Are you sick of being told your opinions don't matter because you're a girl?
Maybe you saw something at a local convention that you need to tell someone about?
Perhaps you want to share your experience to sympathetic ears?
Or perhaps you just need to talk to other nerds who don't care about your gender, sex, race, age, or anything in between?
Well, we can help. We are WeRNerdCulture.
WeRNerdCulture is a campaign that as started to eradicate the harassment, bigotry, and violence that has started to gain momentum in Nerd Culture. We promote equality and all around nerdy-ness through anonymous postings on our forums. We hold events at conventions and have spoken out at numerous panels about the rampant intolerance and harassment that has become a sad norm in this culture we love.
And, now, we are happy to announce that we are now launching our new application: WRNC2Go.
The application is set up similar to your normal social media application and has been designed with the user in mind. You can log in or register from the home page where you can check in on all of the campaign's recent news and updates. Through the user home page, you can check out all of your messages and thread updates. You can respond quickly and easily through the interface. Through the forum tab, you can browse through thread types and genres as well as boost, report, and respond to anything that catches your eye.
With WRNC2Go, we are offering two new options:
• Direct to forum photo posting: Now you can post photos directly to a new thread from your phone or mobile device. See someone harassing a cosplayer and need to document it? Want to warn someone about something you saw on the Internet? Now you can. You can even enable the thread to show where you took the picture, just in case you know other nerds are in the area and need to stay clear.
• Emergency Number Calling Feature: Do you know someone who's been pushed to a breaking point? Are you scared for them, but you aren't in the same state as them? Or perhaps you've been harassed or assaulted and need to make a call? The WeRNerdCulture app offers a special page with important emergency numbers such as the National Suicide Hotline and the local number for state troopers. You can even find the number of an out of state state trooper number if necessary. By tapping on the number, your phone application immediately opens up and dials the number.
Along with these new features, we are still offering the same judgement-free, tolerance filled, nerdy sphere of friends and fellow nerds who all agree that harassment and intolerance needs to stop. You can download the WRNC2Go app for free off the iTunes App Store, Android App Market, and the Google Play Store.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Gender Issues and Nerd Culture
The topic of gender issues and nerd culture is a widespread topic that has to do with the misogynistic harassment, violence, and bigotry in nerd culture. The topic has seen an increase of social, cultural, journalistic, and academic attention in recent years because of events and pieces pertaining to the topic. The increased attention has given way to discussions on the many aspects of nerd culture that promote and proliferate these misogynistic ideals as well as how the culture has dealt with the recent changes in gender demographics and morals.
1. Social and Cultural Attitudes
The original stereotype for a "nerd" is that of an emasculated, white male who is socially and physically awkward [1][2]. With this stereotype in place for as long as it was, the ideas and morals of the culture grew skewed. This, in turn, created the basis for some of the attitudes that spawn aggression and bigotry had towards women[3][4][5].
1.1 Victimization
The concept of victimization is a popular belief held by the nerd culture population [7]. This idea goes along with the original stereotype of "nerd" as someone who was bullied and criticized for their appearance or interests [8]. However, because of how tightly this belief is held, it's often used to ignore the incidents of harassment and intolerance. The logic goes: "because we were bullied, we are wiser than the bullies that bullied us; therefore, there isn't [x,y,z] going on!" Yet, this victimization attitude does nothing but downplay the issues at hand.
1.2 Emasculation
Nerds are known for being physically and socially awkward [10]. They stereotypically lack the standard themes of masculinity: strength, honor, and action [11]. It is through this hypomasculinity that they are often ridiculed by men who are exhibits of alpha male personalities. Yet, when nerd culture was born, there existed in a culture where they were on top.
Male nerds now seemed frightened for this emasculation to happen inside the culture they built out of security. If they were to be cut down by anyone, lo and behold a "fake geek girl" [12], the safety they created would start to crumble. They would shift from the top of the pyramid back to the bottom [13].
1.3 Male Entitlement
The idea of male nerd entitlement (also known as "nerd male privilege") is the idea that "men - often straight, white men - as a whole, get certain privileges and status because of their gender" [15]. This attitude is the biggest contributor in the instances of misogyny in nerd culture. And the scariest thing is that it's spoon-fed to them through television shows (The Big Bang Theory) [16] and films (Revenge of the Nerds, Sixteen Candles) [17] [18].
Male nerds have been given this idea that if they "try hard enough and persist long enough, [they'll] get the girl in the end" [19]. That life is like "a video game and women, like money and status, are just part of the reward [they] get for doing well" [20]. These ideas are dangerous because they perpetuate this idea that "going for the girl" - through any means necessary - is acceptable. And if she denies you? Then she's shallow for not "giving them a chance" [21].
This entitlement has - for lack of a better saying - inflated the ego the male nerd drastically. If you were to combine this with the two other attitudes listed above, what you get is a dangerous combination. The combination, in turn, causes any bruising of a male nerd's ego to magnify and putting the bruiser in the crosshairs.
2. Community Actions
In recent years, the actions that have been taken against the misogynistic bigotry, harassment and threats have been minimal [22][23]. Male members of nerd culture have only increased the violence and intensity of relation towards women who are speaking out against the misogyny in nerd culture. The best example of how drastic these situations have gotten is the GamerGate Controversy that happened in early 2014 [24].
2.1 Avoidance and Dismissal of Issues
Due to nerd culture's history with bullying, members of nerd culture often dismiss the situations of harassment out of blissful ignorance. Bred from a counter-culture that preens itself on how much "better" they are from the others that excluded them, nerds will do anything to keep the idea that they treat everyone equally intact [26]. And this includes keeping these situations quiet.
By ignoring these situations, they are, not only enabling the perpetrators of these actions, but they are also giving them approval [27]. They are validating the idea that misogynistic actions are only the problems of the people who enact those actions and the women who are being acted upon when it's everyone's problem.
2.3 Hyper-Objectification
2.4 Harassment and Violence
In the past couple of years, the reactions to nerds, especially female nerds, speaking out against the misogyny in nerd culture has reached a terrifying peak. Instances of stalking, hacking, vandalizing, and threats of sexual and physical assault are just some of the occurrences that have taken place. A prime example of how ruthless some of the events have been is the harassment and attacking of feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian [33].
Sarkeesian gained recognition in the media for the onslaught of online attacks she received in response to her YouTube series "Tropes Vs. Women in Video Games" [34][35][36]. Not only was her Wikipedia page vandalized with images of pornographic content, but hackers attempted to dox - tracking down someone's personal information such as address, email, and SSN through sources on the Internet [37] - and distribute her personal information. The attacks subsided for a short while, but resurfaced when Sarkeesian was interviewed on ABC News Nightline about her scuffle with the gaming community [38].
While these horrible actions aren't carried out over minor situations, female nerds are still plagued by frightening experiences. Instances of stalking and being left unwanted gifts from male nerds whom 'she just won't give a chance because she's shallow.' Instances of groping and physical harassment at conventions that should've been "expected" because of how revealing their cosplay was [39]. And when they retaliate, they chastised for 'not taking it as a compliment.'
References
[1] "Nerd." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 18 Feb 2015. [Link]
[2] Eglash, Ron. "Race, Sex, and Nerds: From Black Geeks to Asian American Hipsters." Social Text vol. 71 (Summer 2002): 49-64. [Link]
[3] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[4] Hern, Alex. "Nerds: Stop hating women, please." NewStatesman Online. 13 November 2012. [Link]
[5] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[6] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[7] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[8] "Nerd." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 18 Feb 2015. [Link]
[9] Ravishly. "Nerd Masculinity: 'They Won't Give it Up Without a Fight'." Huffington Post Online. 06 Jan 2015. [Link]
[10] Eglash, Ron. "Race, Sex, and Nerds: From Black Geeks to Asian American Hipsters." Social Text vol. 71 (Summer 2002): 49-64. [Link]
[11] Meek, Will, PhD. "Male Gender Role." Psychology of Men. [Link]
[12] "Fake Geek Girls." Geek Feminism Wiki. (late review) 16 Feb 2015. [Link]
[13] Ravishly. "Nerd Masculinity: 'They Won't Give it Up Without a Fight'." Huffington Post Online. 06 Jan 2015. [Link]
[14] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[15] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[16] "The Big Bang Theory." IMDb.com. [Link]
[17] "Revenge of the Nerds." IMDb.com. [Link]
[18] "Sixteen Candles." IMDb.com. [Link]
[19] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[20] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[21] Dr. Nerdlove. "Socially Awkward Isn't An Excuse." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 24 March 2014. [Link]
[22] Pinchefsky, Carol. "Does Felicia Day Matter At All? (Yes)" Forbes Online. 4 July 2012. [Link]
[23] Lewis, Helen. "This is what online harassment looks like." NewStatesman Online. 6 July 2012. [Link]
[24] "GamerGate Controversy." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 21 Feb 2015. [Link]
[25] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[26] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[27] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[28] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[29] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[30] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[31] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[32] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Image Based Harassment and Visual Misogyny." Feminist Frequency. 1 July 2012. [Link]
[33] Lewis, Helen. "This is what online harassment looks like." NewStatesman Online. 6 July 2012. [Link]
[34] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Image Based Harassment and Visual Misogyny." Feminist Frequency. 1 July 2012. [Link]
[35] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Harassment, Misogyny and Silencing on YouTube." Feminist Frequency. 7 June 2012. [Link]
[36] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Harassment Via Wikipedia Vandalism." Feminist Frequency. 10 June 2012. [Link]
[37] "Doxing." Urban Dictionary. 29 Dec 2011. [Link]
[38] ABC News. "What It Feels Like to Be a GamerGate Target." YouTube. 14 Jan 2015. [Link]
[39] Zara, Christopher. "San Diego Comic-Con: Cosplay Sexual Harassment Takes Center Stage At 2014 Fan Convention." International Business Times Online. 28 July 2014. [Link]
1. Social and Cultural Attitudes
The original stereotype for a "nerd" is that of an emasculated, white male who is socially and physically awkward [1][2]. With this stereotype in place for as long as it was, the ideas and morals of the culture grew skewed. This, in turn, created the basis for some of the attitudes that spawn aggression and bigotry had towards women[3][4][5].
