Arisia 2019 Con Q&A: Does Cosplay Build Self-Esteem?
Our first YouTube video from a convention in 2019 comes from Arisia, held earlier this month at the Park Plaza in downtown Boston. The story of Arisia through the last half of 2018 leading up to the recent convention is interesting, somewhat disturbing and (hopefully) redemptive. You can read about it in our Friday gallery and event write-up.
Despite all that and an impending snow and ice storm, we asked Morenafantasie, who was cosplaying as Raven from Teen Titans, to ask attendees this question: Does cosplay build your self-esteem? Arisia is a good convention for this kind of question, since it has a reputation as being one of the most accepting and accommodating conventions in New England for people with any range of difficulties or issues. It also has a Masquerade that attracts cosplayers and costumers from all kinds of fandoms, from steampunk to anime, and consistently draws competitors of remarkable talent.
A common thread running through some of the answers is the ability to draw ongoing strength from the strength of the fictional character the cosplayer is portraying. This is the “fake it ’til you make it” approach to building up courage, confidence or self-esteem — just with the help of an assumed persona. Help with body positivity is also an ongoing theme, as is the ability to slowly build self-esteem by doing so in a large group of fellow nerds and cosplaying peers.
Cosplayers in this video include makeupmermaidcosplay, Momochi Cosplays, Not Professional Cosplay, lunarlupuscosplay, lostsanitycosplays, Redfield design, Fine Art Superheroes, vulpirecosplay, and more.
Check out the video below, or go to YouTube directly to watch it.
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