% of the costumes they wear, and then pass themselves off as "professionals". They build themselves fan pages, sell prints, and a lot of the time have a very elitest attitude.
THIS BOTHERS ME.
If you want to cosplay, but lack the skills to make your own stuff, that's fine. Power to you for still having the guts to wear a Cosplay. But mis-leading people, creating the facade of skill you don't have to your fan base, and even worse, excluding/shunning others who you don't feel will "further you" in some way, that is not cool. It feels like fraud. There have been quite a few occassions where I have been a fan of cosplayers and loved their work. After a period of time, I learn one way or another that they barely make anything of their own and I have actually felt betrayed by the revelation. I liked them, I respected their skills and I looked to them as role models. I strived to have their "skills" one day and the knowledge that they just pay someone else to make everything for them really bothers me. It bothers me for the commissioner who is getting limited (or zero) credit, it bothers me for the fans that are fooled into believing the cosplayer is a skilled crafter or sewer, etc., and it bothers me for the Cosplayers that have AMAZING SKILLS but get overlooked or underappreciated for what they can do.
It particularily bothers me when I see that these same people are invited to be guest judges are various conventions or Cosplay events. Why? If they can't make anything for themselves, how are they even remotely qualified to judge people who DO make things for themselves? It is like a slap in the face being judged by someone who knows less about crafting than yourself.
I know a lot of you will disagree with me, and I will probably get some hefty hate from people who commission parts of costumes (or full costumes). If you are reading this and are upset by my words, remember that I have no problem with the idea of having costumes commissioned. If you choose to pay for commisions, it doesn't matter to me and I think you're amazing and love that you Cosplay. We all need help sometimes, it's what makes up learn and improve our own skills. I only have a problem with people who pass themselves off as professionals when they know little to nothing about creating something for themselves.
/end rant
Today I am going to discuss Creation Vs. Commission in the Cosplay community. It is a touchy subject for many and I certainly have an opinion about it (I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things, hahaha!)
I am going to start this off on a positive note and state that I LOVE ALL COSPLAYERS! I love people who make Cosplay, people who wear Cosplay, people who Photograph Cosplay, people who think about maybe Cosplaying, anything. I think it is awesome. For someone to have the balls to put on an outrageous costume and own it like nobody's business, I just can't respect Cosplayers enough. It is fantastic.
Having said that....
I can't shake this pet peeve I have for Cosplayers who commission 90-100% of the costumes they wear, and then pass themselves off as "professionals". They build themselves fan pages, sell prints, and a lot of the time have a very elitest attitude.
THIS BOTHERS ME.
If you want to cosplay, but lack the skills to make your own stuff, that's fine. Power to you for still having the guts to wear a Cosplay. But mis-leading people, creating the facade of skill you don't have to your fan base, and even worse, excluding/shunning others who you don't feel will "further you" in some way, that is not cool. It feels like fraud. There have been quite a few occassions where I have been a fan of cosplayers and loved their work. After a period of time, I learn one way or another that they barely make anything of their own and I have actually felt betrayed by the revelation. I liked them, I respected their skills and I looked to them as role models. I strived to have their "skills" one day and the knowledge that they just pay someone else to make everything for them really bothers me. It bothers me for the commissioner who is getting limited (or zero) credit, it bothers me for the fans that are fooled into believing the cosplayer is a skilled crafter or sewer, etc., and it bothers me for the Cosplayers that have AMAZING SKILLS but get overlooked or underappreciated for what they can do.
It particularily bothers me when I see that these same people are invited to be guest judges are various conventions or Cosplay events. Why? If they can't make anything for themselves, how are they even remotely qualified to judge people who DO make things for themselves? It is like a slap in the face being judged by someone who knows less about crafting than yourself.