1.1 Victimization
"Nerd and geeks aren't the bulliers, we're the bullied. We're the outsiders." [6]
The concept of victimization is a popular belief held by the nerd culture population [7]. This idea goes along with the original stereotype of "nerd" as someone who was bullied and criticized for their appearance or interests [8]. However, because of how tightly this belief is held, it's often used to ignore the incidents of harassment and intolerance. The logic goes: "because we were bullied, we are wiser than the bullies that bullied us; therefore, there isn't [x,y,z] going on!" Yet, this victimization attitude does nothing but downplay the issues at hand.
1.2 Emasculation
"He is, in other words, a man who fails at being a man." [9]
Nerds are known for being physically and socially awkward [10]. They stereotypically lack the standard themes of masculinity: strength, honor, and action [11]. It is through this hypomasculinity that they are often ridiculed by men who are exhibits of alpha male personalities. Yet, when nerd culture was born, there existed in a culture where they were on top.
Male nerds now seemed frightened for this emasculation to happen inside the culture they built out of security. If they were to be cut down by anyone, lo and behold a "fake geek girl" [12], the safety they created would start to crumble. They would shift from the top of the pyramid back to the bottom [13].
1.3 Male Entitlement
"But the overall problem is one of a culture where instead of seeing women as, you know, people, protagonists of their own stories just like we are of ours, men are taught that women are things to "earn," to "win."" [14]
The idea of male nerd entitlement (also known as "nerd male privilege") is the idea that "men - often straight, white men - as a whole, get certain privileges and status because of their gender" [15]. This attitude is the biggest contributor in the instances of misogyny in nerd culture. And the scariest thing is that it's spoon-fed to them through television shows (The Big Bang Theory) [16] and films (Revenge of the Nerds, Sixteen Candles) [17] [18].
Male nerds have been given this idea that if they "try hard enough and persist long enough, [they'll] get the girl in the end" [19]. That life is like "a video game and women, like money and status, are just part of the reward [they] get for doing well" [20]. These ideas are dangerous because they perpetuate this idea that "going for the girl" - through any means necessary - is acceptable. And if she denies you? Then she's shallow for not "giving them a chance" [21].
This entitlement has - for lack of a better saying - inflated the ego the male nerd drastically. If you were to combine this with the two other attitudes listed above, what you get is a dangerous combination. The combination, in turn, causes any bruising of a male nerd's ego to magnify and putting the bruiser in the crosshairs.
2. Community Actions
In recent years, the actions that have been taken against the misogynistic bigotry, harassment and threats have been minimal [22][23]. Male members of nerd culture have only increased the violence and intensity of relation towards women who are speaking out against the misogyny in nerd culture. The best example of how drastic these situations have gotten is the GamerGate Controversy that happened in early 2014 [24].
2.1 Avoidance and Dismissal of Issues
"They'll insist that they're more egalitarian; geeks hold tight to the belief that geek culture is a meritocracy, where concepts of agism, sexism and racism simply don't exist the way it does elsewhere. And yet, even a cursory examination will demonstrate that this isn't true." [25]
Due to nerd culture's history with bullying, members of nerd culture often dismiss the situations of harassment out of blissful ignorance. Bred from a counter-culture that preens itself on how much "better" they are from the others that excluded them, nerds will do anything to keep the idea that they treat everyone equally intact [26]. And this includes keeping these situations quiet.
By ignoring these situations, they are, not only enabling the perpetrators of these actions, but they are also giving them approval [27]. They are validating the idea that misogynistic actions are only the problems of the people who enact those actions and the women who are being acted upon when it's everyone's problem.
2.3 Hyper-Objectification
"Of course, the other sides of the coin isn't much better; being dismissed for the of being a woman is bad, but being placed on the traditional pillar is no less insulting." [28]
While there are some nerds who are ignoring the misogyny, there are those who are taking a complete opposing reaction to the claims of intolerance and assault. Their actions are to treat female gamers in a idealistic and objectifying manner. While most would consider this a good thing (with "treating a lady well" being "good manners"), the reaction doesn't aid in quelling the inequality. By putting these women on a proverbial pillar, they are doing the same thing they did before: they are treating them differently because they are women [29].
This treatment can go in a drastically horrible direction. The objectification can lead to fetishization and sexualization of the woman - especially female nerds [30]. And this, in turn, refreshes the Groundhog Day style clock that nerd culture seems to have when it comes to gender issues.
2.4 Harassment and Violence
"I've heard and seen the stories that those of you who followed that #YesAllWomen hashtag on Twitter have seen-women getting groped at cons, women getting vicious insults flung at them online, women getting stalked by creeps in college and told they should be "flattered."" [31]
"After struggling with whether or not to make the extent of the attacks public I've decided that it's ultimately important to shed light on this type of abuse because online harassment and bullying are at epidemic levels across the Internet." [32]
In the past couple of years, the reactions to nerds, especially female nerds, speaking out against the misogyny in nerd culture has reached a terrifying peak. Instances of stalking, hacking, vandalizing, and threats of sexual and physical assault are just some of the occurrences that have taken place. A prime example of how ruthless some of the events have been is the harassment and attacking of feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian [33].
Sarkeesian gained recognition in the media for the onslaught of online attacks she received in response to her YouTube series "Tropes Vs. Women in Video Games" [34][35][36]. Not only was her Wikipedia page vandalized with images of pornographic content, but hackers attempted to dox - tracking down someone's personal information such as address, email, and SSN through sources on the Internet [37] - and distribute her personal information. The attacks subsided for a short while, but resurfaced when Sarkeesian was interviewed on ABC News Nightline about her scuffle with the gaming community [38].
While these horrible actions aren't carried out over minor situations, female nerds are still plagued by frightening experiences. Instances of stalking and being left unwanted gifts from male nerds whom 'she just won't give a chance because she's shallow.' Instances of groping and physical harassment at conventions that should've been "expected" because of how revealing their cosplay was [39]. And when they retaliate, they chastised for 'not taking it as a compliment.'
References
[1] "Nerd." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 18 Feb 2015. [Link]
[2] Eglash, Ron. "Race, Sex, and Nerds: From Black Geeks to Asian American Hipsters." Social Text vol. 71 (Summer 2002): 49-64. [Link]
[3] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[4] Hern, Alex. "Nerds: Stop hating women, please." NewStatesman Online. 13 November 2012. [Link]
[5] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[6] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[7] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[8] "Nerd." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 18 Feb 2015. [Link]
[9] Ravishly. "Nerd Masculinity: 'They Won't Give it Up Without a Fight'." Huffington Post Online. 06 Jan 2015. [Link]
[10] Eglash, Ron. "Race, Sex, and Nerds: From Black Geeks to Asian American Hipsters." Social Text vol. 71 (Summer 2002): 49-64. [Link]
[11] Meek, Will, PhD. "Male Gender Role." Psychology of Men. [Link]
[12] "Fake Geek Girls." Geek Feminism Wiki. (late review) 16 Feb 2015. [Link]
[13] Ravishly. "Nerd Masculinity: 'They Won't Give it Up Without a Fight'." Huffington Post Online. 06 Jan 2015. [Link]
[14] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[15] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[16] "The Big Bang Theory." IMDb.com. [Link]
[17] "Revenge of the Nerds." IMDb.com. [Link]
[18] "Sixteen Candles." IMDb.com. [Link]
[19] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[20] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[21] Dr. Nerdlove. "Socially Awkward Isn't An Excuse." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 24 March 2014. [Link]
[22] Pinchefsky, Carol. "Does Felicia Day Matter At All? (Yes)" Forbes Online. 4 July 2012. [Link]
[23] Lewis, Helen. "This is what online harassment looks like." NewStatesman Online. 6 July 2012. [Link]
[24] "GamerGate Controversy." Wikipedia.org. (last review) 21 Feb 2015. [Link]
[25] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[26] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[27] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[28] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[29] O'Malley, Harris. "Nerds and Male Privilege." Kotaku. 16 Dec. 2011. [Link]
[30] Dr. Nerdlove. "Ending Sexual Harassment In Geek Culture." Paging Dr. Nerdlove. 18 April 2014. [Link]
[31] Chu, Arthur. "Your Princess Is in Another Castle: Misogyny, Entitlement, and Nerds." The Daily Beast Online. 27 May 2014. [Link]
[32] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Image Based Harassment and Visual Misogyny." Feminist Frequency. 1 July 2012. [Link]
[33] Lewis, Helen. "This is what online harassment looks like." NewStatesman Online. 6 July 2012. [Link]
[34] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Image Based Harassment and Visual Misogyny." Feminist Frequency. 1 July 2012. [Link]
[35] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Harassment, Misogyny and Silencing on YouTube." Feminist Frequency. 7 June 2012. [Link]
[36] Sarkeesian, Anita. "Harassment Via Wikipedia Vandalism." Feminist Frequency. 10 June 2012. [Link]
[37] "Doxing." Urban Dictionary. 29 Dec 2011. [Link]
[38] ABC News. "What It Feels Like to Be a GamerGate Target." YouTube. 14 Jan 2015. [Link]
[39] Zara, Christopher. "San Diego Comic-Con: Cosplay Sexual Harassment Takes Center Stage At 2014 Fan Convention." International Business Times Online. 28 July 2014. [Link]
Monday, February 16, 2015
Bring Me Your Rage Quitting, Your LARPing, Your Nerdy: A Profile of a Member of My Audience #2
Injustice and harassment is coming from all sides of the gender politics battlefield. Female nerds screaming "misogyny" and "discrimination." While there are male nerds stuck in the corners screaming "misandry" and "censorship." Because of this patchwork of genders, I'm splitting up my audience member profiles into two people: a male and a female. I'm doing this in order to better represent all those who have been wounded in the battle of nerd culture and gender politics. Here is the second person.
