"It's an Asian thing".
Thus far, I've had two separate lectures dealing with cosplay by the same researcher. The findings haven't changed much over the two years: Singaporean cosplayers think Western cosplayers suck. Reasons: they don't look physically like the characters they cosplay, they don't respect the character and they don't put thought or effort into the costume.
I suggested in discussion that Singaporean cosplayers might have a negative bias against Western cosplayers and that's why they rank them so lowly ("the worst", apparently, according to a poll my lecturer did among SG cosplayers at one of the cons). There's a basic East vs. West generalisation underlying their reasons: that Westerners don't try to understand the character or the concept of cosplaying as much as Asians (to respect the character by doing research, acting IC during cosplay etc.). That Westerners only see it as "dress up" and are more willing to mock the character.
Ironically, they focus on "understanding" the character, yet Westerners get an automatic demerit because their physical features don't match anime characters, which they identify as more "Asian". The other irony is that early Japanese anime characters were designed precisely to NOT be Japanese, but to have no distinct nationality or to look more Western (hence, big eyes and wild hair colours, and the preference for blonds). That's all changed by now (one might say that current anime series are being exported explicitly with Japan-lite culture), but history always puts a funny twist on things, dunnit?
In the video on Singaporean cosplay, the prime example of bad Western cosplaying is the fat dude who dresses as Sailormoon (to the shame of my geek cred, I don't know who he is or what he's called). I can't believe anyone takes that as serious cosplay (feel free to correct if I'm wrong), and am tempted to send an email to lecturer to clarify that Sailor Dude is a purposeful parody of cosplaying. I highly doubt he actually thinks he looks good in a short skirt.
Now, some take offence at parodying cosplay itself. If this really is the case, I'd like to research why Western cosplayers are more willing to laugh at themselves than uptight Asian cosplayers who don't know how to let loose.
I suggested, basically speculated (i.e. talking outta my ass) since I've only read one thread on cosplaying on GameFAQs many years ago, that maybe Western cosplaying has different criteria on judging cosplay: maybe while Asians value technical skill in making the costume (sewing, choosing appropriate materials and physically similar characters), Western cosplaying puts more value on having the courage to take part in cosplay to begin with, on the effort put into making the costume as accurately as possible (even if it looks a little shitty in the end). Not saying they're values exclusive to any one group, but since we're making broad generalisations...
Most interestingly, someone in my discussion class said it's because we "share Asian values with Japan" that it somehow makes Singaporean cosplayers better. I dunno about you, but anytime I see any non-Japanese speaker pull a "Kawaiiiiii~~~~", chills run a marathon down my spine. Even more interestingly, she turned it around and said that Western cosplayers were a better fit for Western characters, such as Star Wars, than Asian cosplayers.
Then time, as it is wont to do when things start getting interesting, ended, and the discussion was never heard of again.
I suggested in discussion that Singaporean cosplayers might have a negative bias against Western cosplayers and that's why they rank them so lowly ("the worst", apparently, according to a poll my lecturer did among SG cosplayers at one of the cons). There's a basic East vs. West generalisation underlying their reasons: that Westerners don't try to understand the character or the concept of cosplaying as much as Asians (to respect the character by doing research, acting IC during cosplay etc.). That Westerners only see it as "dress up" and are more willing to mock the character.
Ironically, they focus on "understanding" the character, yet Westerners get an automatic demerit because their physical features don't match anime characters, which they identify as more "Asian". The other irony is that early Japanese anime characters were designed precisely to NOT be Japanese, but to have no distinct nationality or to look more Western (hence, big eyes and wild hair colours, and the preference for blonds). That's all changed by now (one might say that current anime series are being exported explicitly with Japan-lite culture), but history always puts a funny twist on things, dunnit?
In the video on Singaporean cosplay, the prime example of bad Western cosplaying is the fat dude who dresses as Sailormoon (to the shame of my geek cred, I don't know who he is or what he's called). I can't believe anyone takes that as serious cosplay (feel free to correct if I'm wrong), and am tempted to send an email to lecturer to clarify that Sailor Dude is a purposeful parody of cosplaying. I highly doubt he actually thinks he looks good in a short skirt.
Now, some take offence at parodying cosplay itself. If this really is the case, I'd like to research why Western cosplayers are more willing to laugh at themselves than uptight Asian cosplayers who don't know how to let loose.
I suggested, basically speculated (i.e. talking outta my ass) since I've only read one thread on cosplaying on GameFAQs many years ago, that maybe Western cosplaying has different criteria on judging cosplay: maybe while Asians value technical skill in making the costume (sewing, choosing appropriate materials and physically similar characters), Western cosplaying puts more value on having the courage to take part in cosplay to begin with, on the effort put into making the costume as accurately as possible (even if it looks a little shitty in the end). Not saying they're values exclusive to any one group, but since we're making broad generalisations...
Most interestingly, someone in my discussion class said it's because we "share Asian values with Japan" that it somehow makes Singaporean cosplayers better. I dunno about you, but anytime I see any non-Japanese speaker pull a "Kawaiiiiii~~~~", chills run a marathon down my spine. Even more interestingly, she turned it around and said that Western cosplayers were a better fit for Western characters, such as Star Wars, than Asian cosplayers.
Then time, as it is wont to do when things start getting interesting, ended, and the discussion was never heard of again.