{"id":104777,"date":"2024-10-31T19:38:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T00:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=104777"},"modified":"2025-02-25T10:37:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T16:37:06","slug":"for-cosplayers-dress-up-is-not-childs-play-or-just-for-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/for-cosplayers-dress-up-is-not-childs-play-or-just-for-halloween\/","title":{"rendered":"For cosplayers, dress-up is not child\u2019s play or just for Halloween"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Valenti Govantes<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

At Fan Expo Chicago 2024 in August, roughly 75,000 attendees \u2014 from Spider-Men to Catwomen \u2014 flocked to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The unofficial cosplay center was the community zone, which became a headquarters for The Windy City Ghostbusters and its Ecto-1 car. It also served as a base for rebels and stormtroopers from \u201cStar Wars\u201d cosplay group the 501st Legion\u2019s Midwest Garrison.<\/p>\n

For cosplayers, every day is Halloween. The holiday represents another opportunity for people to morph into larger-than-life characters, with conventions fulfilling the same purpose.<\/p>\n

Fiction and reality blurred as the convention center transformed into a sanctuary of geekdom for the weekend. In the COVID-19 pandemic\u2019s aftermath, other conventions, such as the famous San Diego Comic-Con, are operating at a greater capacity than before. According to Forbes, SDCC featured the return of companies like Marvel Studios to the Hall H stage for panels about upcoming projects. Conventions wouldn\u2019t be as fun as they are without the enthusiasm radiating from the costumes the cosplayers wear, attendees say.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite thing to photograph is when their passion for the character really comes through, like when I can feel it,\u201d photographer Michael Fye said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to work with people like that because they’re like, \u2018I’m here, let’s do this thing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

By day, these individuals are like Clark Kent, working their day jobs among the general population. By night, they put on their costumes and become Superman or Wonder Woman. They create or buy what they wear for conventions, parties and meetups. According to Worldmetrics.org, around 18 million people around the globe belong to this community. Most of them are teenagers and adults, including Alyson Tabbitha (1.2 million Instagram<\/a> followers) and Jessica Nigri (3.7 million followers on the same platform<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cWho would have thought playing dress up would bring so many people together,\u201d Tabbitha wrote in an Instagram post about a video she made of her experiences. \u201cTo hear that I’ve inspired you, or introduced you to cosplay, or impacted your life in some positive way… You have no idea how much that means to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The secret origins of cosplay and conventions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Attendees swarm the celebrity autograph area at Fan Expo Chicago on Aug. 17. The longest lines included those for actors from \u201cStar Wars,\u201d fantasy video game \u201cBaldur\u2019s Gate 3\u201d and horror film franchise \u201cScream.\u201d (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As academic paper \u201cHalloween in America: Contemporary Customs and Performances\u201d by author Jack Santino states, the iconic tradition of wearing Halloween costumes goes back thousands of years. Dating to sometime around the 5th century in what is now modern Europe, the ancient Celtics celebrated a festival known as Samhain that marked the end of harvest and the beginning of the winter season. During this time, it was believed spirits from beyond would walk the earth, with the Celtics sacrificing their fruits and vegetables and lighting bonfires in return. This belief would evolve into wearing Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating.<\/p>\n

According to \u201cCosplay: A History\u201d by author Andrew Liptak, the Victorian era birthed one of cosplay and conventions\u2019 earliest examples. The Vril-Ya Bazaar, a five-day fundraising event that was themed after a novel named \u201cThe Coming Race\u201d by author Edward Bulwer-Lytton, occurred at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1891. Foreshadowing further displays of nerdy dedication decades later, the event united lavishly dressed people in their love for Bulwer-Lytton\u2019s novel.<\/p>\n

\u201cCosplay: A History\u201d also dates more modern instances to 1939, when pop culture fandom pioneer Forrest J. Ackerman and his girlfriend, Myrtle R. Douglas, wore \u201cfuturisticostumes,\u201d at The World Science Fiction Convention aka WorldCon in New York. Ackerman is on record saying he and Douglas dressed up because he assumed other attendees would also be dressed up as similar characters.<\/p>\n