His name is "John." He is a 37 year old entrepreneur who runs the family car garage. He is married to his hometown sweetheart Juliet with whom he's had two lovely daughters, Harley and Pamela. They live in their hometown of Towson, MD in a quiet suburb. On the outside, John's life is the epitome of what a Post-War American family might look like: suburban house, wife, 2 kids, and a pet. But, there is much more beneath the surface.
His name is "John." He is a 37 year old entrepreneur who runs the family car garage. He is married to his hometown sweetheart Juliet with whom he's had two lovely daughters, Harley and Pamela. They live in their hometown of Towson, MD in a quiet suburb. On the outside, John's life is the epitome of what a Post-War American family might look like: suburban house, wife, 2 kids, and a pet. But, there is much more beneath the surface.
Growing up, John didn't like the word "nerd." He didn't like what images it brought to mind. He knew that nerds were the weak ones who got beat up after school. The ones who didn't get dates for prom. The ones who would end up living in their parents basement when they were old and out of college. John didn't want to be that, but his love for comic books and games branded him with the monicker.
John grew up with parents who loved and supported him. But John's school life wasn't as great. When he was young, he would get picked on by his classmates for liking comic books and playing trading card games. Wanting so much to fit in, John decided that the only way to be accepted was to join in and keep his "lame" hobbies a secret.
John started to pick on the kids he used to hang out with, calling them "nerds" and "losers." He would tear up their decks and laugh in their face, only to go home and neatly organize his own decks. He would make fun of kids for bringing their GameBoys to school, but would get in trouble at home for staying up too late to play his. In college, John would "troll" online video game chats. He would yell homophobic and sexist slurs into the microphone in order to annoy people. He would tease new and experienced players for their skills.
For most of his life, John kept this double identity a secret. He made himself the embodiment of masculinity, a herculean character to hide his inner "loser" hobbies. Soon after college, John married his long time sweetheart Juliet and moved back home to their hometown. He got a job working at the garage his family owned and soon ended up owning the place. He was the success story he wanted to be, but there was still that feeling in the back of his mind. The voice that kept saying: Don't screw this up with your stupid hobbies, loser!
Through the happiness, there was a tiny part of John that still remained hollow. Thinking it would help, John confided in his wife, Juliet, about his double life. Not wanting to sound heartless, he disregarded telling her about the bullying he did when he was younger, only telling her about his "secret life." Juliet, albeit confused, explained that she didn't care what he did for fun as long as he wasn't cheating. John was relieved, but still worried. He swore Juliet to secrecy. She was even more confused by the demand, but agreed.
Through the happiness, there was a tiny part of John that still remained hollow. Thinking it would help, John confided in his wife, Juliet, about his double life. Not wanting to sound heartless, he disregarded telling her about the bullying he did when he was younger, only telling her about his "secret life." Juliet, albeit confused, explained that she didn't care what he did for fun as long as he wasn't cheating. John was relieved, but still worried. He swore Juliet to secrecy. She was even more confused by the demand, but agreed.
For a while, the reveal eased John's mind. During this time, Juliet and he had their two daughters. The cherry on top of the ideal family picture.
The girls were the lights of John's life. They were his princesses that he would protect beyond all measure. Yet, as they grew up, John started to notice something. The girls didn't want to play fairy tale, but superheroes and villains. Instead of Cinderella, they were watching Doctor Who. John came to realize that his little girls were nerds. He grew worried. He knew the type of people that his girls would come across. He knew this because he was one of them. He tried to stifle the girls' interests when they were younger, trying to have them keep it a secret. But they were stubborn and protested the request.
The girls were the lights of John's life. They were his princesses that he would protect beyond all measure. Yet, as they grew up, John started to notice something. The girls didn't want to play fairy tale, but superheroes and villains. Instead of Cinderella, they were watching Doctor Who. John came to realize that his little girls were nerds. He grew worried. He knew the type of people that his girls would come across. He knew this because he was one of them. He tried to stifle the girls' interests when they were younger, trying to have them keep it a secret. But they were stubborn and protested the request.
As they grew into their teens, John continued to protect his girls. In some eyes, it was overprotective, but John didn't care. He didn't want his girls to come face to face with the bullies he knew existed.
One day, his girls came up to him pleading to go to a local comic book convention. His first instinct was to say no, but he knew they would find a way to go. John agreed only if he could go with them. The girls agree with an exasperated sigh. The girls worked on their costumes whenever they could. They wanted to be the best dressed girls there. And when the time came, the girls were ecstatic as though it were Christmas all over again. John went to kept an eye on the girls, but ended up having just as much fun. He was happy he was able to share something with his girls, even if he had to keep it locked up inside.
As they were leaving the convention, John let out a quiet sigh. Nothing had happened, making him believe that perhaps he had worried too much. But three little words that screamed across the entrance hall sobered his mind.
One day, his girls came up to him pleading to go to a local comic book convention. His first instinct was to say no, but he knew they would find a way to go. John agreed only if he could go with them. The girls agree with an exasperated sigh. The girls worked on their costumes whenever they could. They wanted to be the best dressed girls there. And when the time came, the girls were ecstatic as though it were Christmas all over again. John went to kept an eye on the girls, but ended up having just as much fun. He was happy he was able to share something with his girls, even if he had to keep it locked up inside.
As they were leaving the convention, John let out a quiet sigh. Nothing had happened, making him believe that perhaps he had worried too much. But three little words that screamed across the entrance hall sobered his mind.
"Nice outfits losers!"
A group of kids that were loitering around the entrance had spotted John's daughters and started to make fun of them. Nasty comments were shot in rapid succession at the two young teens, wearing them down. John stepped in to stop it, but the bullies didn't care. They left with a middle finger raised high and their laughter loud.
A group of kids that were loitering around the entrance had spotted John's daughters and started to make fun of them. Nasty comments were shot in rapid succession at the two young teens, wearing them down. John stepped in to stop it, but the bullies didn't care. They left with a middle finger raised high and their laughter loud.
Seeing the humiliation in his daughters' eyes, something inside of John clicked into place. In his daughters he saw all of the kids he would make fun of and bully. All of the kids who he would beat up in high school and the kids he would troll online in college. They were there in his daughters. And it was this moment that John grew sick of hiding.
After the convention, John started to make more of an effort to be more open with his nerdy side. Not just with his family, but everyone else in his life. He ended up coming clean about his years of bullying to Juliet, swearing that he was going to make a change. And he did. His girls grew up to be well known cosplayers online and in the convention scene who spoke out against harassment and bullying in nerd culture. And they're best speaker is their father. John started to become a fixture on his daughters' YouTube channel, speaking out and telling his story.
"I may have screwed up royally in my past," He says at the end of their most viewed video, "But I can help by prevent anyone from making the same mistakes that I did."
Bring Me Your Rage Quitting, Your LARPing, Your Nerdy: A Profile of a Member of My Audience #1
Injustice and harassment is coming from all sides of the gender politics battlefield. Female nerds screaming "misogyny" and "discrimination." While there are male nerds stuck in the corners screaming "misandry" and "censorship." Because of this patchwork of genders, I'm splitting up my audience member profiles into two people: a male and a female. I'm doing this in order to better represent all those who have been wounded in the battle of nerd culture and gender politics. Here is the first person.
Her name is "Tate." She is a 25 year old college graduate with a BA in Gender Studies and Communications and Media Studies. She currently lives with her two closest friends from college in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NYC. Tate is biologically female -- her sex -- but she identifies as "Genderqueer." Despite not identifying with any particular gender binary, she still prefers female pronouns (she/her).
