What does your parents think about Cosplay?
For those of you who don't understand Chinese, I’ve done a lousy translation below. I don’t claim to be good/accurate but at least I’m better than Google Translator ^^;;;
JOINING COSPLAY MASQUERADE, WORKING ADULT DRESSING UP AS GHOST OR HORSES, PARENTS DISAPPROVES.
He is usually a normal working adult but some times, he changes into a ”Death God” . Lim Yong Hong (23 years old, administrative worker) spent $120 last weekend, making his own Death God costume from the Japanese Animanga title; ‘Death God’ (Anyone knows the Japanese title?) and went to Downtown East to perform (direct translation here :P)
Cosfest 2010 is an event co-organised by NTUC and SCC Square. Attendees for the event are all dressed up as different Japanese Animanga characters.
Most of the demographics are students but there are many working adults as well, like Lim Yong Hong.
In our interview with Lim Yong Hong, he mentioned that his parents have disapproved of this hobby before but he doesn’t mind.
“After a year or so, they have come to terms with it and don’t want to care about it/me already”
Another lady named Lim Ruo Yu (20+ years old, Designer) holding a scythe and a skull head, is cosplaying as the main character from a new Japanese anime (obviously didn’t bothered to do much research).
She has cosplayed for 10 years . And for this costume, she spent nearly $800. The costume she wears is also made by herself. Fiber glass (?) is used for her armour. Her friend Wu Yi Hua(25years) has also spent 2 months on her costume.
==== translation of article in the purple column ====
PARENTS SPEND ONE DAY MAKING PROPS
Many parents do not disapproves of their child doing cosplays, in fact, some even help to make props for them.
According to Wang Xin Hui (15 years) who was cosplaying as a character from “Demon dispelling shounen” (okay, I seriously need help in finding the Japanese title=_=|| ) along with Chen An Na (16 years), both their parents are very supportive. Wang Xin Hui’s big Hammer is even made by her parents who spent an entire day on it.
According to Chen An Na, “The materials are bought with my own savings, I did not particularly spend anymore of my parent’s money. With this hobby, I’ve gotten the chance to meet many like minded people henceforth my parents are both very supportive”
Really gotta give it to the peeps behind this write up. Not only have they successfully garnered the attention of their regular readers, they have also drawn in attentions from outside their usual demographics, (albeit negative or positive attention, I can't comment) to their publication. What a great media tactic.
Isn't it interesting how a simple change in perspective, usage of words and grammar can result in totally different meaning? I'm always very amazed by how one can subconsciously manipulate the thoughts of others with words alone. Death Note, Monster and Lelouch of the Rebellion anyone xD?
*Giving out flyers is a great promo tactic! No bunny suit deducted points though =X *
On a totally different note, check this grammar video (below) out just for lols xD
My mom don't like me spending time on cosplays and she's forever chiding me for the amount of rubbish I've accumulated.
The most annoying part comes when I start drafting or sewing my annual costumes. And my mom will start commenting that I "keep doing these things" when I obviously don't! In case you guys haven't realized, my cosplay quota per annum is very low. Meaning to say, I really should cosplay more but am not.
Suzumiya terrorising Oofuris XD
So I personally find it frustrating and unjust to be told that when I (personally feel) have dedicated most of my waking time to other people or work and when I use what's left of my time to do my own hobby, I have to be told that =_=. It makes me feel like she feels I’m just wasting time doing needless stuffs. Of course, I do understand why the older generations are a little susceptible to Cosplays so to their disapproving response, I can only ignore or roll my eyes.
Another awfully fine example of how the older generations disapproves of cosplays can be seen at Cosplay events held in public places. How many of you have tried changing/doing your cosplay make up at a public toilet before? And how many of you have gotten “shooed out” or received rude comments from the toilet cleaners before?
Share with me your experience in the comments.
Jesuke, me and Noshuu. Taken last saturday @ TGX
Sigh, I personally have a lot of such experiences. Many a times I really feel like retorting straight in their face to shut them up. But…. let’s just say I’m usually both too tired from costume rushing and too panicky (with costume changing) to bother with people of their level.
Or maybe somewhere in my heart I feel guilty, for being the “problem”. It’s a difficult scenario to assess who is right and who is wrong =\ More on the topic of public/event unhappy incidents next time. We experienced a lot of unhappy drama last weekend at TGX. Would probably blog about it in another entry.
