Cosplay

Cosplay
Author: Frenchy Lunning
Publisher: U of Minnesota Press
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2022-03-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1452967466

An exploration of cosplay and its relationship with the realms of its global fandom, performance, and the modes of fictional existence Flourishing far beyond its Japanese roots, cosplay has become an international phenomenon with fervid fans who gather at enormous, worldwide conventions annually. Here, author Frenchy Lunning offers an intimate, sensational tour through cosplay’s past and present, as well as its global lure. Through a culmination of years of personal research on cosplay, and growing out of Lunning’s wealth of scholarship, conference presentations, and cosplayer interviews, Cosplay is a unique and necessary examination of identity, performance, play, and otaku fandom and culture in relation to contemporary theories. With discussions covering construction, masquerades, and community through performance, Lunning presents cosplay as a dynamic and ever-evolving global practice. She combines the fascinating viewpoints of cosplayers with observational, in-depth research on cosplay history and practice, and a deep dive into critical theory involving the modes of fictional existence, in order to understand its global expansion. Augmented with beautiful photographs, this is an engrossing, lively read that explores a complicated and often misunderstood history and meditates on how cosplay allows its participants to create and construct meaning and identity.

Street Style in America

Street Style in America
Author: Jennifer Grayer Moore
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 394
Release: 2017-08-18
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1440844623

A comprehensive resource that will prove invaluable to fashion historians, this book presents a detailed exploration of the breadth of visually arresting, consumer-driven styles that have emerged in America since the 20th century. What are the origins of highly specific denim fashions, such as bell bottoms, skinny jeans, and ripped jeans? How do mass media and popular culture influence today's street fashion? When did American fashion sensibilities shift from conformity as an ideal to youth-oriented standards where clothing could boldly express independence and self-expression? Street Style in America: An Exploration addresses questions like these and many others related to the historical and sociocultural context of street style, supplying both A–Z entries that document specific American street styles and illustrations with accompanying commentary. This book provides a detailed analysis of American street and subcultural styles, from the earliest example reaching back to the early 20th century to contemporary times. It reviews all aspects of dress that were part of a look, considering variations over time and connecting these innovations to fashionable dress practices that emerged in the wakes of these sartorial rebellions. The text presents detailed examinations of specific dress styles and also interrogates the manifold meanings of dress practices that break from the mainstream. This book is a comprehensive resource that will prove invaluable to fashion historians and provide fascinating reading for students and general audiences.

Youth Cultures in America [2 volumes]

Youth Cultures in America [2 volumes]
Author: Simon J. Bronner
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 869
Release: 2016-03-21
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1440833923

What are the components of youth cultures today? This encyclopedia examines the facets of youth cultures and brings them to the forefront. Although issues of youth culture are frequently cited in classrooms and public forums, most encyclopedias of childhood and youth are devoted to history, human development, and society. A limitation on the reference bookshelf is the restriction of youth to pre-adolescence, although issues of youth continue into young adulthood. This encyclopedia addresses an academic audience of professors and students in childhood studies, American studies, and culture studies. The authors span disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, and folklore. The Encyclopedia of Youth Cultures in America addresses a need for historical, social, and cultural information on a wide array of youth groups. Such a reference work serves as a corrective to the narrow public view that young people are part of an amalgamated youth group or occupy malicious gangs and satanic cults. Widespread reports of bullying, school violence, dominance of athletics over academics, and changing demographics in the United States has drawn renewed attention to the changing cultural landscape of youth in and out of school to explain social and psychological problems.

Costuming Cosplay

Costuming Cosplay
Author: Therèsa M. Winge
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2018-11-01
Genre: Design
ISBN: 1350035890

Cosplay, short for "costume play", has grown from its origins at fan conventions into a billion-dollar global dress phenomenon. Costuming Cosplay takes us from elaborately crafted DIY costumes to online fandoms, examining how the practice of portraying fictional characters from popular culture through dress and performance has become a creative means of expressing and playing with different identities. With an approach that ranges from admiration and role-play to gender performance, this is the first book to fully examine the subculture and costume of the Cosplay phenomenon. Drawing on extensive first-hand research at conventions across North America and Asia, Therèsa M. Winge invites us to explore how Cosplay functions as a meritocracy of creativity, escapism, and disguise, and offers a creative realm in which fantasy and new forms of socializing carry as much importance as costume. Illustrated with color photographs of both celebrity and amateur Cosplayers, Costuming Cosplay is essential reading for students and scholars of fashion and costume, popular culture, anthropology, gender, and media studies, as well as global players and fans of Cosplay.

New Approaches to Decolonizing Fashion History and Period Styles

New Approaches to Decolonizing Fashion History and Period Styles
Author: Ashley Bellet
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2023-12-29
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1003831370

New Approaches to Decolonizing Fashion History and Period Styles: Re-Fashioning Pedagogies offers a wide array of inclusive, global, practical approaches for teaching costume and fashion history. Costume designers, technicians, and historians have spent the last several years re-evaluating how they teach costume and fashion history, acknowledging the need to refocus the discourse to include a more global perspective. This book is a collection of pedagogical methods aimed to do just that, with an emphasis on easy reference, accessible activities, and rubrics, and containing a variety of ways to restructure the course. Each chapter offers a course description, syllabus calendar, course objectives, and learning outcomes, as well as sample activities from instructors across the country who have made major changes to their coursework. Using a combination of personal narratives, examples from their work, bibliographies of helpful texts, and student responses, contributors suggest a variety of ways to decolonize the traditionally Western-focused fashion history syllabus. This collection of pedagogical approaches is intended to support and inspire instructors teaching costume design, costume history, fashion history, period styles, and other aesthetic histories in the arts.