Tate is greatly involved with the gender and nerd culture debate because of her long time affiliation with the culture. She was raised by two nerds. Both of her parents met at a Star Trek convention when they were in college. They encouraged Tate's interests from Doctor Who to video games to cosplay. Her parents even took her to her first convention when she was 9 years old. Through everything, her parents have always been her number one supporters.
When Tate was younger, she would find that making friends with similar hobbies was easy and fun. She would hang out with her friends all weekend; playing video games, watching their favorite television shows, dressing up as their favorite characters. It was wonderful. However, the paradise soon started to disintegrate.
It started when Tate entered middle school. All of her friends started to cancel plans on her. At first, it was every so often. Then it was every time, her friends ignoring her calls. When she confronted them about it, they teased her and called her names, telling her that she wasn't a true nerd because she was a "fake nerd girl." She felt isolated and unwanted.
In high school, Tate found the cosplay community. With having a predominantly female population, she thought that she was safe from judgements and hurtful words. And for a while she was right. Tate would work hard on her cosplays. She would work on them for months at a time. And when she presented them, she was welcomed with warm compliments and helpful critiques. Then it started again. Judgmental hecklers would call out to her while she posed. Convention goers would "accidentally bump" into her, groping her backside or attempting to take up-skirt photos. She was exasperated. It seemed as though no matter what she did or where she went; the only thing people cared about was that she was female.
Sick of everything, Tate left the cosplaying community for a while. Isolated once again, she tried to make new friends anywhere she could. She ended up falling in with a small group of female nerds who were also sick of being excluded due to their sex. For a while, the group of friends got together, made cosplays, played video games, and watched television shows they all loved. It seemed as though Tate had found what she had lost in her childhood. Then, it started.
"Why do you wear make up?" One of her friends asked one day. Tate was curious about the question. She wasn't the type of person wear a ton of make up on her face, but she had always felt comfortable wearing it. "Because I prefer how I look with it on rather than how I do when I'm not wearing it." Tate responded. The situation was subsided with her friend rolling her eyes, but it only continued after that. And from all of the other people in her group of friends. They would judge her for everything from wearing make up to her gender identity. It was as though she were back in middle school, being judged for everything that she did.
It's safe to say that her affiliation with those friends didn't last too long. Fed up with them, Tate found herself back at square one. She felt defeated. She felt annoyed. She felt as though she had no one in her corner with her. She felt silenced. Tate stopped participating in anything remotely nerdy for a while. It was only by sheer luck she managed to meet another small group of nerds. They felt the same way, but this time it was different.
They knew how important it was to stop this harassment and intolerance. Yet, they didn't judge anyone. There wasn't a list of unspoken rules that Tate had to follow in order to be "a good nerd." The only rule was "have fun and do what you love." And it was this idea that sparked Tate's involvement.
Tate and her new group of friends started an anti-harassment and tolerance campaign through social media. They created a blog where people would anonymously submit their stories of intolerance, discrimination, and harassment in all sects of nerd culture. Tate would also post information about other movements and campaigns who had the same mission. She knows that there is a long road ahead of her. Yet, with the help of her friends and supporters, Tate isn't scared. She's excited to boldly go forward in this quest to seek out new ways to help all of those who are affected by this ongoing battle -- with phasers set to stun, of course.
Her name is "Tate." She is a 25 year old college graduate with a BA in Gender Studies and Communications and Media Studies. She currently lives with her two closest friends from college in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NYC. Tate is biologically female -- her sex -- but she identifies as "Genderqueer." Despite not identifying with any particular gender binary, she still prefers female pronouns (she/her).
Tate is greatly involved with the gender and nerd culture debate because of her long time affiliation with the culture. She was raised by two nerds. Both of her parents met at a Star Trek convention when they were in college. They encouraged Tate's interests from Doctor Who to video games to cosplay. Her parents even took her to her first convention when she was 9 years old. Through everything, her parents have always been her number one supporters.
When Tate was younger, she would find that making friends with similar hobbies was easy and fun. She would hang out with her friends all weekend; playing video games, watching their favorite television shows, dressing up as their favorite characters. It was wonderful. However, the paradise soon started to disintegrate.
It started when Tate entered middle school. All of her friends started to cancel plans on her. At first, it was every so often. Then it was every time, her friends ignoring her calls. When she confronted them about it, they teased her and called her names, telling her that she wasn't a true nerd because she was a "fake nerd girl." She felt isolated and unwanted.
In high school, Tate found the cosplay community. With having a predominantly female population, she thought that she was safe from judgements and hurtful words. And for a while she was right. Tate would work hard on her cosplays. She would work on them for months at a time. And when she presented them, she was welcomed with warm compliments and helpful critiques. Then it started again. Judgmental hecklers would call out to her while she posed. Convention goers would "accidentally bump" into her, groping her backside or attempting to take up-skirt photos. She was exasperated. It seemed as though no matter what she did or where she went; the only thing people cared about was that she was female.
Sick of everything, Tate left the cosplaying community for a while. Isolated once again, she tried to make new friends anywhere she could. She ended up falling in with a small group of female nerds who were also sick of being excluded due to their sex. For a while, the group of friends got together, made cosplays, played video games, and watched television shows they all loved. It seemed as though Tate had found what she had lost in her childhood. Then, it started.
"Why do you wear make up?" One of her friends asked one day. Tate was curious about the question. She wasn't the type of person wear a ton of make up on her face, but she had always felt comfortable wearing it. "Because I prefer how I look with it on rather than how I do when I'm not wearing it." Tate responded. The situation was subsided with her friend rolling her eyes, but it only continued after that. And from all of the other people in her group of friends. They would judge her for everything from wearing make up to her gender identity. It was as though she were back in middle school, being judged for everything that she did.
It's safe to say that her affiliation with those friends didn't last too long. Fed up with them, Tate found herself back at square one. She felt defeated. She felt annoyed. She felt as though she had no one in her corner with her. She felt silenced. Tate stopped participating in anything remotely nerdy for a while. It was only by sheer luck she managed to meet another small group of nerds. They felt the same way, but this time it was different.
They knew how important it was to stop this harassment and intolerance. Yet, they didn't judge anyone. There wasn't a list of unspoken rules that Tate had to follow in order to be "a good nerd." The only rule was "have fun and do what you love." And it was this idea that sparked Tate's involvement.
Tate and her new group of friends started an anti-harassment and tolerance campaign through social media. They created a blog where people would anonymously submit their stories of intolerance, discrimination, and harassment in all sects of nerd culture. Tate would also post information about other movements and campaigns who had the same mission. She knows that there is a long road ahead of her. Yet, with the help of her friends and supporters, Tate isn't scared. She's excited to boldly go forward in this quest to seek out new ways to help all of those who are affected by this ongoing battle -- with phasers set to stun, of course.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
The Undercover Hipster's Guide to Nerd-dom: How to Create a Cosplay
Cosplay is hard.
No matter your level of experience. No matter the characters that you choose. Every cosplayer will respond with the phrase when you ask them what cosplay is like: cosplay is hard. Not much of a gleaming review, I know. But the arduous process is always worth the couple months of blood, sweat, and tears.
These instructions are here to help anyone through that process. I will work from the design to the finish product. I want to remind everyone that this is a general overview. These instructions aren't the be all end all. Every cosplayer has a different system that they go through when they create and present a cosplay. However, these instructions are -- in my opinion -- a good place to start.
• Step #1: Pick a Character
Many newcomers will think this is the easiest step. And depending on the character and costume that you pick, they're right. Yet, a majority of the time they will come to find that this is one of the hardest steps in the procedure. When you are picking a character to cosplay, you want to make sure that you have three basic things in mind: Skill Level, Coverage, and Comfort.
Skill Level is imperative to your character choice because you don't want to pick a character whose costume is out of your experience level.
If you aren't sure if the character is at your skill level, ask yourself this: do you have to learn or re-learn three or more things? If it's yes, then it's too complicated. It could mean the difference between a good cosplay and a great cosplay.
Coverage is an aspect on its own, but it also works in conjunction with the third item on this list. Coverage is a general term that has to do with how much of your body the costume covers. There are some characters that are well known that have skimpy outfits. While there are some costumes that cover quite a bit.
Coverage and your comfort with wearing the costume are ideals that go hand in hand. However, it's not just your comfort that coverage applies to. Major convention companies such as Wizard World and PAX have cosplaying rules about how revealing your cosplay can be. In fact, PAX has initiated a "'Booth Babes' Policy" that applies to cosplayers as well as convention booth workers. In the end, as long as you aren't breaking any rules, coverage all depends on how comfortable you are with the cosplay.
The final detail is Comfort. Conventions are multi-day events with a lot of walking around involved. And you may think that you can last a day in high heels and a full skirt, but you could also be completely wrong. Picking a character that you know you will be comfortable walking around the convention floor in all day is an imperative detail to picking your cosplay. If you know you can take a chance walking around in two inch heels all day, do it! But, if you wince at the thought, perhaps a character with flats is better?
In the end the decision is yours to make. It's not going to be anyone else in that cosplay but you. So, the final choice is yours and yours alone. And whomever you choose, be sure it's a character that you can abide by the first rule of cosplay in: have fun!