Can’t believe I spent so much time on this entry again *palms forehead*. Remember to leave a comment and tell me what you guys feel!
Comments
Although, of course, sometimes they DO nag about the space taking, money wasting, time spending and being at this age, how long am I gonna continue this. LOL. But most of the time, they are pretty cool. :)
As for doing makeup/changing in the toilets, I've actually never got chased before :O Weird stares and annoyed 'tsk-ing' yeah, but generally, never met a situation whereby I got shooed or stuff like that. D:
That said, I usually do my makeup at home though. LOL. And maybe, luck. XD Yeah, luck.
But I think our local scene is rather big for most people to know that what we're doing is cosplay or 'performance' as the older generation terms it. So, perhaps, they may or are getting more accepting towards it? :O
To wit, I agree a lot with the opinion you've expressed. The fact cosplay can be treated so negatively is a bit chafing and annoying.
I have 2 fbook accounts because I need to keep my cosplay activities under wraps because of work. :/ There are some people at work who do not approve of it and would lessen their respect of me, it makes me afraid of how it may affect our relationship if they ever do find out. Yet at the same time I find it unfair that I need to keep my hobby hidden when other people can freely discuss theirs just because theirs are more socially accepted -_-
I understand why the older generations can't accept it though, and I don't expect them too ^^;; Times have changed that's all. And is it just me or does the evening paper tend to dramatise and make things look negative? As far as I remember, the ST times and zhaobao didn't seem that harsh with regards to cosplay.
As for the toilet thing, it is a public toilet after all, and I do feel guilty hogging the mirror area for long periods of time >< I try to put on most of my make-up at home then touch up the event. I heard at the NTU event they set aside a lecture hall for cosplayers to rest/prepare/make-up? I thought that was a good idea to avoid toilet hogging too :D
I've only cosplayed a few times and my mum nagged her head off about the cost of propmaking and such. However, on the day of a con she spotted me desperately trying to finish my shirt, and actually helped me to sew it and help me touch up my props!
I was surprised, since she was never enthusiastic about me cosplaying; but it turned out her reason for helping me was that she saw how hard I was trying to finish the outfit in time, so she decided to help me out.
About the toilet thing, I'm guessing that the washroom attendants are snappy at cosplayers because they are worried that the cosplayers would mess up the toilets? I remember a hawked eyed attendant who stood right next to my friend as she adjusted her wig; probably thinking my friend was going to wash her hair in the sink!
Either that, or they worry that the toilets will be too filled with cosplayers putting on their make up or changing clothes that non cosplayers can't use the toilets, and complain to the attendants' superiors.
Nevertheless, insightful post! And sorry for the long comment ><
Kaka, you mentioned that your mom always said you "keep doing these things" .. no worries mine too. And I usually work on "these things" when there's a big event coming. And I just don't understand why they like to say "KEEP DOING". Aiyoyo... cannot blame them too as they just don't understand or appreciate what we know and love. Due to generation gap. Must be.
I seldom get bad toilet experiences. The only bad one I had was when I was in toilet with you, Noshuu and Ruby. =D
But deep in their hearts, they still like the way we look like after dress up. My dad dont nag at me and my sister though my mum does. But after that, she still love the outcome of my sister and my costume. Sometime, we did won some prized during competition so this in a way that makes them feel proud as well :D :D
So overall, parents nag but in their hearts, they find cosplay as interesting hobby. I believe that communication is the key. We should share with them our cosplay photos and let them see how interesting this hobby is. Knows our limits also cause nobody likes to see house in the state of tornados.....
Parents just find it a silly thing at times but im sure plenty find it interesting...I mean i guess you need to explain to them at times they joy of it or what you are doing but what can we do? Parents like everyone else in the world are quick to judge something different or strange to them.
