Cosplayers: Gender and Identity

Cosplayers: Gender and Identity explores identity practices in cosplay, challenging the correlation between cosplay and cosplayer identity and considering the lived experiences of cosplayers engaging in the fan practice of sartorial performance. It develops an understanding of a complex cultural system of art, engaging with multiple methodologies to make identity, fandom, and critical analysis on the parts of participants and observers alike.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 82 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Cosplayers: Gender and Identity delves into the intricate world of cosplay, exploring the diverse practices and experiences of cosplayers themselves. It challenges the conventional notion that cosplay is solely tied to the identity of the cosplayer and instead considers the lived realities of those who engage in the fan practice of sartorial performance.

The book is organized into several chapters that examine the blurring lines of gender, the sexualization of fantasy in real spaces, and the nostalgia associated with cosplay. Through these chapters, the author argues that relying solely on observational data to understand cosplay risks perpetuating normative expectations of identity and can lead to misreadings that generalize.

To counteract this, the author employs a multi-methodological approach, engaging with participants and observers alike to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex cultural system of art that is cosplay. The book is accessible and innovative, making it suitable for scholars and students in gender studies, cultural studies, sexuality studies, sociology, and media studies.

By delving into the personal stories and experiences of cosplayers, Cosplayers: Gender and Identity offers a unique perspective on identity formation, fandom, and critical analysis. It sheds light on the ways in which cosplayers negotiate their gender, sexual orientation, and cultural identities through their costumes and performances, and highlights the importance of including cosplayer narratives in academic research to achieve a more accurate and nuanced understanding of this fascinating fan practice.

Weight: 167g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367715991