• Step #2: Draw Up Your Design
The next step is to draw -- or collage, or sketch -- up your design. Doing this will help you visualize your cosplay better in your mind. It will also allow you to take notes on the cosplay on particular parts such as what fabrics you might need or what patterns you might use.
Whatever medium you choose to use all depends on you. I usually digitally sketch out my designs on my computer and print them out. It allows me to insert pictures of the character or pictures of items of clothing that would work best for the outfit. The choice is yours. I know people who use paper dolls to design their cosplays whose outfits come out looking professional.
No matter how you design, having a physical visualization of your cosplay will help you when you are getting and putting everything together.
• Step #3: Get Your Supplies
As my cosplay mom once told me: cosplays don't just fall out of the sky. And whether it's a simple t-shirt or a full ball gown with a light up bow and arrow, you're going to need a few things to have your character come to life.
Once you have your design drafted and noted, you should have a clear idea of how much of what type of materials you'll need. You'll then need to locate the places that sell the materials you need. Now, most cosplayers will say they live in their local craft and fabric shops. Those are great places for cosplayers of any level, but they aren't the only places in the world that you can go to get cosplaying supplies.
Home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's carry high quality products for making accessories, props, and weapons. Superstores such as Target, Walmart, and Kmart are good if you need to duck in for a last minute pair of tights or cheap Nerf gun for a prop. And any retail stores hold items that can easily be modified into the perfect part of your cosplay.
When looking for locations, it's also important that the store you're going to has the right amount of the material you're asking for. It allows you more time to work on your project by saving you some time running around to different stores looking for three of the exact same styrofoam balls you were looking for.
So, you've done your shopping and you've gotten your (small mountain) of supplies. What's next?
• Step #4: Work on the Cosplay
Here comes the hard part: making the cosplay. This step is the longest of the process. And depending on the cosplay you've chosen, "long" could be an understatement.
When working on a cosplay, be sure that you spread your work time out evenly. If you rush to get it done early, you run the risk of it being stained or pets or little siblings getting into it (your dog will eat your cosplay if it's mad enough). If you lay it off and rush to get it done a week before the convention, then you'll most likely end up hunched in front of your sewing machine at five in the morning wondering what it would be like to be human again.
Spreading your time out evenly will allow for you to plan around any mishaps that might happen and fix any slight -- or major -- complications that might arise. Plus, it allows you to take a break every so often to focus on other things in your life such as school or family and friends. Cosplay may seem as though it's the center of the world when you're knee deep in your final bustle, but in the end it's all about fun. And there is nothing fun about sticking yourself with a needle at three in the morning because you're rushing to get your costume done in time.
• Step #5: Travel
Your costume is all finished and stitched together. Your hems are tight, your props are glued in their appropriate places, and your wig and make up are ready and styled. Now comes, possibly, the most nerve wracking part: traveling to the convention.
You may think that I'm over-exaggerating. But there is nothing calming about waiting for the cardboard box filled with the prop you painstakingly worked on for a month slide down and out at baggage claim after a long plane ride. And if you think waiting for a prop is bad, thinking about what travel did to that wig of yours is going to give you a bushel of gray hairs.
Whether you're going to a convention an hour away or are flying to another state to attend, traveling with your cosplay is a torturous dance of "what if." My best advice is to pack and plan with common sense. If you're going to be in body paint and are carpooling to the event, be sure that you bathed yourself in setting powder or spray. If you have to check a box with your luggage, be sure that you have packed everything safely and securely. All it takes is one moment of "eh" that could mean the difference between a disaster and a happy convention experience.
• Step #6: Getting Ready
Everything is safe and in good condition. You got up early to the sickening smell of hot plastic as your friend styles her wig. You duck into the hotel's buffet breakfast to grab some bacon, only to get weird looks as you look like a troll with your face half painted and your wig cap secure. That's right, it's time to get into your cosplay.
It may seem strange to have a step solely for putting on the costume. But, trust me, it helps to have it.
When getting into your cosplay, be sure that you save yourself enough time before the convention or whenever you want to go to the convention to get ready. That involves getting a good night's rest before. It's the Christmas Day Principle - as much as you're excited to get down there, the day comes faster the sooner you fall asleep. Once you wake up well rested (or dead tired because your anxiety kept you up), now begins the race.
It doesn't matter if you're getting ready by yourself in your room or are sharing a room with your friends, there is an overwhelming sense of rush that comes over you. You race to quickly shower and dry your hair. You sprint from one end of your room to another in order to get every piece on as quickly as you can. Wigs are flying back and forth. People are crowding around the mirror to get a better look for their make up or contacts.
This is the time where you need to take a moment and just breathe. Let the world stand still for a moment and re-ground yourself. Trust me, your make up will look much better when your hands aren't shaking.
If you have decided to opt into sharing a hotel room with other cosplayers, be sure to set out a system for getting ready the night before. If everyone needs to shower in the morning, then make a list of who gets the shower first. Make sure that everyone has their own station for certain parts of the process such as make-up, costume, wig, etc. And be sure to touch base with each other during the process to make sure that there isn't going to be a ten car pile up at the mirror at the final moment.
Whatever your situation, be sure to keep your cool. Stressing will only take more fun out of the experience. Plus, no one wants to be the grouch who hogs the bathroom for an hour when two other people need to get in.
• Step #7: Present Final Cosplay
This step is pretty self-explanatory. Once you're all ready and you've done your twelfth once over to make sure that everything is where it should be, it's time to shine.
When walking down to a convention, be sure that you have everything that you need and you are able to get back to your room. If you are driving and parking at a garage, make sure you save yourself ample room just in case you need to throw on one last piece of your cosplay in the garage. Be sure to be aware of your surroundings as you walk to the con. It's easy to get sidetracked with everything before you realized you've trounced on someone's train.
When out on the convention floor, smile and have fun! This is the moment that you've been waiting for, so have a little bit of fun with it. Be kind and courteous to people if they ask you to pose for a photograph. And be wary of where you stand, just in case there is an impromptu photo session in the middle of an alleyway. If someone is acting in a way that's making you uncomfortable, don't hesitant to tell them to go away. If the actions persist, be sure to locate your nearest convention staff member and tell them the situation. They are there to make sure everyone is having a great time. And harassment isn't fun to anyone.
And that's it! Pretty easy, huh? Well, the fun is worth the stress in the end. If you have any questions or concerns, don't be shy to post a comment on this post.
• Step #1: Pick a Character
Many newcomers will think this is the easiest step. And depending on the character and costume that you pick, they're right. Yet, a majority of the time they will come to find that this is one of the hardest steps in the procedure. When you are picking a character to cosplay, you want to make sure that you have three basic things in mind: Skill Level, Coverage, and Comfort.
Skill Level is imperative to your character choice because you don't want to pick a character whose costume is out of your experience level.
 |
| Banshee Queen Enira from Lineage 2 |
 |
| Fionna from Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake |
If you aren't sure if the character is at your skill level, ask yourself this: do you have to learn or re-learn three or more things? If it's yes, then it's too complicated. It could mean the difference between a good cosplay and a great cosplay.
Coverage is an aspect on its own, but it also works in conjunction with the third item on this list. Coverage is a general term that has to do with how much of your body the costume covers. There are some characters that are well known that have skimpy outfits. While there are some costumes that cover quite a bit.
 |
| Juliet Starling from Lollipop Chainsaw |
 |
| Genderbent Dean Winchester from Supernatural |
Coverage and your comfort with wearing the costume are ideals that go hand in hand. However, it's not just your comfort that coverage applies to. Major convention companies such as Wizard World and PAX have cosplaying rules about how revealing your cosplay can be. In fact, PAX has initiated a "'Booth Babes' Policy" that applies to cosplayers as well as convention booth workers. In the end, as long as you aren't breaking any rules, coverage all depends on how comfortable you are with the cosplay.
The final detail is Comfort. Conventions are multi-day events with a lot of walking around involved. And you may think that you can last a day in high heels and a full skirt, but you could also be completely wrong. Picking a character that you know you will be comfortable walking around the convention floor in all day is an imperative detail to picking your cosplay. If you know you can take a chance walking around in two inch heels all day, do it! But, if you wince at the thought, perhaps a character with flats is better?
In the end the decision is yours to make. It's not going to be anyone else in that cosplay but you. So, the final choice is yours and yours alone. And whomever you choose, be sure it's a character that you can abide by the first rule of cosplay in: have fun!
• Step #2: Draw Up Your Design
The next step is to draw -- or collage, or sketch -- up your design. Doing this will help you visualize your cosplay better in your mind. It will also allow you to take notes on the cosplay on particular parts such as what fabrics you might need or what patterns you might use.
Whatever medium you choose to use all depends on you. I usually digitally sketch out my designs on my computer and print them out. It allows me to insert pictures of the character or pictures of items of clothing that would work best for the outfit. The choice is yours. I know people who use paper dolls to design their cosplays whose outfits come out looking professional.
No matter how you design, having a physical visualization of your cosplay will help you when you are getting and putting everything together.
• Step #3: Get Your Supplies
As my cosplay mom once told me: cosplays don't just fall out of the sky. And whether it's a simple t-shirt or a full ball gown with a light up bow and arrow, you're going to need a few things to have your character come to life.