But in the end after my events, she still bugs me for photos to show her friends and colleagues. x_x;
About getting rude comments from toilet cleaners, there is a particular toilet auntie at TGX, who came in the toilet and scolded us for making her toilet 'kanasai' when all we did was use the sinks/mirror area. =_=;
right now since i'm still a beginner and is just bearly starting out, i stick to simple costumes like love is war miku and kagamine rin so the amount of money put into is isn't as much as other complex costumes so my mom can't really complain. my mom has actually made one of my older costumes for me. according to my mom she said she'll support me in anything i do as long as it isn't bad. my mom actually praises other cosplayers when she drops me off at conventions, saying how nice it is and stuff. my dad doesn't say much about it but he isn't against it or anything since the one time he picked me up from a con. he said the costumes were nice(other people). & one time i was sewing a costume in the living room & he was like "good job" lol.
as for the public toilets well in USA (Fanime in San Jose, CA) the conventions usually have their own bathrooms. & the hotels right next to them have restrooms also. so during the duration of the convention it's mostly cosplayers & con goers who are in them so no one makes a fuss. there are however other guest but with so many other cospalyers around, they're the ones that start out haha. even if you go to the resturants around the convention area like mcdonalds or something, nothing would really happen because there are other cospalyers there and the workers there can't really do anything about it since we're their customers XD
btw: are the cospayers in the newspaper picture sakana @ deviantart & ototsuki @ deviantart? they also did a death master & insane brs cosplay.
Now it's much better, seeing that I'm starting to have a much balanced life between school and cosplay. This is the only way to continuing cosplay, in my case, by cutting down the number of cosplays to do, so that my studies don't get affected. I know a lot of people out there do not agree with the way I'm handling cosplay, thinking that I'm not treating with the respect like everybody else, but it's not true! Just that, cosplay is my hobby, while my studies will bring me my rice bowl, so how in the world can prioritise cosplay over studies, or put them on equal standing?
Anyway, my dad is still abit irk by cosplay and thinks that I'm such a disgrace for becoming the Number One weirdo from the entire family, but my mom is more supportive now. She loans me the toilet for my wig cutting (lol) and the living room for my sewing when it got a bit dusty in my room =\ Although she still yells at me a lot when I secretly spray-painted things in the toilet or the wind blew some of the paint on the "public" wall when I do my stuff outdoors.
But I have to admit that cosplay is really time-consuming and er "money wasting" if you don't have the basic income, or if you're not from a can-make-do family. I don't really support those whose family is struggling hard to make a living etc to do cosplay, even if they genuinely like cosplay, because they should be placing their family's needs over his/her own wants. Needs over wants. Cosplayers, old and young, have to learn how to strike the balance and prioritise their stuff.
So far I only got "omg you're disgusting" looks from aunties in toilets. Nobody yelled/chased me out, so everything's fine. Usually I settle basic make-up at home before going events, otherwise everything will just melt if I do 100% at home.
They're fine with it as long as I'm spending within my budget, and cosplaying really taught me to manage my budget well.
My dad still asks me from time to time, when I intend to quit though. Despite that he'll still grudgingly help me with props and stuff, while grumbling all the time. My mum's a bit more supportive, she tends to give me a hand with my costumes, but both are still pretty freaked out over the wigs (for some reason), my dad will nag nonstop if he sees me cutting wigs.
Both parents somehow, despite not really having been supportive at first, now poke me nonstop for photos if I do a shoot or come back from event, or just want to see the costume I'm wearing to events and the like. My dad does the nagging of 'Don't go to dangerous places D=' more often. They think cosplay's giving me more friends, so I'm not really disputing them.
Toilet wise... Never gotten shoo-ed, maybe cause I keep glaring at people, I dunno, just the occasional weird looks. Most of the time I avoid by picking some obscure out of the way toilet that few people go to, so it's still quite okay.
As for myself, I've been liking Cosplay since many years ago, but I started to do it since last year more or less. I know I'm a bit old, but people don't really know how happy makes me feel when I Cosplay.
My parents doesn't approve it much. Specially my mom. She always says things like "Here you are with your "japanese" again"", "Why are you dressing up?", "Where are you going like that?", and stuffs like those, but I don't really care. And in the end, my mom went like "ok, do as you wish" and help me sometimes with props XD!
By the other hand, I've to deal sometimes with "rude" comments from other people. Specially here, in Chile, where people are really ignorant about "different things" and discriminate.
But I just laugh about that type of situations, because they don't have the personality to do what we do; and I'm happy being what I am : ) What other people thinks is irrelevant; I've learned that years ago.
An example for these situations was last Saturday. I was planning to take the photo for the WWCPJ and I had to go to an event. My parents didn't lend me the car, so I went out downtwon straight cosplaying as a Pokemon (Azumarill, to be more specific); I wanted to avoid the "dealing with people on the toilet XD!". Ok, to suddenly watch a girl (and a boy, because I was with my friend dresse up as a Jolteon, so he was all yellow-ish) walking down the street with a full blue dress, blue wig, a tail, bunny ears, etc. might be unusual, but come on! Is not a reason to creep out, I'm not going to eat you (probably, LOL XD!)
