Allison Stanich (George Mason University)
Within the field of folklore, little attention has been given to the study of cosplay, a form of fan interaction in which one dresses as a particular character from a fixed medium such as a TV show. Cosplay is both an example of fan translation of popular culture into folklore and a method through which cosplayers can explore their identity (e.g. LGBTQIA+) and experiment with gender through the liminal, ritualesque space of the cosplay convention. This presentation draws upon ethnographic fieldwork to examine the act or performance of cosplay, cosplay conventions, and the broader cosplay community from a folkloric lens.
Part of 05-10 Queer Identities, Marginalized and Centered, Friday, October 14, 10:30 am–12:30 pm