Once you have your design drafted and noted, you should have a clear idea of how much of what type of materials you'll need. You'll then need to locate the places that sell the materials you need. Now, most cosplayers will say they live in their local craft and fabric shops. Those are great places for cosplayers of any level, but they aren't the only places in the world that you can go to get cosplaying supplies.
Home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's carry high quality products for making accessories, props, and weapons. Superstores such as Target, Walmart, and Kmart are good if you need to duck in for a last minute pair of tights or cheap Nerf gun for a prop. And any retail stores hold items that can easily be modified into the perfect part of your cosplay.
When looking for locations, it's also important that the store you're going to has the right amount of the material you're asking for. It allows you more time to work on your project by saving you some time running around to different stores looking for three of the exact same styrofoam balls you were looking for.
So, you've done your shopping and you've gotten your (small mountain) of supplies. What's next?
• Step #4: Work on the Cosplay
Here comes the hard part: making the cosplay. This step is the longest of the process. And depending on the cosplay you've chosen, "long" could be an understatement.
When working on a cosplay, be sure that you spread your work time out evenly. If you rush to get it done early, you run the risk of it being stained or pets or little siblings getting into it (your dog will eat your cosplay if it's mad enough). If you lay it off and rush to get it done a week before the convention, then you'll most likely end up hunched in front of your sewing machine at five in the morning wondering what it would be like to be human again.
Spreading your time out evenly will allow for you to plan around any mishaps that might happen and fix any slight -- or major -- complications that might arise. Plus, it allows you to take a break every so often to focus on other things in your life such as school or family and friends. Cosplay may seem as though it's the center of the world when you're knee deep in your final bustle, but in the end it's all about fun. And there is nothing fun about sticking yourself with a needle at three in the morning because you're rushing to get your costume done in time.
• Step #5: Travel
Your costume is all finished and stitched together. Your hems are tight, your props are glued in their appropriate places, and your wig and make up are ready and styled. Now comes, possibly, the most nerve wracking part: traveling to the convention.
You may think that I'm over-exaggerating. But there is nothing calming about waiting for the cardboard box filled with the prop you painstakingly worked on for a month slide down and out at baggage claim after a long plane ride. And if you think waiting for a prop is bad, thinking about what travel did to that wig of yours is going to give you a bushel of gray hairs.
Whether you're going to a convention an hour away or are flying to another state to attend, traveling with your cosplay is a torturous dance of "what if." My best advice is to pack and plan with common sense. If you're going to be in body paint and are carpooling to the event, be sure that you bathed yourself in setting powder or spray. If you have to check a box with your luggage, be sure that you have packed everything safely and securely. All it takes is one moment of "eh" that could mean the difference between a disaster and a happy convention experience.
• Step #6: Getting Ready
Everything is safe and in good condition. You got up early to the sickening smell of hot plastic as your friend styles her wig. You duck into the hotel's buffet breakfast to grab some bacon, only to get weird looks as you look like a troll with your face half painted and your wig cap secure. That's right, it's time to get into your cosplay.
It may seem strange to have a step solely for putting on the costume. But, trust me, it helps to have it.
When getting into your cosplay, be sure that you save yourself enough time before the convention or whenever you want to go to the convention to get ready. That involves getting a good night's rest before. It's the Christmas Day Principle - as much as you're excited to get down there, the day comes faster the sooner you fall asleep. Once you wake up well rested (or dead tired because your anxiety kept you up), now begins the race.
It doesn't matter if you're getting ready by yourself in your room or are sharing a room with your friends, there is an overwhelming sense of rush that comes over you. You race to quickly shower and dry your hair. You sprint from one end of your room to another in order to get every piece on as quickly as you can. Wigs are flying back and forth. People are crowding around the mirror to get a better look for their make up or contacts.
This is the time where you need to take a moment and just breathe. Let the world stand still for a moment and re-ground yourself. Trust me, your make up will look much better when your hands aren't shaking.
If you have decided to opt into sharing a hotel room with other cosplayers, be sure to set out a system for getting ready the night before. If everyone needs to shower in the morning, then make a list of who gets the shower first. Make sure that everyone has their own station for certain parts of the process such as make-up, costume, wig, etc. And be sure to touch base with each other during the process to make sure that there isn't going to be a ten car pile up at the mirror at the final moment.
Whatever your situation, be sure to keep your cool. Stressing will only take more fun out of the experience. Plus, no one wants to be the grouch who hogs the bathroom for an hour when two other people need to get in.
• Step #7: Present Final Cosplay
This step is pretty self-explanatory. Once you're all ready and you've done your twelfth once over to make sure that everything is where it should be, it's time to shine.
When walking down to a convention, be sure that you have everything that you need and you are able to get back to your room. If you are driving and parking at a garage, make sure you save yourself ample room just in case you need to throw on one last piece of your cosplay in the garage. Be sure to be aware of your surroundings as you walk to the con. It's easy to get sidetracked with everything before you realized you've trounced on someone's train.
When out on the convention floor, smile and have fun! This is the moment that you've been waiting for, so have a little bit of fun with it. Be kind and courteous to people if they ask you to pose for a photograph. And be wary of where you stand, just in case there is an impromptu photo session in the middle of an alleyway. If someone is acting in a way that's making you uncomfortable, don't hesitant to tell them to go away. If the actions persist, be sure to locate your nearest convention staff member and tell them the situation. They are there to make sure everyone is having a great time. And harassment isn't fun to anyone.
And that's it! Pretty easy, huh? Well, the fun is worth the stress in the end. If you have any questions or concerns, don't be shy to post a comment on this post.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Snippets of My Future
• meta-data snippets from my fictional future that I dream a little dream of each day •
SDCC 2020: Panel Schedule | Gender and Cosplay: Breaking Down Gender Roles with Style
Prominent Nerd Culture analyst The Undercover Hipster hosts her acclaimed cosplay and gender studies panel for a second year
The Undercover Hipster Interviews Prominent YouTube Celebrities on Nerd Culture Fiasco
...springing to action, The Undercover Hipster went straight to the horse's mouth, so to speak, to get reactions from prominent YouTube users on the incident...reactions are shocking...
Nerd Culture fighter The Undercover Hipster Teams Up with Anti-Harassment Project
...teams up with The Undercover Hipster, a well-known nerd culture analyst and activist, to spread the word about harassment in the cosplay subculture...
The Undercover Hipster Announced Teaching Gig on Twitter Last Week
...praised analyst The Undercover Hipster might be coming out of the shadows for a teaching job at their alma mater..."I'm so excited to give back! #ComingHome!"
TheUndercoverHipster (@UndercovaHipsta) | Twitter
The latest tweets from TheUndercoverHipster (@UndercovaHipsta). One does not simply analyse nerd culture.
Home | Wønderland Cøsplay
...started by long-time cosplayer and nerd culture analyst Undercover Hipster as a way to promote equality and fun in her favorite subculture..."We wanted a judgement-free zone here..."
Two Sides to Every Coin: Looking at Both Ends of the Gender Dicussion
Women in nerd culture do have it rough. I have to admit that it's hard to be constantly judged and criticized. But, it's not only females who have it rough in nerd culture. Men have it rough, too!
The stereotypical behaviors and attitudes attributed to the masculine gender role have created this Herculean caricature of the buff Bro-ham with a muscle tank and a brewski in his hand. And, whether you're male or female, I'm sure that you've met him at some point or another. (Yet, this caricature has done more damage than sexual harassment and poor choices at parties. )
The word "nerd" brings to mind many connotations and images. The primary image being the stereotypical "nerdy guy" look complete with skinny frame, poor fashion choices, and large cranium. However, the connotations that go along with the image hurt more. The connotations are the nerds are "weak", "feeble", "sexually ignorant" -- more professional sounding than "virgin" I have to admit --, "social awkward"...the list goes on. These connotations line up with the ideas of "hypomasculinity" [1] or having none or less than normal masculinity. And most of the time, those who exhibit those traits of hypomasculinity are told and repeated ridiculed for not fitting the gender norms. In plain terms: they're picked on.
Now, I have to admit that this whole situation might sound as though it came out of a bad high school drama film. People getting pick on for not being the ideal buff Jock type. Yet, those films weren't so far off. Men are taught to deal with their problems straight on. They are taught to avoid anything feminine and be self-reliant [2]. So it wouldn't be a surprise that if a male came across someone who wasn't masculine, they would joke and ridicule him for it. The level of these jests often varies from playful to hurtful to downright cruel, but they do happen. Even if you don't think they do.
And with these attacks driving away at their self-esteem, I understand why some male nerds have grown up with a distinct -- to sound polite -- dislike of ideas and attitudes that are the opposite of masculine. Nerd culture has offered them a chance to be top dog. Their the ones with all of the answers and are the ones regarded as the best of the best. So, when a chick comes around that slays them in a game or in nerd trivia, let's just say that it's high school all over again. And why they would be so eager to attack anything that might threaten their little nest of happiness that nerd culture has offered them.
