Cosplay: A History
The Builders, Fans, and Makers Who Bring Your Favorite Stories to Life
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- $21.99
Publisher Description
A history of the colorful and complex kingdom of cosplay and fandom fashion by Andrew Liptak, journalist, historian, and member of the legendary fan-based Star Wars organization the 501st Legion.
In recent years, cosplay—the practice of dressing up in costume as a character—has exploded, becoming a mainstream cultural phenomenon. But what are the circumstances that made its rise possible?
Andrew Liptak—a member of the legendary 501st Legion, an international fan-based organization dedicated to the dark side of Star Wars—delves into the origins and culture of cosplay to answer this question. Cosplay: A History looks at the practice’s ever-growing fandom and conventions, its roots in 15th-century costuming, the relationship between franchises and the cosplayers they inspire, and the technology that brings even the most intricate details in these costumes to life.
Cosplay veterans and newcomers alike will find much to relish in this rich and comprehensive history.
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Cosplay is "more than just dressing up as a favorite character.... Above all, it's a community," writes journalist Liptak in this illuminating history. Despite its recent rise in popularity—thanks to Comic-Con conventions and shows such as Game of Thrones—Liptak insists that cosplay originated over a century ago, with its first inklings in street theater, reconstructions at historical sites, and even an 1891 London costume party inspired by Edward Bulwer-Lytton's sci-fi novel Vril. Cosplay got a boost in the 1970s from cultural obsessions with Star Trek and Star Wars, and was later supercharged by the internet, which made it easier for cosplayers to connect with one another. Enriched by amusing tales of his own fandom (and fascination with Star Wars' "white-armored" stormtroopers), Liptak's narrative also explores the dynamics between owners of intellectual property and the makers of costumes based upon it, a relationship that's sometimes mutually beneficial—as when members from his group, the Star Wars fan organization 501st Legion, were cast as extras in The Mandalorian. Though he doesn't gloss over troubling aspects of cosplay, including its culture of sexism, Liptak's study is an inspiring one, underscored by the community's efforts to spread "magical moment" with organizations such as the Make-a-Wish foundation. Cosplayers and curious minds alike will enjoy this intriguing dive into an eccentric world.
