If you boil down a person's costume, completely, it should be made up mostly of percentages. Most people have their "cosplays" finished before they go anywhere, but as i'm reading in other groups, who are completely scared they might be considered elitist and unfair to someone whose struggling, I usually prepose the 45 percent "complete" solution:
Think of each part of a costume individually as being worth 10 percent of the whole Costume:
Shoes=10 percent
Pants 10 percent
Shirt 10 percent
Vest-10 Percent
Coat=10 Percent
Hat= 10 Percent
Wig= 10 Percent
Major Prop = 10 Percent
Smaller Prop = 5 pecent.
Smaller Extra Prop 5 Percent
Accessory = 10 Percent.
(I've "bolded" Accessory because depending on the importance of the accessory, such as Sylvester McCoy's question mark handled umbrella, it can clearly be worth more. A Doctor Who Tom Baker Scarf is clearly fundimental and worth 10 percent. Some accessories worth less.)
Okay, now breathe. Think of a full 1st Doctor William Hartnell costume.
A "Hartnell" could be done with say shoes, pants, vest, shirt, tie, frockcoat and cane. and he could be completed with only 70 percent, if the person's natural hair is right? No wig required...
However, a person wanting to go the full monte might get the ambassador hat, and also the opera cape.
And dont forget his tiny little green striped Scarf. (Accessory)
All of that could be considered a 100 percent costume, complete. But you could have most of a costume, literally at about 45 percent depending on the looks, frame, size of a person. (Some people Are lucky that way, that their costume quality might be slightly off being blessed with a face that is extremely similar to the actor or character figure..) David Tennent Cosplayers come to mind. Wolverine Cosplayers with almost no makeup or even claw accessories.
A young man could be the raggedy doctor with his own hair. He'd have the chucks (Shoes) , the pants, the shirt, the tie and a sonic screwdriver. and that'd be only 45 percent?
Is this confusing, if at 45 percent you can't tell what they are supposed to be... then, that person usually isn't invited in, and, of course, they have to finish their costume within a reasonable time frame--6 months to a year, depending on the group dynamic and goals.
Lastly: here's an example that sometimes rubs people the wrong way:
The 4th Doctor Example.
Sometimes, a person will buy a large scarf and have a hat, that's 20 percent. get a wig and a semi brown or tweedish coat, that's 40. The Person can have a classic sonic, and that's 5 percent more equaling 45 percent.
Some might not like it much, but you can clearly tell its "supposed to be a tom baker doctor.".
The Truth in Cosplay movement seeks to diffuse drama by not giving it power.
Drama: This word is a famous buzzword used often by cosplayers to issue complaint often against those whom the offended cosplayer feels is causing unecessary angst or issue. Its term implies that the said "drama queen" for lack of a better word, cannot merely exist with other cosplayers or people without some kind of tantrum or unnecessary issue. Interestingly enough, once someone is labeled as "full of drama," or this is "drama," other Cosplayers within the immediate vicinity then begin to withdraw--the labeled Cosplayer also feels deflated as whatever point the cosplayer was trying to make as now null and void, or meaningless because of the label. Example: A dispute issues between officers over whether an event should ask of its members a small donation. The disputant strongly feels that the event must be paid for somehow, mainly because favors only run so long among business partners and friends, so he pushes the point on the dollar donation for members. One officer leaks information to the members about the dollar entry or donation, and as members begin talking, one member posts, "So much drama here... I'm gone." Granted, said dispute was taking place off the board, out of the eyes of the members, but the whole issue now is that whatever the issue, undue stresss has now been caused to a poor member, to the point, that instead of really knowing wha the argument is about, or having a personal opinion on it, said member is allowed to "flounce" quit over something that doesn't really involve him or her at all. After demonstrated "flounce post and quit" other cosplayers begin then to question group management--a myriad of opinions emerge,all surrounding the "Drama" that made the flouncer quit. Whatever the reason, the unnecessary dramatics of the situation, whatever they are, must now cease. Whatever the discussion, it must be tabled or forgotten or abandoned in light of the feelings for someone who made a conscious choice to quit. Said person then walks around feeling superior, as if they have never disagreed with anyone, or that such horrid "drama" is non-existent in them, and their sparkling soul is now free from blemish, whatever said blemish actually was. Any attempts of "dramtic " cosplayer to deal with the issue they were trying to solve are met with distinctive anger for rekindling a blemish that caused a person to quit. Throwing the drama word out for any reason at all is merely a way for other cosplayers to tell someone to shut up.
