Cosplay

[Goldfish3O]

Is cosplay an acceptable thing? Or is it a little shunned?

[theCryptofishist]

I'm not sure. There is so much going on there, that it's hard to tell what fits into those tidy categories that we have back here.
I'm guessing that the answer is "yes" it's acceptable and "yes" that it's looked down upon.

[AntiM]

Seems a little out of place, or commercial to some folks, overall no one cares much. Lots of Star Wars out there some years, so that's a possibility.
Some burners won't get what character you're doing, they'll just like the costume.
Do you want to subject a carefully crafted costume to the playa? Wigs really take a beating out there if you use one.

Burning Man 2006 143 - Copy.jpg

[Goldfish3O]

Thank ya'll. I was just going to do something simple and in the dessert theme. Oh and thank you for the wig advice, I almost brought one. >.<

[knowmad]

I get accused of it! lol.
Buy wigs! Sacrifice them to the dust.

[Eric]

Do what you want, don't worry about what others think. Period. I've seen cosplay, furries, people in full Ren-Faire outfits, and people in jeans & t-shirts. If it makes you happy wear it. If it doesn't, don't.

However, they're not kidding about the wigs...

[some seeing eye]

I think a cosplay meetup or camp would be awesome! BM likes certain aesthetics cosplay neat done, but not cosplay itself. The environment will destroy costumes, hope they are cleanable. If your own your identity authentically, your cosplay will connect with BM participants.

[Lowz]

Do what you want, don't worry about what others think. Period. I've seen cosplay, furries, people in full Ren-Faire outfits, and people in jeans & t-shirts. If it makes you happy wear it. If it doesn't, don't.

However, they're not kidding about the wigs...

simple, true.
Just read the ten principles and make it yours.

[Savannah]

Is cosplay an acceptable thing? Or is it a little shunned?

Wear what you want. This is a place where folks of every body type go topless, bottomless or naked on a whim, or dress in drag for breakfast. My first year I saw a man in a suit wearing a crown of a dozen candles melted down to his bare skull and dripping onto his face. (Turns out, Eric knows him! )

i.e., your cosplay costume is unlikely to offend.

That said, if you have many outlets for cosplay in the real world, you might pack something you have fewer chances to wear. The Burn is a grand opportunity to wear something you can't normally get away with, for whatever reason.

Your stuff may get thrashed by the elements, so be prepared for that . . . don't bring anything hugely expensive, unwashable, irreplaceable, or anything that sheds.

[Dr. Pyro]

My first year I saw a man in a suit wearing a crown of a dozen candles melted down to his bare skull and dripping onto his face.

I believe you're referring to Nambla The Clown.

[Eric]

My first year I saw a man in a suit wearing a crown of a dozen candles melted down to his bare skull and dripping onto his face.

I believe you're referring to Nambla The Clown.

He is one twisted genius, and one of the people who finally got me to start going BMan.



Now days someone would probably yell at him about the MOOP the candles were creating...

[Savannah]

My first year I saw a man in a suit wearing a crown of a dozen candles melted down to his bare skull and dripping onto his face.

I believe you're referring to Nambla The Clown.

He is one twisted genius, and one of the people who finally got me to start going BMan.



Now days someone would probably yell at him about the MOOP the candles were creating...

Yep, that's the guy! He wore only eyeliner when I saw him, and (I believe) no facial hair. The wax also hadn't dripped as far, because I remember seeing his face.

[Earthwalker]

Now THAT is creative genius. I love it.

[Goldfish3O]

I think a cosplay meetup or camp would be awesome! BM likes certain aesthetics cosplay neat done, but not cosplay itself. The environment will destroy costumes, hope they are cleanable. If your own your identity authentically, your cosplay will connect with BM participants.

OMG I can trash my old sakura cosplay to the dust! and yes there should be a cosplay meetup!

[theCryptofishist]

Nambla is one person I'm sorry I never ran into.