The stereotypical behaviors and attitudes attributed to the masculine gender role have created this Herculean caricature of the buff Bro-ham with a muscle tank and a brewski in his hand. And, whether you're male or female, I'm sure that you've met him at some point or another. (Yet, this caricature has done more damage than sexual harassment and poor choices at parties. )
The word "nerd" brings to mind many connotations and images. The primary image being the stereotypical "nerdy guy" look complete with skinny frame, poor fashion choices, and large cranium. However, the connotations that go along with the image hurt more. The connotations are the nerds are "weak", "feeble", "sexually ignorant" -- more professional sounding than "virgin" I have to admit --, "social awkward"...the list goes on. These connotations line up with the ideas of "hypomasculinity" [1] or having none or less than normal masculinity. And most of the time, those who exhibit those traits of hypomasculinity are told and repeated ridiculed for not fitting the gender norms. In plain terms: they're picked on.
Now, I have to admit that this whole situation might sound as though it came out of a bad high school drama film. People getting pick on for not being the ideal buff Jock type. Yet, those films weren't so far off. Men are taught to deal with their problems straight on. They are taught to avoid anything feminine and be self-reliant [2]. So it wouldn't be a surprise that if a male came across someone who wasn't masculine, they would joke and ridicule him for it. The level of these jests often varies from playful to hurtful to downright cruel, but they do happen. Even if you don't think they do.
And with these attacks driving away at their self-esteem, I understand why some male nerds have grown up with a distinct -- to sound polite -- dislike of ideas and attitudes that are the opposite of masculine. Nerd culture has offered them a chance to be top dog. Their the ones with all of the answers and are the ones regarded as the best of the best. So, when a chick comes around that slays them in a game or in nerd trivia, let's just say that it's high school all over again. And why they would be so eager to attack anything that might threaten their little nest of happiness that nerd culture has offered them.
Three Episode Taste #1
Kill la Kill
Media Type:
Japanese Animation Television Show
Genre:
action
comedy
drama
"magical girl"
Directors:
Hiroyuki Imaishi
Akira Amemiya
Alex Von David
Writers:
Kazuki Nakashima
Alex Von David
Hiroshi Seko
Hiromi Wakabayashi
Music:
Hiroyuki Sawano
Studio:
Trigger
Years Running/Released:
First Season: October 2013 - March 2014
Taste Amount:
3 Episodes
S1Ep1: "If Only I Had Thorns Like A Thistle..."
S1Ep2: "So Sexy, I'm Going to Faint"
S1Ep3: "Junketsu"
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Experience:
My experiences with anime have been few and far between. In the past year or so, I have made it a point to watch more in order to explore the world better. The explosion of interest in Japanese animation shows -- better known by their shorter moniker "anime" -- in Western culture hasn't gone unnoticed in my eye. And with more of my friends urging me to explore the newer anime shows that are coming out, I might as well try it.
I only had one problem: I didn't know where to start.
After looking around online, I was given the username and password for a shared Crunchyroll -- one of the premiere sites for streaming anime online -- account owned by a couple of my friends. Along with the login credentials, I was given a "short" list of animes to watch. I decided to work my way down the list, starting with the first show on the list: Trigger Studio's Kill la Kill.
Now, I had heard about the show previously on the convention floor from fans. Yet, I never got around to watching it. It has been received well by Western audiences for its well choreographed fight scenes, enthralling characters, and ridiculous humor. It seemed to have everything that I wanted and more. And with the sheer amount of fan it has collected, I naturally assumed it would be something right up my alley. Right?
Oh boy, I couldn't be more wrong.
To give you a general, spoiler-free overview: the main protagonist of the show is Ryuko Matoi, a teen girl who is 'tough as nails' with a really bad attitude problem. The show follows her adventures -- complete with overdramatic characters and ridiculous fight scenes -- through the prestigious Honnouji Academy as she journeys to find the truth about her father's death.
The narrative, I have to admit, isn't something to boast about. It harkens back to the traditional "Hero's Journey" storyline that I have seen in many television shows before. Yet, the writers of Kill la Kill have truly worked hard to make this journey as entertaining, personal, emotional, and action-packed as possible.
The series opens on a standard high school history lecture in the first episode "If Only I Had Thorns Like A Thistle...". It's quiet and, strangely, normal...at least for thirty seconds. The action then bursts in -- quite literally -- to the narrative. And it doesn't let up at all. Screaming, over-exaggerated expressions, and fast-paced fight scenes take up a majority of the episode. It felt as though I was watching a marathon of fight and action scenes from cheesy 90's action movies. I remember constantly asking myself "what the hell am I watching?" However, there is some appeal to the non-stop action. I admit I was never bored. There was always something to catch my eye and keep me entertained. And the fight scenes, albeit cliché and overdone, were well-choreographed and animated.
Speaking on the animation, it's without a doubt my favorite part of the show. Being an artist, I respect any animated show. I know the time and care it takes to craft every line of an expression; every small detail of the scenery. It's a laborious process, but this show doesn't disappoint. I adored the art style and how it worked for the narrative genre. It was gritty and dirty. The contrast between Honnouji Academy and the ghetto beneath was stark, but it worked. The old-school style titles in bold red font called back to a nostalgic era of martial arts films. It was a fantastic mix of old-school inspiration and modern art style.
To be honest, the whole show was interesting and captivating in some way. I was never bored while watching and the humor often stuck it's mark. Overall, there were many things about the show that I greatly enjoyed.
But, there is always a catch. These catches keep the balance of the show in check, making sure that there is some bad weaved into the plethora of good. Now, most of the time I'm able to forgive the bad. Just like every fan, I know none of my favorite shows are perfect, making it instinct to take the good with the bad. But the catches in Kill la Kill were too big for me to forgive.
Catch #1: That is NOT clothing!
Anyone who has searched the word "anime" online will be bombarded with images of scantily clad girls with unnaturally large bosoms. And if you haven't had the pleasure of doing this search, trust me when I say that it's better that I spoiled it for you.
Scanty outfits on female characters is a writing norm of anime that has been around for a good chunk of the genre's history. It has been the scantily clad butt of any joke about anime and the center of any critique on the subject. However, Kill la Kill has taken this trope to a whole new level. It even has the characters crying out in protest. And if you think I'm joking, there is a whole section of the second episode where Ryuko complains about the outfit choice. Then again, if I had to wear this to fight my battles in:
I would be complaining, too. Now, as I said, I haven't watched that much anime. My experience with anime includes a list of only seven animes - excluding Kill la Kill. And out of those seven, I've only completed two of them. In the grand scope of the culture and media, that's a microscopic amount. But, I don't need to be a hardcore fan to know that outfit...isn't much of an outfit. Even by anime's standards.
Fans of the show will clamber to defend the aesthetic choices of the characters' outfits. And, to be fair, their reasoning fits for the logic of the narrative. But, for me, that doesn't cut the mustard. I may not have much experience with anime, but I know enough for this to not sit right with me.
The fact is that this "outfit" exists solely to sexualize the character of Ryuko. Despite the fabric being 'magical' in it's properties, the outfit's basic construction offers no battle function. If you were to take away the magic in the fabric, Ryuko wouldn't stand a chance against any of the enemies that she battles against.
It also plays to the fantasy of the "Naughty Schoolgirl." This is the fetishized idea of school-aged girls in uniforms acting promiscuous and submissive. Along with the "Battle Form" of the outfit having hints of the typical sailor-style school uniform common in Japan, the "Street Form" version plays on the fetish quite a bit.
With the short skirt, crop top, and suspenders, let's just say that this outfit wouldn't pass inspection in any private institution. If that doesn't add to the ick factor, I don't know what will.
To top it off, the hyper-sexual look of the outfit is often joked about between the characters. I do admit I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that the design wasn't taken too seriously by the creators. However, just because there are jokes about it, doesn't make it alright to simply write off.
Many people and fans of the show will say that I'm being overly sensitive and that I'm reading too much into the design. Maybe I am. Yet, from the small experience that I've had with anime, I have been able to forgive many things. I was able to forgive Sailor Moon's blundering, stereotypical, sexualized protagonist Usagi Tsukino. I was able to forgive the buxom, scantily clad pirate ladies of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. Even so, I cannot forgive Kill la Kill.
If this were the only catch of Kill la Kill, I'm sure I could move past it. But, this catch is only the bottom of the totem pole.
Catch #2: Equal Opportunity Objectification is STILL Objectification
Gender equality and I are buddies. I have grown up breaking down gender barriers and questioning gender norms. In my mind and heart, everyone should be equal. That being said, my egalitarianism doesn't mean that I think it's okay to objectify anyone. Male. Female. Or anyone in between. No one deserves to be objectified for any reason.
So, you can imagine that the sheer amount of blatant objectification of the characters in Kill la Kill did not sit well with me. And the fact that it was written off as a humorous situation a majority of the time didn't help either.
This is another catch that will have fans running up to me saying that I'm being too sensitive. That it's not just girls being objectified, but guys, too. That I should take it as the farcical over-exaggeration that it's written to be.
Overly exaggerated or not, it still doesn't make it okay. In fact, it makes it worse. It's saying that objectifying anyone in any way is okay as long as it's a joke or meant to be funny. The show's narrative may not be saying that directly, but sometimes subtext can be just as dangerous as literal text.
Catch #3: Uncomfortable Levels Reaching Maximum, Captain
Let me just state this right now: this was the catch that did me in. This one right here.
During each episode, I could feel my comfort level slowly disintegrate. By the end of the third episode, I found myself huddled in a ball because I just didn't feel comfortable with what I was watching.