Websites, like Cosplay in America<\/a>, have chronicled more experiences from the 1970s to the 2020s. Before Amazon and Etsy, people tried to recreate famous characters\u2019 costumes out of materials like papier m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and glue. \u201cIt was almost like a wild west,\u201d said Ken Seli, the marketing and event manager for Chicago Costume. \u201cI would see people make things out of placemats, cardboard or whatever it was, but it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Diego Comic-Con started in 1970 and expanded into one of the country\u2019s biggest geek culture events by the 21st century. Other famous conventions would follow in its footsteps, including New York Comic Con, Dragon Con, WonderCon and Star Wars Celebration. Judging by their early portrayals in movies and television series, conventions had a dorky appeal, shunned by the public. An episode from \u201cThe Simpsons\u2019\u201d 10th season named \u201cMayored to The Mob\u201d has a scene where extremely nerdy residents attack \u201cStar Wars\u201d actor Mark Hamill at Springfield\u2019s Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi Con, turning it into a full-blown riot.<\/p>\n

Dressing up for these events would eventually become inseparable from the experience itself. This year alone, cosplayers are appearing at dozens of events as characters from popular television series like \u201cHazbin Hotel\u201d and \u201cX-Men \u201897.\u201d Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, more commonly known as C2E2, runs the Cosplay Central Crown Championships, which is one of the bigger contests in pop culture event organizer ReedPop\u2019s assortment of events. The line to watch this year\u2019s edition got so long, C2E2’s staff had to cut it off shortly before the competition started.<\/p>\n

\u201cC2E2 is like a family reunion,\u201d said Seli, 43.<\/p>\n

Beyond being a key part of geek culture and holidays, midnight showings of films, like \u201cThe Rocky Horror Picture Show,\u201d compels people to dress up as well. Going to these screenings as characters, like Dr. Frank-N-Furter, would evolve into shadow cast screenings. In a shadow cast screening, local performers wear characters\u2019 costumes and act out the film as it plays in the theater. For attendees, it means being part of a subculture where you understand in-jokes and are well-versed in an intellectual property\u2019s lore.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cosplay across geographic and cultural borders<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Fantasy and science fiction cosplayers Abigail and Ace Rago strike a pose at charity organization Costumers With a Cause\u2019s booth in Fan Expo Chicago on Aug. 18. The couple are both wearing stillsuit outfits from the \u201cDune\u201d franchise, having created them from a combination of resources that include foam, yarn and a can of the protective rubber coating product Plasti Dip. (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fans say cosplay brings people and communities together. Imagine you love a character from a cult classic movie, like \u201cThe War of the Gargantuas,\u201d and find dozens of others as characters from the same film. Cosplayer Jordan Harper and her husband, fellow cosplayer Michael Damato, who met her through the community, have witnessed moments like this one.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Anime Central] had a meetup that was called \u2018I don’t think anybody else is doing this,\u2019 and it was for people who went \u2018I don’t think anyone else is doing this.\u2019\u201d said Harper, 32. \u201cIt was a way to bring them all together, either as obscure characters to have an opportunity to dress up or to find someone that if you think you’re the one, maybe there’s one other person who is the only one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cosplayers also call countries like the U.K., Australia and India their home. \u201cI find a lot of weight is put on American contests,\u201d said Matthew Barry, who\u2019s won cosplay competitions in the U.K and the U.S.<\/p>\n

Two of the most popular Chicagoan cosplayers are Abigail and Ace Rago, who have more than 7,000 followers on their Instagram account, @thats.so.cosplay<\/a>. They usually attend the city\u2019s biggest pop culture conventions: C2E2 and Fan Expo Chicago. Local shops, like Chicago Costume and Fantasy Costumes, are popular vendors at these events.<\/p>\n

