Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2018 - 42

Demona from Gargoyles
(1994-1996)-Cosplay
by Amanda Fehlner.
Photo by Hidden Vision
Photography.

original creator is at your fingertips. The
trends in costuming for cosplay change
as quickly as films are released, and the
Internet provides immediate access and
availability of research and inspiration
for cosplayers to pursue their projects
with a precise detail-oriented approach.
In both theatre and in cosplay, the reliability of online sources needs to be
judged by the viewer, because with greater access comes the additional challenge
of filtering through vast amounts of information and misinformation. A cosplayer
with an education in theatre design,
technology, and costume history is able
to use that training to distinguish the
reliability of resources found online and

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THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

WINTER 2018

make informed choices about research.
Collaboration and communication
processes have changed as a result of
the digital world. Theatre has a long and
strong tradition of teaching through apprenticeships, one-on-one mentorships,
and via hands-on lessons from skilled
artisans. The cosplay community has
embraced the apprentice system used in
theatre but uses the Internet as the main
platform for communication. This platform allows for increased access and for
cosplayers all over the world to connect.
The cosplay community thrives
online in between conventions when
creating their next cosplay. They find
satisfaction in sharing their experiences

of trial and error with YouTube videos,
Pinterest boards, and Facebook cosplay
groups. "I've been astounded at the number of tutorials and lengthy message
boards that can be found online discussing the nuances of a cosplay costume.
Questions are answered by those more
experienced in order to support and improve the community at large," mentions
Hofmann.
However, not all sharing is online
and conventions are often the only time
cosplayers find themselves in the same
room. Chukhina suggests that conventions are the best source for obtaining information, meeting other cosplayers, and
finding inspiration for future costumes.
At Anime-Expo there is a Costume Repair Center, with volunteers ready and
available to check out sewing supplies,
wig styling supplies, and a plethora of
glue and tape options. This is a great
place during a convention for fellow cosplayers to share tips and learn about
costume construction. "Community is
a great word to describe both theatre
and cosplay. The cosplay community is
really good at supporting and encouraging the newer generation who are
just starting their cosplay journey," says
Hofmann. No matter the vehicle for the
information, in person or online, the
concept of community is reinforced by
the way cosplayers communicate and
collaborate.
Theatre artists and cosplayers use
online portfolios as the most accessible and immediate source for showcasing their experience. They use social
media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to connect with their digital
followers in a more immediate and
engaging way. Many of them have their
own moniker: Hofmann is Paisleyandglue, Fehlner is Ezmeralda Von Katz,
and Chukhina is Skeleton Key Cosplay.
All three costumers use social media
pages as portfolios for their cosplay.
Cosplayers share the progress of a costume from beginning to end with process photos and in-depth descriptions.
Since they have more time to develop
their costumes, the entire process from
mockup to fittings is captured online.
Their social media accounts create an
online presence, a captive audience,
and a way to self-promote their skills
in costume construction. Theatre artists often take pictures as the last step

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2018