1000 Incredible Costume & Cosplay Ideas

1000 Incredible Costume & Cosplay Ideas
Author: Yaya Han
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2013-05-01
Genre: Design
ISBN: 1610587634

If you think only Hollywood and Broadway costume designers can do spectacular, think again! A gallery of stunning and inspiring cosplay photography. 1000 Incredible Costume and Cosplay Ideas provides a broad and detailed glimpse into the ingenious artistry and attention to detail behind some of the most fabulous costumes you’ll find anywhere . . . and most of them are designed by just regular folks who have a passion for the character they’re looking to emulate. From clothing to makeup to accessories, these costumes are like nothing you’ve seen before. Featuring costumes from popular convention-goers to professional craftsmen, this stunning, photo-filled book by Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories and Yaya Han walks you through scads of favorite characters as imagined and created by fans. Use it as inspiration for your next costume creation!

The Costume Making Guide

The Costume Making Guide
Author: Svetlana Quindt
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2016-12-12
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN: 1440345163

Bring your cosplay dreams to life with your own two hands! The Best Cosplay Tutorial Guide Ever! Get ready to impress ordinary mortals with your superhuman costume-making skills. You can do it no matter what your experience level with this, the first full step-by-step technique book on cosplay--with no sewing! Internationally known cosplayer Kamui Cosplay (a.k.a. Svetlana Quindt) shows you how to easily create elaborate costumes and successful props out of items available at your local arts and craft or hardware stores: turn foam into a realistic axe, create a breastplate from scratch and use a glue gun to modify just about anything. You will even learn the best and most accessible techniques for working with specialty cosplay materials such as Worbla! Packed with more than 30 step-by-step demonstrations that teach the skills you need to bring all your favorite characters to life no matter the genre, Kamui Cosplay deconstructs the work that goes into making a complete costume, from the first thought to the final photo. Tutorials cover design planning, fabricating body armor, 3D painting techniques and more. Best of all, you can adapt every lesson to use in all future fandom projects spanning video games, books, anime, movies and even your own original characters! Includes: • How to choose a costume and find good reference art • A short shopping list of necessary materials and tools for beginning cosplayers • Basic safety tips • A beautiful photo gallery featuring inspiring images from other cosplayers • Next steps--how to grow your workshop, take professional photos, participate in contests and join the cosplay community

Cosplay - The Beginner's Masterclass

Cosplay - The Beginner's Masterclass
Author: Miyuu Takahara
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2017-07-16
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN: 1387104853

"Cosplay is one of the most physically, emotionally and socially intense hobbies in the world today. It involves months of time, ceaseless attention to detail and a dedicated commitment that dwarves almost any other recreational pursuit. The myriad skills, knowhow and effort that must be iinvested cannot be underestimated. ... Split into five principle parts, this book introduces and instructs upon the various skills needed to convincingly undertake cosplay. Giving homage to the hobby's origins and history, the experience of the convention, and the means of costuming on a budget, the authors seek to please all who seek to undertake the hobby." --

The Meanings of Dress

The Meanings of Dress
Author: Kimberly A. Miller-Spillman
Publisher: Fairchild Books
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2019-01-24
Genre: Design
ISBN: 1501323873

"There are some really great readings that supplement the theoretical underpinnings of each chapter." Angie G. Liljequist, Fontbonne University, USA "A comprehensive compilation of readings for students studying the social and psychological aspects of appearance and dress." Jessica Strubel, University of North Texas, USA Learn how-and why-consumers buy clothing and accessories, and increase your global awareness as you study dress and appearance. Contributions are from writers on four continents and examples are from ten countries, including Ghana, Vietnam, Norway, and Jamaica, among others. The book includes more than 40 articles on topics such as wearable technology, cosplay, lesbian dress, and genderqueer fashion. - Contributors are experts in fashion theory, cultural studies, psychology, sociology, gender studies, religion, material culture, consumer behavior, and popular culture - Two separate chapters on gender and sexuality - International examples are included from Afghanistan, China, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam - More than 100 black and white images PLEASE NOTE: Purchasing or renting this ISBN does not include access to the STUDIO resources that accompany this text. To receive free access to the STUDIO content with new copies of this book, please refer to the book + STUDIO access card bundle ISBN 9781501323942.

Cosplay and the Dressing of Identity

Cosplay and the Dressing of Identity
Author: Vivian Asimos
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2024-10-13
Genre: Design
ISBN: 1789149665

Featuring several images of cosplay, a fun and fascinating look at the power and meaning of this cultural phenomenon. Cosplay, born from the fusion of “costume” and “play,” transcends mere dress-up by transforming enthusiasts of TV shows, movies, books, or video games into living embodiments of their cherished characters. This book is a close exploration of the vibrant world of cosplay, showing what makes it so captivating for so many. Vivian Asimos frames cosplay as an enactment and embodiment of mythology, revealing its inherent complexity, and in so doing, provides valuable insight into cosplayers’ experiences. Exploring cosplay performances, the skills involved, and its community, she shows how cosplayers build a strong connection to the characters and stories they treasure, and ultimately how they are constructing their own identities.