[Ugly Dougly]

"Cosplay" makes dressing up in costumes sound kinky.

[gyre]

We used to call it friday night.

[aserendipity]

Well I had to look it up ! so there is an assigned category now to our gear

Burners wear what they feel

Lately I have been going as myself and giving away the roomful of stuff from before
it feels great

[MyDearFriend]

Okay I have not cosplayed in BRC but, my son Archie got nice shots of some fun cosplay last year. This is his friend Steph playing

"Nabooru"



and

"Yoko Littner"



If you are having fun, you are doing it right.

[BBadger]

[blueeyedtreefrog]

Is it your very most favorite thing to wear? Than wear it with the most important thing you will wear, a great big smile. This is a good time to push boundaries too. What's something you've always wanted to wear, but have been afraid to? The happier you are and the more you express yourself, the more others will enjoy it. Also, it's a great time to be creative. My playa wear is very cosplay inspired, but it is of an original character, me! Why not make a new cosplay from all your favorite aspects of existing costumes?

Don't forget, you need goggles and a dust mask, you can make that part of your costume! Boots are a good idea too. During the day, you are going to want to stay cool. For some people, that means wearing very little. For others, it means wearing light fabric. Light colors make a big difference out in the sun. It is a good idea to have a hat to block the sun. If you are fair skinned, be cautious of sunburn. At night, it's a little different. I like to return to camp for a water refill, some dinner, and to change clothes at sundown. Long sleeves and layers are good to keep warm. Make sure to light yourself up so others can see you. Playa dust dulls colors, why not light yourself up with some brilliant colored LEDS! In addition to not getting flattened by art cars and bikes in deep playa, you will always be able to see where you are going and what you are doing. If you make a pattern that is recognizable from far away, your friends will be able to spot you in the distance.

When I cosplay, I often make costumes that are elaborate, but difficult to move around in or uncomfortable. At Burning Man, you are going to want to be able to walk far, squeeze through crowds, and climb on things. Are you a dancer? I really like having costumes that accentuate dancing motions. Or maybe you are less hyper than I am. Maybe you want a nice warm faux fur jacket to keep you warm while you sit around the fire under the star lit sky with your friends.

One of my favorite things about Burning Man is making and seeing beautiful and functional things. So many things in the default world are beautiful or functional, but at Burning Man you get both.

[Ugly Dougly]

Yeah, I was thinking (theoretically!) about a Goon (as in Popeye) costume. Aside from the shaven head (with no sun protection) you'd probably have to think about whether it would look stupid with a dust mask and goggles.
And really elaborate costumes need a minder, or someone to tend to the costume wearer.

[aserendipity]

love you Dougly !

[Roberto Dobbisano]

fuck, who needs burning man to get weird?


not me.

[aserendipity]

Right !
it took me years to realize that
Weird
until at BRC I am me

[trilobyte]

The thing to remember is that "cosplay" is just the term that other communities use to justify making and wearing costumes or unusual dress. In the Burning Man community wearing costumes and unusual dress is both encouraged and an accepted norm.

Personally I prefer original designs, rather than duplicating something from a movie, tv show, video game, or comic… but ultimately it's about doing what makes you happy.

[MyDearFriend]

I see an unacknowledged spiritual dimension to cosplay that explains why it is so closely connected with Halloween. To my mind the care, attention, and investment required for some of these recreations is very interesting; like a Crane Dance. Something is evoked there. Something is intended. Something is sought. The costume becomes more than just clothing, original or not.

This is all very interesting to me, sorry.

[gyre]

Doing very elaborate posed tableaux was an early art form related to paintings, when photography was new.

Some of them are amazing.

[Ugly Dougly]

Right !
it took me years to realize that
Weird
until at BRC I am me

Yes, some of us go to Burning Man because we are "weird" in Defaultia. And we can be "normal" at Burning Man.

But some of us just want to "weird out" other people. At Burning Man, that takes a little more effort.