I know a lot of you will disagree with me, and I will probably get some hefty hate from people who commission parts of costumes (or full costumes). If you are reading this and are upset by my words, remember that I have no problem with the idea of having costumes commissioned. If you choose to pay for commisions, it doesn't matter to me and I think you're amazing and love that you Cosplay. We all need help sometimes, it's what makes up learn and improve our own skills. I only have a problem with people who pass themselves off as professionals when they know little to nothing about creating something for themselves.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Why I didn't hate Heroes of Cosplay
I am not a big TV Watcher, and I can proudly say I have never had any interest in anything remotely defined as "Reality TV". I have zero tolerance for senseless drama and when I DO choose to watch TV, I am doing so to escape from reality, not to have it shoved in my face. As such, I spent the later part of last summer frantically finishing small details on Cosplays for Dragon*Con, and ignoring my newsfeed as it was inundated with people raging over Heroes of Cosplay.
Once the "hype" died down and the cons were over, I sat down and watched it, determined to formulate my own opinion. The only impressions I had gotten from the show via other peoples feedback was the Yaya Han/Jessica Nigri drama, the Merida Wig being coloured with marker (improperly apparently)and something about some Dr. Who Cosplayers being mean. I can say with confidence that I did not hate the show. In fact I took a lot from it. I know I am in a minority, and I am not justifying why I like it, I'm merely presenting the facts of how the show came across to me.
Let's start with "The big controversy" where Yaya Han supposedly sets a double standard and cuts down Jessica Nigri's sexy Cosplays. Everyone who lost their shit at that did exactly what the network wanted them to do. Sorry to say it, but it's true. I saw no double standard in what Yaya was saying. She was asking Monika to focus on Craftsmanship, but not once did she discourage her from also doing sexy Cosplays. The fact remains that the cosplay Monika produced showed zero craftsmanship or creativity beyond her sewing abilities. The way I see it, when you Cosplay, craftsmanship represents "the extra mile". Once you've made it and it looks like the character, you take it the extra mile to bring it to life. Whether that means beading, embroidery, or crafty details to make it suit the character, you take it that extra mile to make it something amazing. To me, that is what Yaya was referring to. All you have to do is compare her sexy cosplays to Jessica Nigris cosplays and you can see the difference in Craftsmanship and the amount of thought that goes into it. It's the difference between sewing a costume and creating a work of art.
Having said that, I love Jessica Nigri and see nothing wrong with what she does. Cosplay is Cosplay and we all do it our own way. She's hilarious, she's hot and she's a geek. There's no such thing as "cosplaying wrong".
Next Subject: The Merida Wig, or less specifically, the craftsmanship in the show. I saw WAY TOO MUCH smack talk about how people on this show chose to make and do things. I'm sorry, but once again, that is exactly what the network wanted. For starters, everyone has their way of doing things, and everyone has more to learn. Who are we to be elitests and judge someone else's methods when there are undoubtedly MANY things we ourselves can improve on? This community prides itself on being supportive and inclusive, but I was extremely dissapointed in peoples' behaviour on this particular matter. Cosplay is an evolving hobby, and no two costumes are alike. If I met someone who said they knew how to make and do everything there is to do regarding any Cosplay possible I would call them a liar to their face. If we continue to turn on eachother and judge eachother because they don't do something the way we ourselves would, we are all doomed to fail. We all had to start somewhere, and we all need help sometimes. There is no crime in getting someone to help us make something or show us how to make something if it's out of our comfort zone. It's how we ourselves learn and get better at our trade.
Lastly, the Doctor Who controversy. After having read both sides' online posts about this controversy, as well as seeing the show, I sincerely feel like the Doctor Who Cosplayers were off-side. What do you expect when you cheer in agreement to such a negative comment? Cosplay is not by any means geographically limited, and if someone has enough drive and the ability to send themselves to a convention across the country, power to them. If you enter a competition, you have to expect to compete. Period. You can't be upset because someone takes it more seriously than you thought to, that is the point of a competition.
