Comic-Con, Cosplay, and Self-Expression

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Comic-Con, Cosplay, and Self-Expression

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"It's an idea of empowerment," says the woman dressed as Captain America. "You get to be a different person for a day."

Reason TV ventured to Comic-Con International in San Diego to check out the booming culture of cosplay, in which people dress up as their favorite superheroes, literary figures, or fantasy icons. Why do cosplayers dedicate so much time, money, and energy to their alter egos? It's fun, they say, and it's a powerful form of self-expression.

Check back for more Comic-Con coverage and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel for notifications when new material goes live.

About 2:30 minutes.

Produced by Tracy Oppenheimer. Camera by Zach Weissmueller, Alexis Garcia, and Oppenheimer.

Music by Blarsa, "Garden Party"; Giftedbuttwisted, "Ice Cream Man 2"; Solmire, "Batman Going Underground"; "Game of Thrones T1"

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

I'm not down with the female Captain America. I mean, who is going to give the Super-Soldier serum to a WAC?

[Corning]

I'm not down with the female Captain America.

When i was teen reading comics I am pretty sure I wanted all the super heroes to be perfectly proportioned athletic scantily clad women.

Hell i might even start buying the new woman Thor comic in October just to re-live the drawn superhero boobs of my youth.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Why do we have to academic-ize the shit out of comic book fans having fun?

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

I suppose because some people find that fun as well

[Episiarch]

Or the contributors have quotas to meet.

[Almanian!]

We don't. You gotta fight the powers that be!

[True Scottsman]

Next year I want to go as "Oppenheimer: Destoyer of Worlds!"

[Libertarius]

Empower Yourself: Pretend To Be Someone Else!

[mad.casual]

Not to mention; represent your hero and your gender by being a shitty combination of both.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Wow, The Leftovers is only a few weeks old, and it's already inspiring this type of thing?

Also, that Khal Drogo guy did a great job.

[Corning]

The Leftovers is only a few weeks old, and it's already inspiring this type of thing?

X-files rip off or hard hitting drama and social commentary?

I think the Cos-players have made their decision.

I do like how the show portrays the FEDs as blood thirsty gestapo thugs....though i suspect the show will turn the blame for it on the christian right.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Yeah the ATFEC or whatever they called it, they don't fuck around. Couldn't believe the phone conversation in the latest episode.

[Brett L]

The Leftovers is some fucked up shit. I'm gonna go binge watch if its on HBO OnDemand. I watched several episodes in a disjointed fashion while supervising my son a couple of weekends ago.

[Greendogo]

The religious nuts make an appearance outside the convention center every year with a megaphone, preaching (loudly) against worshipping idols.

[SQRLSY One]

Put your religious worship where it BELONGS!!!!
Scienfoology Song? GAWD = Government Almighty's Wrath Delivers

Government loves me, This I know,
For the Government tells me so,
Little ones to GAWD belong,
We are weak, but GAWD is strong!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
My Nannies tell me so!

GAWD does love me, yes indeed,
Keeps me safe, and gives me feed,
Shelters me from bad drugs and weed,
And gives me all that I might need!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
My Nannies tell me so!

DEA, CIA, KGB,
Our protectors, they will be,
FBI, TSA, and FDA,
With us, astride us, in every way!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
Yes, Guv-Mint loves me!
My Nannies tell me so!

[Ortzinator]

Maybe they should go protest in front of Joel Osteen's church.

[GILMORE]

I am fully supportive of people wanting to dress up as magical things / superheroes / fictional characters / cartoons etc. More power to you!

However = 'Self Expression'?

By pretending to be someone else?

If anyone who was dressed up at ComiCon used the term 'self expression' to me, I would grab them by the shoulders, look them in the eye and go = "*Wake Up*. Being a walking Copyright Violation does not mean you are 'liberated'"

[mad.casual]

Being a walking Copyright Violation does not mean you are 'liberated'"

Does being an out-of-shape 5'4", 145 lbs. female imitation of your 6'2" 240 lbs. male super soldier idol constitute a copyright violation?

It's like a failed suicide attempt.

[LynchPin1477]

Nothing says self-expression like copying someone else's creation as faithfully as possible!

[a better weapon]

Remember how there was that movement to end harrassment and assualy of cosplayers the other day?

Apparently there is a story going around about a sexy-Jessica-Rabbit cosplayer (16 yrs old) who was found "unconscious and bloody" on the side of the road. Naturally, it's picking up some viral steam. Considering it has been over 24 hours and not a single San Diego or Southern California news outlet has picked up on it, I'm beginning to suspect its all a hoax.

One blog that reposted it had commenters who were equally unsure about it. Instead of engaging in shitty hashtag activism, they called the police to find out what road exactly she was found by to try and help. The SDPD said no investigation like that had been opened, supposedly.

If my susiscions are correct, that's pretty fucked up just to advance their stupid non-issue cause.

[Corning]

I'm beginning to suspect its all a hoax.

and

One blog that reposted it

and so you don't post a link....

One might be lead to believe that it is a hoax of a hoax that begins and ends with your comment.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

"It's an idea of empowerment"

And here I thought it was fantasizing. I guess my idea of what constitutes empowerment is different from some.

[Cloudbuster]

Do you think "I'm a narcissist" girl realizes that's not a compliment?