The library is hosting its annual cosplay event on Friday, August 4, and I could not be more excited.
What is this “cosplay” I speak of?
Cosplay is a contraction of the words costume + play. It is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. These characters can come from anywhere: movies, comic books, video games or cartoons. Cosplay was born from the love of fandoms in the 1960s, but it has grown in scope.
Our cosplay contest will be fun and low pressure, but there are people who spend a lot of time and talent on cosplay. Some have even made a career out of it. Whether they work in cosplay construction, photography, or paid work at convention booths, there is the potential to make money.
There are cosplay contests held all over the world. But it’s not just about how good your outfit looks. How accurate is it? How much of it did you make yourself? And there is the performance aspect: do you walk and talk and interact with the crowd like your character would?
Cosplay is fun for all ages, from the tiniest baby Superman to the older, wiser (?) Han Solo. We have four age categories and tons of great prizes. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Be sure to arrive before the library closes at 6 p.m. for this special after-hours event!
Want to learn more?
- Epic Cosplay Costumes: A Step-by-step Guide to Making and Sewing your Own Costume Designs
- The Costume Making Guide: Creating Armor & Props for Cosplay
- Comic Con: Episode IV, A Fan’s Hope
Photo by Mouzycat. Used with permission from bombadil_cosplay and Pretty Guardians of StL.