Today's buzzword is an amalgamous term: "Inclusivity."
Inclusivity has become the new "standard" for judging elitism, but what I'm noticing on my end, is that inclusivity is just like the other words Throw it at someone and there's no defense, it's a fuck you disguised under compassionate idiocy.
Two times a day, I encounter someone online who bitches about how much they hate Heroes of Cosplay.
Everytime I'm on the internet, they discuss the show all they discuss is how the "Heroes of Cosplay" cheat over and over, and it feeds clearly into the bitchy angst of Cosplayers.
I run a Cosplay Organization. It's very difficult keeping members, and the purpose of this blog post is to discuss "inclusivity" and its slack definition designed to further the unfair angst or elitism and drama. By and large the cosplay community functions pretty well, but as always, as humans there will always be petty squabbles and sadly overbloated ideas that Cosplay would be perfect if people weren't so darn mean, competitive or good at what they do--because of course if a person is good, by many people's cosplay standards it hurts other cosplayers feelings--especially the feelings of those who are not good--oops, not as goood? Uh-oh, now we get to the heart of the matter. Better not be good or talented at what you do, because if you are, well it hurts feelings. My question, why do we have competitions anymore, or sporting contests, or scholarships. Everything is slowly becoming every man or every woman's game. Everybody is as good as everybody else. Read some Ralph Waldo Emerson, and see what he thought about interchangeability--about people going to college. I'm sure Emerson's would be labeled an "elitist."
About a year back, on the web someone tore into the heroes of Cosplay, as usual the complaint is that the heroes of cosplay are elitist.
The person then said, "the cosplay community, like my group is inclusive. Not elitist."
Here's the video:
Okay, so, the major sin of any group, in the eyes of most cosplayers is that you don't let people become a part of your group?
Right?
That's inclusivity? Right?
Interestingly enough, this is the second video i've seen involving a charge of hatred for Heroes of Cosplay, the breakdown of the show by one person is fairly astute. Here's one of the breakdowns:
After watching several videos on the matter, one of the things I continually come back to is the concept that essentially most cosplayers against the show seem angry at the expertise levels of YaYa and the others.
They know how to febricate and build and create and apparently do nice work with LED lights.
I find this a completely unacceptable bias--so much so that what comes from most of these people is anger at these top level cosplayers for their skill.
But I think the anger stems a little for their body types and their youth.
Genuinely speaking, Cosplay is largely a woman's game. This does not hint that there are not cosplaying men, however the first season has one man on it, the second season introduces us to two more men and two new women. The woman ratio still overshadows the men, but at least we're taking steps toward seeing its a hard workin, young person's game, with strong emphasis here on females.
Another such video floating around is one by Darkaito Bruns:
I had a very difficult time posting this video but lets be clear, i find it amazing that heroes of cosplay usually gets dissed by someone in a steampunk costume.
I know many steampunk cosplayers--and from my own opinion about steampunkers is that they are a very specialized cosplayer groups, and yes, they themselves are extremely inclusive. Steampunk rules are different from other types of cosplayers in that almost anyone can create a steampunk costume.
Their anger centers around the skit competition formed at the comicon and how apparently heroes of cosplay solidified the comicon masquerade--and changed the rules, or so they claimed.