Outside of these two experiences, Chicago\u2019s community is mostly split among groups, like CosMeetUp Chicago and the Windy City Ghostbusters, the latter of which arranges visits to La Rabida Children\u2019s Hospital and local fundraising events as well. The need for spaces where creators and photographers can interact and hang out inspired CosMeetUp Chicago\u2019s formation.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur meetups definitely come with a feeling of welcome,\u201d said Erik Jaworski, CosMeetUp Chicago\u2019s vice chairman. \u201cYou probably do have your little cliques of people who are hanging, but the vibes I’ve seen at our meetups are just smiles.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The costs of cosplay<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\"\"
Fan Expo Chicago\u2019s Cosplay Showcase area near the main entrance displays four costumes of characters, like Jake Long from the Disney Channel animated series \u201cAmerican Dragon: Jake Long,\u201d on Aug. 16. A sign near the Jake Long suit states fiber artist Rachel Greenhill used 5,462 yards of craft yarn and five pounds of Poly-Fil, and it took 462 hours of hand crocheting to make. (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participants fall into two camps: one that purchases outfits from thrift shops, like Goodwill, and a craftier one that obtains supplies like thread to sew with and cutting tools.<\/p>\n

Crafty ones create extremely elaborate dresses, suits, masks, helmets and electronic props from stuff like foam, leather and plastic. To achieve such feats, most of them have workrooms, cluttered with sewing machines, 3D printers and mannequins wearing their in-progress creations. Their expenses range from $600 to more than $1,000.<\/p>\n

Most have day jobs, as actors, mental health counselors and corporate executives, but these don\u2019t always cover the immense costs of making the best outfits. They use fundraising websites, like Patreon and Ko-Fi, to better the odds of becoming a character\u2019s splitting image.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe make screen-accurate things, trying to get as close to the materials of something that was used in a film, show or video game,\u201d fantasy cosplayer Michael Burson said. \u201cBut then we also do more interpretive things, so we take a more unique approach designing our own thing based off something that inspires us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cosplay and influencer culture<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Content creator Charles \u201cToken\u201d McDavid Jr. stands at his booth in Fan Expo Chicago on Aug.16. He\u2019s one of five cosplay guests there. (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These creators sometimes do influencer-esque activities, like posting a lot of social media content about their newest getups (crafting them or showing them off) or negotiating deals with companies that sell relevant products, including deodorant to prevent being smelly at a convention. Burson, 34, usually promotes products if he feels he could connect them to his target audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey send them to me and then I promote them,\u201d Burson said. \u201cIf people use my affiliate code and buy from my affiliate code, I make a little bit of money, but it’s not crazy lucrative.\u201d<\/p>\n

They can also become celebrities of sorts. Known for their cosplays of Disney-related characters, like Princess Ariel, Scarlet Witch and Loki, as well as \u201cHarry Potter\u201d characters like Harry, Ron and Hermione, sisters Carmen, Aileen and Samantha Estrada boast more than a combined 90,000 followers between their<\/a> Instagram<\/a> accounts<\/a>. Their success granted them the opportunity to attend the 2022 premiere of \u201cFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,\u201d part of the \u201cHarry Potter\u201d franchise.<\/p>\n

Besides funny videos and other influencer activities, a major hallmark of cosplayers\u2019 social media presence is the photos they post, where they model what they\u2019re wearing. Photographers, like Jaworski, Joshua Moore and Jermaine Castro, have capitalized on this by taking photos of them in different locations or in conventions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shoot a lot of different things, but as far as the cosplay goes, that’s where I’m able to get creative and do my thing,\u201d said Castro, 44. \u201cIt\u2019s about 90% real location, real lights being used and smoke.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cosplay is not consent<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
A sign advises guests that cosplay is not consent at Fan Expo Chicago on Aug. 16. The show floor\u2019s booths, like Moorcroft Photography\u2019s, have similar signs. (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides rivalries, accusations of favoritism in contests and blackface instances, recent events, like a sex trafficking bust at San Diego Comic Con 2024, suggest sexual misconduct is still a major issue in the community.<\/p>\n