And, just to let you know, it wasn't the violence.
This catch did me in because it was the combination of the two previous catches. All of the objectification, humorous write-offs, and blatant hyper-sexualization cumulated into a wave of discomfort that I couldn't shake.
Every thinly veiled rape scenario. Every voyeurism reference. Every joke used to write-off a situation. It just simply built up until I felt unsafe being by myself in my own apartment.
After watching three episodes of Kill la Kill, I hastily shut it off. I made myself some tea and reflected on what I just watched. All the while, I wracked my head for the reason why I didn't like it. The art style was beautiful. The narrative was captivating. The characters were well fleshed out - no pun intended. So, why didn't I like it?
The best answer I can come up with is that it rubbed me the wrong way. There's just something about Kill la Kill that I can't get past, a wall blocking my way of enjoying it.
My experiences with anime have been few and far between. In the past year or so, I have made it a point to watch more in order to explore the world better. The explosion of interest in Japanese animation shows -- better known by their shorter moniker "anime" -- in Western culture hasn't gone unnoticed in my eye. And with more of my friends urging me to explore the newer anime shows that are coming out, I might as well try it.
I only had one problem: I didn't know where to start.
After looking around online, I was given the username and password for a shared Crunchyroll -- one of the premiere sites for streaming anime online -- account owned by a couple of my friends. Along with the login credentials, I was given a "short" list of animes to watch. I decided to work my way down the list, starting with the first show on the list: Trigger Studio's Kill la Kill.
Now, I had heard about the show previously on the convention floor from fans. Yet, I never got around to watching it. It has been received well by Western audiences for its well choreographed fight scenes, enthralling characters, and ridiculous humor. It seemed to have everything that I wanted and more. And with the sheer amount of fan it has collected, I naturally assumed it would be something right up my alley. Right?
Oh boy, I couldn't be more wrong.
To give you a general, spoiler-free overview: the main protagonist of the show is Ryuko Matoi, a teen girl who is 'tough as nails' with a really bad attitude problem. The show follows her adventures -- complete with overdramatic characters and ridiculous fight scenes -- through the prestigious Honnouji Academy as she journeys to find the truth about her father's death.
The narrative, I have to admit, isn't something to boast about. It harkens back to the traditional "Hero's Journey" storyline that I have seen in many television shows before. Yet, the writers of Kill la Kill have truly worked hard to make this journey as entertaining, personal, emotional, and action-packed as possible.
The series opens on a standard high school history lecture in the first episode "If Only I Had Thorns Like A Thistle...". It's quiet and, strangely, normal...at least for thirty seconds. The action then bursts in -- quite literally -- to the narrative. And it doesn't let up at all. Screaming, over-exaggerated expressions, and fast-paced fight scenes take up a majority of the episode. It felt as though I was watching a marathon of fight and action scenes from cheesy 90's action movies. I remember constantly asking myself "what the hell am I watching?" However, there is some appeal to the non-stop action. I admit I was never bored. There was always something to catch my eye and keep me entertained. And the fight scenes, albeit cliché and overdone, were well-choreographed and animated.
Speaking on the animation, it's without a doubt my favorite part of the show. Being an artist, I respect any animated show. I know the time and care it takes to craft every line of an expression; every small detail of the scenery. It's a laborious process, but this show doesn't disappoint. I adored the art style and how it worked for the narrative genre. It was gritty and dirty. The contrast between Honnouji Academy and the ghetto beneath was stark, but it worked. The old-school style titles in bold red font called back to a nostalgic era of martial arts films. It was a fantastic mix of old-school inspiration and modern art style.
To be honest, the whole show was interesting and captivating in some way. I was never bored while watching and the humor often stuck it's mark. Overall, there were many things about the show that I greatly enjoyed.
But, there is always a catch. These catches keep the balance of the show in check, making sure that there is some bad weaved into the plethora of good. Now, most of the time I'm able to forgive the bad. Just like every fan, I know none of my favorite shows are perfect, making it instinct to take the good with the bad. But the catches in Kill la Kill were too big for me to forgive.
Catch #1: That is NOT clothing!
Anyone who has searched the word "anime" online will be bombarded with images of scantily clad girls with unnaturally large bosoms. And if you haven't had the pleasure of doing this search, trust me when I say that it's better that I spoiled it for you.
Scanty outfits on female characters is a writing norm of anime that has been around for a good chunk of the genre's history. It has been the scantily clad butt of any joke about anime and the center of any critique on the subject. However, Kill la Kill has taken this trope to a whole new level. It even has the characters crying out in protest. And if you think I'm joking, there is a whole section of the second episode where Ryuko complains about the outfit choice. Then again, if I had to wear this to fight my battles in:
 |
| Img. Source |
I would be complaining, too. Now, as I said, I haven't watched that much anime. My experience with anime includes a list of only seven animes - excluding Kill la Kill. And out of those seven, I've only completed two of them. In the grand scope of the culture and media, that's a microscopic amount. But, I don't need to be a hardcore fan to know that outfit...isn't much of an outfit. Even by anime's standards.
Fans of the show will clamber to defend the aesthetic choices of the characters' outfits. And, to be fair, their reasoning fits for the logic of the narrative. But, for me, that doesn't cut the mustard. I may not have much experience with anime, but I know enough for this to not sit right with me.
The fact is that this "outfit" exists solely to sexualize the character of Ryuko. Despite the fabric being 'magical' in it's properties, the outfit's basic construction offers no battle function. If you were to take away the magic in the fabric, Ryuko wouldn't stand a chance against any of the enemies that she battles against.
It also plays to the fantasy of the "Naughty Schoolgirl." This is the fetishized idea of school-aged girls in uniforms acting promiscuous and submissive. Along with the "Battle Form" of the outfit having hints of the typical sailor-style school uniform common in Japan, the "Street Form" version plays on the fetish quite a bit.
 |
| Img. Source |
With the short skirt, crop top, and suspenders, let's just say that this outfit wouldn't pass inspection in any private institution. If that doesn't add to the ick factor, I don't know what will.
To top it off, the hyper-sexual look of the outfit is often joked about between the characters. I do admit I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that the design wasn't taken too seriously by the creators. However, just because there are jokes about it, doesn't make it alright to simply write off.
Many people and fans of the show will say that I'm being overly sensitive and that I'm reading too much into the design. Maybe I am. Yet, from the small experience that I've had with anime, I have been able to forgive many things. I was able to forgive Sailor Moon's blundering, stereotypical, sexualized protagonist Usagi Tsukino. I was able to forgive the buxom, scantily clad pirate ladies of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. Even so, I cannot forgive Kill la Kill.
If this were the only catch of Kill la Kill, I'm sure I could move past it. But, this catch is only the bottom of the totem pole.
Catch #2: Equal Opportunity Objectification is STILL Objectification
Gender equality and I are buddies. I have grown up breaking down gender barriers and questioning gender norms. In my mind and heart, everyone should be equal. That being said, my egalitarianism doesn't mean that I think it's okay to objectify anyone. Male. Female. Or anyone in between. No one deserves to be objectified for any reason.
So, you can imagine that the sheer amount of blatant objectification of the characters in Kill la Kill did not sit well with me. And the fact that it was written off as a humorous situation a majority of the time didn't help either.
This is another catch that will have fans running up to me saying that I'm being too sensitive. That it's not just girls being objectified, but guys, too. That I should take it as the farcical over-exaggeration that it's written to be.
Overly exaggerated or not, it still doesn't make it okay. In fact, it makes it worse. It's saying that objectifying anyone in any way is okay as long as it's a joke or meant to be funny. The show's narrative may not be saying that directly, but sometimes subtext can be just as dangerous as literal text.
Catch #3: Uncomfortable Levels Reaching Maximum, Captain
Let me just state this right now: this was the catch that did me in. This one right here.
During each episode, I could feel my comfort level slowly disintegrate. By the end of the third episode, I found myself huddled in a ball because I just didn't feel comfortable with what I was watching.
And, just to let you know, it wasn't the violence.
This catch did me in because it was the combination of the two previous catches. All of the objectification, humorous write-offs, and blatant hyper-sexualization cumulated into a wave of discomfort that I couldn't shake.
Every thinly veiled rape scenario. Every voyeurism reference. Every joke used to write-off a situation. It just simply built up until I felt unsafe being by myself in my own apartment.
After watching three episodes of Kill la Kill, I hastily shut it off. I made myself some tea and reflected on what I just watched. All the while, I wracked my head for the reason why I didn't like it. The art style was beautiful. The narrative was captivating. The characters were well fleshed out - no pun intended. So, why didn't I like it?
The best answer I can come up with is that it rubbed me the wrong way. There's just something about Kill la Kill that I can't get past, a wall blocking my way of enjoying it.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Rating:
3.5 out of 5
Additional Notes:
Normally, this type of experience wouldn't end with me returning to the show. I would be done with it the minute that I was done with the third episode. However, the show has only one season out. And I have been plagued by my friends -- who are fans of the show -- saying that the show's experience is stunted by only watching a few episodes. I would have to agree. The show has peaked my interest in a way that I can only describe as masochistically.
Final Words:
I will be finishing the first season of Kill la Kill and coming back to analyze it in a critical analysis.
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