The people in this video, dissect clearly almost everything they hate about the whole show, and apparently they've watched every episode, which they hate.
I think the most interesting thing is that their complaints are the same things the Heroes of Cosplay dealt with in episodes.
Again, the hatred is full of hatred for what they terms the uncessary drama--but the show is a reality show, and from what I can tell they just hate the show.
Here's the unadulterated truth:
The anger at the show is merely an outlet for cosplayers to complain about their talent. As usual the Cosplay truth is that Cosplayers are jealous of other cosplayers.
Their points are that the show is wrong because it sets an unfair standard for other cosplayers--again, these cosplayers are professional and powerful and at the top of the game. So the bitterness at the Heroes is that they all "know" each other, and that the athletic types of the show are angry against the heroes because apparently the Heroes hate fatties.
I've watched the show--I've watched every episode, and the episode in question said only that cosplayers should play to their strengths. This here is the "glue" that holds the cosplay community together. As I've said many times before--the cosplay community at large doesn't care, but they want you to believe that there is an evil conglomerate of fat haters out there, hurting and putting people down over their weight. The truth of the matter is this isn't happening publically. I'm sad to say it probably is happening, but probably never publically. IF you watch the episode, when the question is asked, straight to the camera, you can tell the incomfortableness in the eyes of the Heroes. They don't make it a habit to go around hunting people.
They don't. But the Cosplay community at large would have to believe that the Heroes are Elitist, and ugly and bullies.
The episode in question reveals the truth on everyone's mind. It's awkward--its rough because we live in a world where everyone wants to feel good about everyone--when the truth is, most of us go about our business minding our own business, and we don't go about publically singling our overweight or unattractive people. We just cosplay--and we try our best. Go to YouTube and type in Cosplay and Body type. Sit through the plethora of videos where Cosplayers raise their fists and vow to fight elitism/bullying/drama. You'll get the hint.
Bullying/Drama/Elitism is a redherring. The real issue is jealousy.
Which brings us back to inclusivity. Again the Cosplay community wants you to believe it accepts everyone, and anyone who wants to cosplay. BS.
It tries to do this, but here's the basic run down. Cosplaying is hard and some people don't have what it takes--they don't.
So what cosplayers do is they try to welcome everyone, but at a basic level, they must either help everyone on a basic level, which some cosplayers already have instictively and to mass educate everyone to the same standard--and presuppose that everyone has the same skill, to learn and to create.
I'm sorry, but Cosplay is an art form, and like Art, there are simply some people who are better at it.
They just are. That isn't meant to be hurtful, its meant to be Truth. It's called sink or swim.
Okay back to inclusivity.
According to the pie in the sky ideas of unclusivity, any group who says no, to any person, for any reason, is Elitist.
okay, so if i want to join any group, whatsoever, I'm not to be hindered, nor refused. Right? Wanna join the boat club, and I fail to own a boat, then I get to, regardless, right? That's inclusivity?
So with the same regard my Cosplay organization should let anyone in that wants in, even if they have no costume?
Right? That's inclusivity. Isn't it wonderful. Where does it stop?
To be honest, we have a standard in Cosplay Gallifrey, which is that you can buy your costume. You can. And your costume can be a work in progress. This is a very lenient idea, but ultimately, that costume has to be finished.
But go back to the inclusivity "ideal." Remember, its wrong to tell a person, get a costume and we'll get back to you, so as an example, if you don't have to have any standard to be included then you get what you want without education or hard work. We can't apply that to everything, can we?
Example: I want a job, and i'm unqualified--right? I still get the job.
In the first video above, about 3:10 the person speaking in the video states, "The cosplay community is about no drama, love support and acceptance."
So what I keep getting from Cosplayers is that "We fight elitism." and all i keep saying, back is" If a person doesn't have a costume, how can they be a member.?"
What these people want me to believe is that a costume-less cosplayer is a caterpillar.