To summarize, I personally found that the publics' reaction to the show was a FAR WORSE representation of our community than anything that actually happened in the show. So many people ate up the manufactured drama and turned on fellow Cosplayers, tearing them apart and making a mockery of them. For the first time in my life as a Cosplayer, I was actually embarassed to be one, and not because of the show. After digging through the manufactured BS, I actually took a lot from the show and it encouraged me to push myself and my craftsmanship skills further than ever before.
Does anyone else share my opinion? If you disagree with me, let me know! I always like to hear other peoples perspectives regarding the things I post.
Once the "hype" died down and the cons were over, I sat down and watched it, determined to formulate my own opinion. The only impressions I had gotten from the show via other peoples feedback was the Yaya Han/Jessica Nigri drama, the Merida Wig being coloured with marker (improperly apparently)and something about some Dr. Who Cosplayers being mean. I can say with confidence that I did not hate the show. In fact I took a lot from it. I know I am in a minority, and I am not justifying why I like it, I'm merely presenting the facts of how the show came across to me.
Let's start with "The big controversy" where Yaya Han supposedly sets a double standard and cuts down Jessica Nigri's sexy Cosplays. Everyone who lost their shit at that did exactly what the network wanted them to do. Sorry to say it, but it's true. I saw no double standard in what Yaya was saying. She was asking Monika to focus on Craftsmanship, but not once did she discourage her from also doing sexy Cosplays. The fact remains that the cosplay Monika produced showed zero craftsmanship or creativity beyond her sewing abilities. The way I see it, when you Cosplay, craftsmanship represents "the extra mile". Once you've made it and it looks like the character, you take it the extra mile to bring it to life. Whether that means beading, embroidery, or crafty details to make it suit the character, you take it that extra mile to make it something amazing. To me, that is what Yaya was referring to. All you have to do is compare her sexy cosplays to Jessica Nigris cosplays and you can see the difference in Craftsmanship and the amount of thought that goes into it. It's the difference between sewing a costume and creating a work of art.
Having said that, I love Jessica Nigri and see nothing wrong with what she does. Cosplay is Cosplay and we all do it our own way. She's hilarious, she's hot and she's a geek. There's no such thing as "cosplaying wrong".
Next Subject: The Merida Wig, or less specifically, the craftsmanship in the show. I saw WAY TOO MUCH smack talk about how people on this show chose to make and do things. I'm sorry, but once again, that is exactly what the network wanted. For starters, everyone has their way of doing things, and everyone has more to learn. Who are we to be elitests and judge someone else's methods when there are undoubtedly MANY things we ourselves can improve on? This community prides itself on being supportive and inclusive, but I was extremely dissapointed in peoples' behaviour on this particular matter. Cosplay is an evolving hobby, and no two costumes are alike. If I met someone who said they knew how to make and do everything there is to do regarding any Cosplay possible I would call them a liar to their face. If we continue to turn on eachother and judge eachother because they don't do something the way we ourselves would, we are all doomed to fail. We all had to start somewhere, and we all need help sometimes. There is no crime in getting someone to help us make something or show us how to make something if it's out of our comfort zone. It's how we ourselves learn and get better at our trade.
Lastly, the Doctor Who controversy. After having read both sides' online posts about this controversy, as well as seeing the show, I sincerely feel like the Doctor Who Cosplayers were off-side. What do you expect when you cheer in agreement to such a negative comment? Cosplay is not by any means geographically limited, and if someone has enough drive and the ability to send themselves to a convention across the country, power to them. If you enter a competition, you have to expect to compete. Period. You can't be upset because someone takes it more seriously than you thought to, that is the point of a competition.
To summarize, I personally found that the publics' reaction to the show was a FAR WORSE representation of our community than anything that actually happened in the show. So many people ate up the manufactured drama and turned on fellow Cosplayers, tearing them apart and making a mockery of them. For the first time in my life as a Cosplayer, I was actually embarassed to be one, and not because of the show. After digging through the manufactured BS, I actually took a lot from the show and it encouraged me to push myself and my craftsmanship skills further than ever before.