And if people gets very rude, I confront them (I got angry easily, so I don't like when people say thing without reasons and arguments).
Of course sometimes the cost makes them a little annoyed...but I'm learning how to budget better so that they don't complain too much. ^^;
"they still like the way we look like after dress up" << true. My mum is always commenting honestly whether she likes it or not (eg.pretty, scary, etc) IF i show her pix *lol* my father doesn't intervene with what i do.
she's often interested in the materials i use in costuming and sometimes takes the left-over to deco her own clothes =x i give her left-over wig extensions too~
she also takes interest in my cosplay friends. She knows most of u pplz (who teamed up/shoot with me) by names even if she hasn't seen u in person!
i never tell her about the costs, though apparently she knows it won't be cheap. There are times when i sew till 4am-5am in a row and she wld start nagging, but still tells me to eat vitC or other stuff in an attempt to stay healthy.
and yes, i always make the living room as if bypassed by tornados. There's a silent compromise btw us that she'll close one eye till the convention/shoot is over, then i'll try to pack up the mess bit by bit...
En, I think the qu mo shao nian might be referring to D.Gray Man. And the big hammer whould be Lavi's. hurr.
They got over it because no matter how they disapprove of it I just keep on cosplaying and be the otaku that I am. So at the moment they're very neutral of it though when they learn I plan of competing in cosplay conventions the suddenly went all supportive. Weird. But yeah that's basically it.
With regards to the public toilet inconveniences, I think it would be a big help for all the cosplayers if organizers would set aside a plce for them to change and prep up. saves everyone the hassle, don't you think so? Coz it can really get awfully crowded in the Public restrooms.
Personally I feel our society IS getting more and more accepting or rather, more USED to cosplay=)
Athene: Yeah, awesome typography xD. I understand what you mean about keeping your hobby under wraps. I used to be very protective too but these days I'm starting to relent and learning to give my hobby some pride. While cutting myself some slack. Its suffocating sometimes =\
Jac:OUTSIDE ?! What eye candy hahahhaa xD!
Reiko: Sighz, they are obviously playing with the title to drum more attention. I do my basic makeup at home too but ....most of the time, I still need to spend a lot of changing and touching up @_@;;
Annoymous: take it with a pinch of salt =) Its just the papers
Ecoli : =\ *hugs hugs*
Shuushuu: HAHAHHA OKAY BLEACH AND D'Gray MAn ahhahaa
Alkhe: thanks for the comment! it was surprisingly heartwrming to read all your comments and learn how despite most parent's disapproval, they would still help their children with the costume xD Actually my mom was like that too in the beginning. now she heck care me le =(
Yuanie: so lucky you never got any lousy toilet experience D:
Xiaobai: LOL closet all e way! how do you manage?
maria_tachi: agree that cosplay is a really extravagant and unpractical hobby.
The sad truth is that, there will always be none mainstream people pointing at you because certain things you do are different from them and with some of the childish action to get some attention during cosplay, it further imprint this negative view to those who are not supportive in the first place.
My parents never give a direct 'no' but they don't approve at all. Especially when a parcel comes when I'm in school and I end up having to sweet-talk them into collecting it for me.. =x
My parents don't fully support, but neither do they object to my cosplaying. They grumble about the money(all cosplay funds came from my pocket money and salary), time spent, my sleeping at 1-4am on working days especially this year, making a mess of my room and the space it takes up. But they do help out. My dad helped me spray paint before and my mum helped/taught me to sew and draft clothes. The recent Cloth Road(big hat) one, my mum suggested me to take a taxi instead of bus and my dad actually helped me bring it down and into the taxi. Years ago, when I told them we cosplay at Orchard Road(Streetfest), my mum found it amusing we dared to walk along there. I suppose if I'm not committing a crime, they don't object to what I do.
As for the toilet, this is my account with Kaika, Yuanie and Ruby for other readers sake at the recent TGX. I met up with Kaika and we walked quite far end of Expo. The toilets there were miserable with 2 cubicles each. I insisted on finding one with nobody and with more cubicles so as not to hog for other non-cosplay users. We finally found one near the end with 10 over cubicles. While I was changing and Kaika was putting on her make-up, an admin guy and female cleaner came and said they were closing the toilet. Needless to say, we had to stop whatever we were doing and go to the small toilets. Another female cleaner came in and grumbled something like "since morning blah blah".
