No More Cosplay of the Week…?
For long-time fans of this website, you both may have noticed that my Cosplay of the Week feature hasn’t been “of the week” for a while… Or “at all” for that matter.
One reason why is because for the most part, the well for that column’s run dry. At least for me, since I have very finicky tastes in costumes and their symbiotic hosts. It’s been a while since I’ve discovered a new cosplay model with an impressive photo gallery, either from conventions or in-studio. My worry is that the column will become less interesting if I reduced it to posting from only my favorite few (Omi Gibson, Hezachan, etc.)
I will, however, put more effort into generating interviews with cosplay models, when possible. There are a couple I’ll cull from my time at GotGame.com, but I’ll see if any more cosplayers would be interested in an interview.
Another reason why I’ve been reluctant to update is the rampant overuse of Photoshop enhancements in the cosplay community. Touch-ups and light/color correction is one thing, but virtually creating a different person for one’s portfolio is offensively deceptive in my book. Models like Kipi, Arisa Mizuhara, and the amusing “Duck Face“, abuse digital effects when their natural appearance is already quite pleasant on the eye.
I would like to comment, however, that I still find practical make-up effects to be completely acceptable. Make-up can just as easily transform one’s face into something (or someone?) completely unrecognizable… But it feels less like cheating to me because there is a greater sense of craft involved. Unlike the digital effects which restructure the person’s anatomy, make-up changes nothing about the face on which it’s applied, save for how it’s decorated.
I encourage you to watch the videos below to see how a supposed “average” girl transforms herself into a supermodel, using practical make-up effects.
Here’s where I find the real magic of the above videos: At first sight, this girl may rank as a “6″…maybe a “drunken 7″. But as I watch the video, I pick up on her voice, the attitude of her speech, and body language. Through that, I’d bump her up to a solid “7 1/2″. She’s confident, funny, and that sarcastic burp gave off that tomboy vibe that I personally find attractive.
Then when she’s fully transformed and dons her cute, “little girl” voice, I strangely find her less attractive. She’s now super-cute, but the voice radiates “fake” in my mind. Before you post a comment about beauty being in the eye of the beholder…well, I just beat you to it.
Back to the fate of the column; if you know of any super-amazing cosplay models, feel free to link me up with their names and photo galleries. But for now, it’s on hiatus.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Stuff like this is why I can’t blame people wanting to leave the anime community in general.
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The Grey Ghost Reply:
August 7th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
How do you mean?
Photoshop cheating has soured the cosplay community a bit, but it’s still a small fraction of either the anime or video game communities.
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genericpersona Reply:
August 7th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Yeah, I know it’s a small portion, but that doesn’t mean a fair amount of the larger portion can’t find it creepy. I’ve always been bothered by cosplay and such, so I’m likely biased. But when it gets to the point that you’re modeling/photoshopping for it, it’s crossed a line (where it’s still fandom anyway), at least to me.
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The Grey Ghost Reply:
August 7th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Well, I encourage you to look through my archive of Cosplay of the Week… You’ll find quite the selection of sexy specimens.
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ZeonicFreak Reply:
August 8th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Oh yea, dem honnies are fly.
So using photoshop can make me look like conan the barbarian? I must warn you, my photoshop skills… are not that great. I use it for cropping images and to re-size things.
I thought the CotW thing was something you just kinda dropped off. For me, I went all out for my Percy cosplay to grow a handlebar moustache for the con than using a party city piece of crap fake sticky one. So if i wanna be a buff character, I will hit the gym to bulk up for the role (i wont use “enhanced drugs” for that purpose either).
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August 9th, 2010 at 1:49 am
I don’t know, I’ve never been a fan of makeup so they’re both kind of cheating to me. However skilled the craft there is still a fraudulent aspect to it. You are still selling a false image and it’s almost the visual equivalent of a verbal lie. So whether photoshop or makeup makes no real difference to me, the only question is purpose. If it’s to show off how well you can make something look like something else is one thing, they both require some level of skill, it’s only when it’s employed for deception that gets me.
Either way I’ve never been much for cosplay myself so I can see why this well might’ve run dry.
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ZeonicFreak Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I mean for me, it seems to attract certain people who like to do it. I was like that for a while, but the felling to put together clothing as someone you wanna dress as… isnt so bad. Its really just something fun to do. I mean, if you were a kid, wouldn’t you dress as a Power Ranger every day and get away with it? Probably most of you (especially if you are a PR fan) would be like “yea, that would be cool”.
My friend has pretty much pointed out that cosplay to him is creepy because “dressing up is only for halloween. And any other time is just creepy.” I can kinda see his point, i mean if it was in public (or when Suncost does their “mini con” every few months) i could see his point if that is what he was thinking about, but other than that, its his own opinion. But for me, if someone cosplay in public, at least i know there an anime fan, and a reason for me to hit on them (if there isnt a guy next to them, or a ring… or a kid).
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ZeonicFreak Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
The last part, i ment that “someone” if they were a girl.
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The Grey Ghost Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I would amend his point to “Dressing up is only for Halloween and other special occasions.”
When the event calls for it, it’s cool. When in Rome, etc… But if you dressed up in costume in your daily life, then that’s what I’d call creepy.
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Maur Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Yeah, I get cosplay, and maybe if I were surrounded by that kind of environment it would rub off on me. I’m not anti-cosplay, it’s just never been my thing. I don’t dress up even for Halloween if that gives you any indication. I was just saying image manipulation doesn’t bother me when it’s for the sake of creating a greater illusion, it’s only when that illusion is used for deceptive/dishonest purposes that it rubs me the wrong way.
Otherwise I don’t care what people do amidst consenting company, go nuts :p
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August 9th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Have you been by Suncoast at the Cary Towne Center when they do a semi annual “anime con” thing. Its like a hand full of people and the same one girl who wears a fox costume, every time.
Wait, i think i can pull up evidence of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIkaeugQJOA
Yea, Animania.
But, maybe that is what my friend ment. Hes not into the whole cosplay thing, but hes into “costume business” (cookie to the person who can find that quote).
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