Cosplay is a relatively recent subculture. The ancestor country of cosplay is Japan. Literally this term means "costume play".
Cosplay originated among lovers of Japanese animation - anime. Anime became very popular in the 70s and 80s and was part of the lives of many young Japanese people. This is where the idea of reincarnating into a favorite character came from.
The essence of cosplay
Cosplay in its manifestations has a lot in common with theatrical performances. The difference is that everyone can participate in these performances. The main task of the cosplayer is to get used to the role of the chosen hero as believably as possible.
Traditional cosplay is based on anime, but there are many modifications now. Western heroes are also popularized, such as characters from "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter". Sometimes the player is given the opportunity to invent his own character, to show his talents and ingenuity.
You can play any living creature of any gender. In fact, it is possible to transform into anyone, because you can use a huge arsenal of tools for this.
Devoted to their hobby, cosplayers make costumes with their own hands, which can sometimes take up to six months. At the same time, all the smallest details of the appearance of the copied hero are observed. An intense make-up is applied to the face, changing the cosplayer beyond recognition.
Many heroes have different hair, skin or eye color. Therefore, multi-colored wigs and outlandish lenses are actively used. Heroes often carry all sorts of magical attributes, which are also handcrafted.
Cosplay as a kind of popular culture
The matter is not limited to appearance, the player must be as believable as possible in the character's body. You need to copy the manner of his conversation, behavior, gestures. To demonstrate their ability to reveal the character, themed cosplay events are organized.
At such festivals, cosplayers compete with each other, showing various scenes from the life of the characters. Role-playing games are also held, reproducing a certain plot of interaction between the characters. Such events are captured in detail by many photographers.
There is now a real surge of interest in Japanese culture around the world, leading to the popularization of cosplay outside of Japan. Outwardly, cosplayers identify themselves with various attributes, such as a dyed strand of hair. They also have a specific vocabulary.