I understand where they're coming from, especially when toilets are messed up when cosplayers cut their wig, spray and mess up the toilet. But we're not the ones doing it so don't take it out on us ler...
Of course I also get the "your mess is everywhere" but as long as I'm happy they don't bother to criticize me. So long as I'm not walking out of the house in a butt naked costume >w<
I haven't really had rude toilet experiences inside, but when my friends and I walked outside a bunch of girls sneered at us and said some rather rude comments. She didn't realize that my friends mom was behind them sneering back xD
Hmm... when I first started I think my parents were amused. My mom even made my costumes hahaha. But when they realised I'm still continuing the hobby and spending alot of money and time on it, they began nagging. Though half amused though. My mom still gave me advice now and then with sewing and my dad is always half amused with the props I make... esp the recent one. I guess with time they got used to it. I think the reason why parents cannot see this hobby is also a form of art is because it's related to animation. To them, animation = cartoons and cartoons are for kids. Hence it's more difficult for them to accept.
The toilet thingy... like Shuui and Reiko, I tend to do my make up at home. It's more convenient anyway. I remember I did scare some guy who saw me at the toilet entrance when I was doing a guy cosplay. He had to check the gender of the toilet twice before entering the gents. LOL
IF let's say organisers do actually want to have a big event or so, I think they should start considering spaces for people to put their stuff (like luggages etc) and a place to do make up and change. If they want to continue promoting this hobby as a healthy (we all know it's a lie) hobby which is like fishing, they then need to provide space for cosplayers to do such things in order not to represent the community of this hobby in a bad way.
I might have been pampered with events in Japan already or something, but even small doujin events that is not cosplay-centric has changing rooms for cosplayers so that they do not hog the toilets. In fact, we were advise not to use the toilets in case we become public nuisances. And we were not allowed to cross certain areas so that we will not be public nuisances again.
It's a vicious cycle really. Parents hate us doing this, we annoy people in public, goes to the news, parents read and parents hates us doing this again. (Might be too superficial this example..;;;) But if organisers can provide necessary amenities for cosplayers and cosplayers also portraying a positive side to the public (ie not screaming and running in public causing aunties to frown upon us), we might be able to change the public view on us.
(Talk so much... I'm going to quit this hobby liao... hahahaha!)
As for the toliet, well i've never got chased out but there is that occasional annoying stares that you get, and people rolling their eyes at times. LOL. Normally i try to get my stuff done as soon as i can but it still takes time. But sometimes, i do get asked what on earth i am doing. LOL. especially the 'ang mo's ;X.
I guess public is getting used to cosplayers? i'm not very sure but judging on the amount of events we have been having. i think so;X. but still it doesn't mean that we are fully accepted D:. i was recently badly insulted by my classmates for being a cosplayer. Don't understand some of these people sometimes.
but they dont mind, in fact they helped me buy my first 2 costumes XD and helped me make my props as well. 8D;;
and for the toliet changin part LMAO YES PLZ. yep. my brother laughed his head off when i changed at home once. and well, its a bit werid here in Australia if people just randomly dress up, so its a bit awkward. loool. random stares FTW.
but i would think Singapore was more "cosplay" accpetable? o;
But my parents are a bit supportive,they ask me if I need this or that for my "future costumes" and they don't mind if i dress anime-ish.Its ok to them that I dress as I please (but I still have my limitations :D) Though sometimes my father would ask why the heck do I want to cosplay or to listen to Japanese songs..>.<
Nonetheless they don't nag if I dress "weirdly" or play Japanese songs loudly..
:DD
A lot of people here in the Philippines are beginning to accept the culture of cosplayer while some (maybe still tons?) of them are discriminating cosplayers or even those who like to dress up anime-ish..T_T
Just the other day, I made a pair of wings out of a cardboard box for my Dark Mousy from DNAngel cosplay and it's in my closet hidden away. The instructions and pics for it are posted on my deviantART page. My username is Sakura517. If you wanna look at my finished cosplay, look up "My finished Dark Mousy Cosplay".
But if anyone out there knows how to help me, please help. I'm desprate!