In 2014, New York Comic Con implemented signs around the floor warning attendees that cosplay is not consent. The phrase \u201ccosplay is not consent,\u201d coined in response to women\u2019s sexual assault experiences at conventions, ensures people ask for permission before taking photos of a cosplayer and putting their hands on them. Cosplay is not consent now lives on through various cosplayers\u2019 social media posts, spreading the word about its importance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why do people cosplay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
The Cosplay Craftsmanship Cup\u2019s winners and fellow contestants pose for one last group photo at Fan Expo Chicago\u2019s main stage on Aug. 17. The competition is split into three categories based on experience: Novice, Journeyman and Masters. (Valenti Govantes\/MEDILL)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, why do people get into cosplay? It\u2019s for the love of crafting unique looks and influencer opportunities. It\u2019s safe to say one wouldn\u2019t put so much effort, use all kinds of materials and spend up to six months on a cosplay if they didn\u2019t cherish it as a hobby. Even with all the other jobs they might have in society, cosplayers see themselves as just that most of the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time at a convention, if I’m not dressed up, I feel like I’m naked,\u201d said Damato, 39.<\/p>\n

Besides the passion put into it, is cosplay worth the time and money? Perhaps, one who spends most of their time conceptualizing and creating feels it\u2019s worth it when they win a contest. Indiana-based cosplayer Stephanie Slone has won and been a judge at the Coplay Central Crown Championships in 2023 and 2024, respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds dorky to say, but because this hobby means so much to me, winning the crown championship in 2023 is one of my top five best experiences of my entire life,\u201d Slone said. \u201cRight up there with getting married and graduating college.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most importantly, cosplay provides an escape for people where they can effectively role-play as characters who represent escapist qualities they desire. For example, the weak kid can dress up as the strong guy, and the girl who\u2019s insecure about her appearance can dress up as a woman who basically flaunts her beauty. So, in essence, cosplay is a sort of transformative experience for massive communities out there.<\/p>\n

The report \u201c\u2019Cosplay\u2019: Imaginative Self and Performing Identity\u201d by researchers Osmud Rahman, Liu Wing-sun and Brittany Hei-man Cheung states, \u201cCosplay provides young people with dreams, pleasures, romances, and fantasies that cannot be fulfilled or cannot materialize in their daily lives.\u201d The report focuses on a study of Hong Kong\u2019s cosplay community. The researchers cited supporting views from similar studies in their report.<\/p>\n

At Day Two of Fan Expo Chicago, the anticipation built for the Cosplay Craftsmanship Cup. Prior to the event, the day had been the busiest between both so far, with crowded hallways and several panels happening at every hour. Though, this is typical of a Saturday at an average convention. More than a dozen contestants competed in the competition, judged by three of Fan Expo Chicago\u2019s guests. After each contestant walked on stage, the judges announced the following awards: Organizer, Host, Best Novice, Best Journeyman, Best Masters, Most Sustainable and Best in Show.<\/p>\n

Seeing the excitement of the crowd inside of the main stage and the contestants\u2019 enthusiasm as they modeled their work showed the importance of the craft to those who endure the time creating the looks and those who witness it in action. Not to mention, they\u2019re set for a lifetime of Halloweens to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a whole, this was one of the most fun, crazy weekends to date,\u201d said Fan Expo Chicago cosplay organizer Pat Covey on Instagram. \u201cAn outstanding competition Saturday, filled with incredible cosplayers, a community I\u2019ve gotten to know over three years that\u2019s so supportive of each other, amazing karaoke after hours with one hell of a group, and surprisingly still have my voice after all of it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Valenti Govantes is a recent MSJ graduate from Northwestern University\u2019s Medill School.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Valenti Govantes Medill Reports At Fan Expo Chicago 2024 in August, roughly 75,000 attendees \u2014 from Spider-Men to Catwomen \u2014 flocked to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The unofficial cosplay center was the community zone, which became a headquarters for The Windy City Ghostbusters and its Ecto-1 car. 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