Does anyone else share my opinion? If you disagree with me, let me know! I always like to hear other peoples perspectives regarding the things I post.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
My beginnings
My name is Tarah-Rex, and I am a Cosplayer.
I've been cosplaying since January of 2012 when I started working on Lilith from Borderlands 1. Little did I know that Lilith would be the beginning of a tedious, labour intensive, tear jerking, beautiful, addictive obsession.
To me, Cosplay is a bittersweet, love-hate obsession in it's purest form. There have been several costumes I have started and never finished for various reasons (ex. tears, blood, tantrums and obsenity) and plenty that I have powered through because it just seemed worth it.
Now I'm rambling.
Backing it up a little bit as to why I actually got into Cosplay. For years, throughout highschool and in my very early 20's I would admire cosplayers and their ability to make beautiful reproductions of all the characters I love so much. I've always been artistic, but I never really "dabbled" in the art of sewing. I am clumsy, and if you give me the means to injure myself (a sharp fast moving needle perhaps?) I most definitely will injure myself. SO I resigned myself to being a life-long Cosplay admirer and observer.
Fast forward to November/December of 2011. I was bored, plugging through facebook because I had nothing better to do in my spare time apparently. I stumbled across a post with a picture of Lilith, titled "Do you look like Lilith? If you do, check this out". I had been told repeatedly by friends that I had a strong facial resemblance to the foxy gun weilding siren, so for kicks, I clicked and read onward. This is where I discovered that Gearbox was holding a casting call for someone to be their Live Action Lilith for footage in the anticipated Borderlands sequel, Borderlands 2. Expecting absolutely nothing, I submitted some photos and went on my merry way, forgetting the whole thing.
A few days later I got an email asking for more footage. I was shocked. After a few more emails back and forth, as well as a skype session, I didn't end up getting the role (Check out the stellar work by the girl they went with, Yasemin Arslan), but the experience left me with a renewed sense of purpose. If I apparently had such a strong resemblance to Lilith, surely I could pull off a wicked Cosplay of her.
And so it began.
I've been cosplaying since January of 2012 when I started working on Lilith from Borderlands 1. Little did I know that Lilith would be the beginning of a tedious, labour intensive, tear jerking, beautiful, addictive obsession.
To me, Cosplay is a bittersweet, love-hate obsession in it's purest form. There have been several costumes I have started and never finished for various reasons (ex. tears, blood, tantrums and obsenity) and plenty that I have powered through because it just seemed worth it.
Now I'm rambling.
Backing it up a little bit as to why I actually got into Cosplay. For years, throughout highschool and in my very early 20's I would admire cosplayers and their ability to make beautiful reproductions of all the characters I love so much. I've always been artistic, but I never really "dabbled" in the art of sewing. I am clumsy, and if you give me the means to injure myself (a sharp fast moving needle perhaps?) I most definitely will injure myself. SO I resigned myself to being a life-long Cosplay admirer and observer.
Fast forward to November/December of 2011. I was bored, plugging through facebook because I had nothing better to do in my spare time apparently. I stumbled across a post with a picture of Lilith, titled "Do you look like Lilith? If you do, check this out". I had been told repeatedly by friends that I had a strong facial resemblance to the foxy gun weilding siren, so for kicks, I clicked and read onward. This is where I discovered that Gearbox was holding a casting call for someone to be their Live Action Lilith for footage in the anticipated Borderlands sequel, Borderlands 2. Expecting absolutely nothing, I submitted some photos and went on my merry way, forgetting the whole thing.
A few days later I got an email asking for more footage. I was shocked. After a few more emails back and forth, as well as a skype session, I didn't end up getting the role (Check out the stellar work by the girl they went with, Yasemin Arslan), but the experience left me with a renewed sense of purpose. If I apparently had such a strong resemblance to Lilith, surely I could pull off a wicked Cosplay of her.
And so it began.
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