And you have to take the caterpiller in and tell it its okay, and then mold it into a butterfly. I would partially agree, but how do you help that person without standards of value? How do you make them better without imposing guidelines and rules of participation.
Most recently in a discussion with another group, i was asked what "Cast List" is, which for our group is a a list of people who have certain costumes and are slightly more active than one event a year. These more active participants (With Costumes) are thought of first for events where we need to have a certain character. They are invited first, but this is only in an instant where there can be no doubles. For the 50th Anniversary, i wanted to make sure we had one of each doctor, so i called on those in the cast list. I also called on everybody. For a photoshoot, I asked cast list people first to show up--and after that, I asked anyone who could come--especially when several people couldn;t make it.
Apparently, this behavior is elitist and non-inclusive. Here is a poster that will remain anonymous:
I don't like participation based organizations. Here's why. When it comes to Cosplay the main factor is money, then time, then location. Someone shouldn't be given priority because they have the funds to do more events than someone who may often not have the funds but then gets overlooked because of their level of participation when they do.
The other thing is when you're as spread out as we are those of us with either funds to travel or who are lucky to live in a major hub where things happen are going to look better on the participation list. However someone does't often get to travel and lives out in the boonies so to speak would get overlooked because of their lack of participation in events when they do have the funds to travel.
Also just because someone lives in BFE doesn't mean they shouldn't have as much of a voice in the club or have as much right to be an officer as those of us who live in So Cal or New York or any other major hub of nerdiness.
The only way participation should count in your favor is when looking at those who fulfill obligations they set out to do. If you're planning for something you don't want the person who says they'll do it but then flakes all of the time or even most of the time. (Obviously not taking into account an emergency which is legitimate) A person's level of commitment shouldn't be measured by what they can afford to do or what they are located near but only by do they complete the things they commit to.
To me those that get called on should be based on what costumes they have and their ability to travel to the location they are needed at. Participation based organizations much like guilds in wow that only let the most active members raid just end up discouraging the people with the least amount of time, funds, or who are in more isolated locations and that's NOT being inclusive.
So, lets go over this. I pretty much reiterated, that more active people are people who are able to meet obligations and have the costume.
The Anonymous poster immediately turns participation based requirements into social and economic warfare.
I made no mention of the quality of the person's costume, which of course is a soci-economic factor that in the cideos, the cosplayers admit is part of cosplay. No it immediately becomes not about the costume cost, but the cost of going to things. The cost of showing up. That poor people, who somehow cosplay can make costumes but not wear them to events. Because, being seen in your costume, is not what Cosplay is about, its about an ideal. A pie in the sky ideal, where everyone can do it, and everyone should do it, and everyone is protected for doing it--Bull.
Asking people in a group, to show up, is exclusive. They should just be allowed in, no costume, no rules.
Participation is wrong.
Everyone gets a vote.
Everyone.
A person, who misses a meeting or doesn't show up, is entitled to feel wronged, and angry. A person who is also not-active, not present and not there, gets a vote. A person without a car, or the ability to be at a place when needed, gets a vote.
They are as valuable as the person who works his butt off to get a costume done and shows up. oh, wait, if you watch the videos, they complain about the "drama" exhibited in the show, that they don't work hard--but hard work is wrong...
Do you see the problem? I can't guage anything or measure it. "The Truth in Cosplay" moment is right there.
Judgement is important. Participation is important, but we have to make sure, everyone feels good.
This is apathy--I want to make sure that when you read this you see what this person is saying. I want you to see that it has nothing to do with ability, talent,or work ethic.
Those things, according to this person, cannot be measured. To measure them is wrong. To have a standard, for them, is wrong.
How do you manage that? How do you continually tell everyone they are great--how do you measure improvement?
How? How? How!
You judge and you look for greatness and hard work, and you don't troll around looking for bullies around every corner with the preconceived notion that 20th century bullies are out to hurt overweight people.
That's the truth and nothing but the Truth.
Love your fandom.
