Thesis
For love of the character: animism and materiality in cosplay dress
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103503
Abstract
Cosplay costumes embody three distinct (though related) qualities: 1) Costumes signify characters because the costume is iconic of the character. Additionally, the costume's fabrics index the character's qualities (e.g. femininity, athleticism, etc.), and are thereby constitutive of the character. 2) The costume is an embodiment of the relationship the cosplayer has with the character: how the cosplayer relates to and understands the character's physical appearance and psychology. 3) Costumes transform cosplayers into the character: the costume is like a mask; when cosplayers put on the costumes, they are also putting on the character. Using data collected through participant observation and semi-structured interviews conducted at three U.S. anime conventions, I analyze the construction of cosplay costumes. Adopting Bird-David's (1999) reconceptualization of animism as a personification of nonhuman beings through relationships with humans, I argue that cosplay costumes approach the animistic because they are embodiments of the cosplayer's relationship with the character.
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Details
- Title
- For love of the character
- Creators
- Sonia Adeline Horan
- Contributors
- Jeannette Mageo (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525070601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis