London MCM Expo
The opinion and article prior to the removal of the post are my own and no one else’s.
I cannot help it if you feel insulted and betrayed/angry at what I’ve written but as a person, I do not share the same opinion as everyone else and neither does everyone else always have the same opinion as i do.
However, in the interests of generating less controversy and insults at the cost of being labelled *insert here* for removing what I’ve said and done and in particular at which i don’t have the time to refute constantly, the post has been cleaned and all that remains are the photos.
For those who have responded kindly and have taken what I’ve said in jest, thank you. It’s not often that people are willing to admit that they did “so-and-so” cosplay for a lark.
For those of you who have taken insults from the blog post, try to understand the issue from my viewpoint. It’s not all roses and green grass. Sooner or later someone would’ve said something similar to what I did and I happened to be the first.
The views I’ve expressed here are my own personal feelings and i do not express those feelings in a professional manner when i write a proper event review/article on other sites.
On an interesting note: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/08/24/malaysia-cosplay-gacc-2009/
October 26th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Haha, I was man-Haruhi :p
My serious cosplays hadn’t arrived on time so I bought that for a laugh on the day ^^
October 26th, 2009 at 8:31 am
[...] Lulz » Blog Archive » London MCM Expo [...]
October 26th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Strife>> I’m sorry mate, but i think you weren’t the only man-Haruhi there. In any case, being used to good cosplay in the East all of the time, and even being prepared for the worst-case scenario…
Doesn’t really prepare you much for anything.
PS – That was my first Western man-Haruhi. I’ve only ever seen Asian man-Haruhi.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Aoshi, I’m sorry that you had a bad first impression of Expo.
To be completely honest, the very fact that the culture of cosplay in Europe and Asia is vastly different should have prepared you for it. And in my opinion, it is not necessarily a bad thing.
I’m not saying that it is wrong to think that bad quality cosplay (quality in terms of what? looks? suitability of your physical self in fitting the character? living up to someone else’s ’standards’? or the workmanship itself?) should be condemned, but I, personally as someone who has been here for a year, think that it is most certainly not a “problem”. Maybe it is, to us who come from a perfectionist Asian cosplay culture – the equivalent of a culture shock – but I do not appreciate, and I don’t think everyone else appreciates, the fact that they should be criticised for simply intending to have fun and showing up to express love for the character by dressing up as it.
If you stick around long enough to witness Expo as it is, you stop looking at how badly done a cosplay is and look at the reasons behind it. You see -everything- that I personally regard the Asian cosplay scene to have forgotten – the love for the character, the desire to meet up with people who cosplay from the same series because they love the series and want to meet others and just generally have fun spazzing about it – and last but not least, having HANDMADE, or at least gone to the length of trying to make the costume themselves because they love the costume, which is the main point of cosplay in the UK, something closely reflected by their masquerades.
True, the coordination/organisation of Expo is not one of the best in the convention scene – things have been going downhill for a few years now due to the massive size and problems with the committee (I don’t know much, so I won’t say much, but this is what I’ve heard). A much better event, and one that is massively subscribed to each year, would be Minamicon, or even Cosplay Ball. But with respect to UK cosplayers as a whole, dude, take it or leave it – accept the cosplayers for who they are, and accept that not everyone has to conform to Asian cosplay standards, as there is no such rule for cosplay in the first place! Satisfaction can be derived from different things, and the Expo experience is one of them. I personally would not want to impose my value judgments on someone else just because I feel this is how it should be done and it is how I have been used to all this while.
I’m sorry, but I find this post a bit insulting (and I think it’s reflected in the tone of this comment, and I apologise if it was harsh). I certainly would not appreciate being openly judged by those coming from a vastly different cosplay culture. (Actually, knowing British cosplayers, they probably would not care.)
October 27th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Well… i might not have said it in the post above, but i did have more fun than what i would usually have at any “asian” con.
It’s not really possible to get the best of both worlds and there has to be a compromise of sorts. I’ve also laughed off before at cosplay standards in the Western sphere, as I’d put it as I do understand that people here take their cosplay on a less serious note.
However, as someone who calls it as he sees it, and because I’m from the other side of the pond, do understand that I am in no way doing my best to insult the British/UK cosplay scene.
I sincerely apologize if you find this entry insulting but I can’t change my views once they’ve been put there for all to see.
That said, having lurked in /cgl/ for a couple of years now, I was fully expecting to see what I’d see. A friend who was with me however, doesn’t know about how cosplay is taken here and he didn’t take it to well? i suppose? He’s a cosplayer too. Which I’m not.
Finally, I wouldn’t call it a bad first impression, believe me, I’ve seen worse. But there are places for the Expo to improve on and i certainly will spend more of my time outside rather than inside if I do go again next year.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Hi. I didn’t really intend to comment because I don’t think I’ve ever met you, but I figured that I may as well because I feel strongly about some of the issues you’ve raised here.
I’m a Singaporean who started out in the UK cosplay scene back in ‘06. I have cosplayed a total of two times in Singapore (2008) and three times in Japan (2009). After my short time in Asian cosplay communities, I felt that I had come away with a good experience and was happy to have let myself learn from the difference in culture. I came away from the trip flattered, satisfied, and very enlightened; almost everyone looked good. People liked my costumes, people treated me politely and i felt welcomed. On the flip side, I heard a lot of gossip, drama, and heard the misgivings and opinions of many of my fellow cosplayers.
So, despite the fact that I, like you, reel from culture shock I should have expected and have experienced, I have to say that I am still entirely disgusted by what I read here. I think you and much of the Asian cosplay scene (not all, by all means) should take a step back and look at what the ‘aim’ of cosplay is.
Is it to ‘take pride’ in superficial looks while hiding behind the facade of geeky subversion? Or is it to dispense with the idea of aims in the first place and just have fun with friends while expressing heartfelt, sometimes socially stigmatized love for a series?
Of course, there are a number of cosplayers in the UK who have been in the scene for a long time. There are the ones who put more effort into things than others and take pride in their appearance, just as there groups of people who go to conventions to have fun in Asia. The only difference is the proportion of the two. Most of the older cosplayers started out that way and remember it, and they don’t exactly expect everyone else to live up to high standards. They aren’t that worried about the ‘image’ of cosplay at expo. Even the “better” cosplayers go to dick around with friends, too, even if they’re looking good at the same time. Most still remember how to have fun and not look down on others.
Unlike in asian events, there are very few photographers who come solely to take pictures of cosplayers. Cosplayers take their own photos, bring their own cameras, and take photos of the other people that cosplay from series they like. Many people who go to expo are there to meet people who love the same series as them. They aren’t really looking for good-quality photos of themselves, or elaborate photoshoots. They aren’t looking for the “satisfaction that you’ve done a good job of portraying the character’s costume/personality well”; they are looking to be recognized, and for a good time with friends who enjoy anime and manga.
You say: “I can’t change my views once they’ve been put there for all to see.”
People can always change their views, even after they have been broadcast. It is not hard to say “I understand now,” or “my views have changed in light of this.” Quite frankly, you come across as arrogant and upset about something you don’t fully understand, and being so set in your views makes me feel that you don’t even want to understand or learn.
I don’t deny that Expo has its flaws. I personally avoid paying to go into the convention hall. The merchandise is overpriced, the queues are long, and there really isn’t much to do other than meet people. I agree wholeheartedly that it is hardly value for money, and I too spend more time outside than in. However, I do not appreciate the emphasis you place on cosplay in this post; it’s almost as if you paid solely to see cosplayers. I almost want to ask if you’re simply upset that there weren’t enough attractive people for you to shoot. Asia in general seems to have lost the element of ‘play’ in cosplay; it’s almost always about looks, competition, and superficiality, and many SG/M’sia cosplayers I met when I cosplayed there have complained to me about the current climate, saying they wish that it was five years ago again when there wasn’t quite so much venom flying around.
Cosplay is about having fun. Asia should start to remember that.
I’m no furry, but Furries have every right to have fun at a convention, just like the rest of us. Appreciate the lulz of Mankura’s beard, and wait for the free huggers to grow up and learn about personal space. They will, eventually, and I don’t see how some childish play is a problem to complain about.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Just to clarify a few points yeah…
1. When I said I cannot change my view, I meant that I cannot edit my post as I’ve already said what I said and Michy has already pointed it out. So don’t take it wrong by thinking that I cannot change my views “because i have already stated them out in the post”.
And I believe I’ve already balanced things out by pointing out that although it did give me a poor impression of the QUALITY of the cosplay, i am in no way biased against the fun i had at the event.
2. As a cosplay photographer it would be natural of me to look at an event such as this from the cosplay angle. True, the original intent of the London Expo was the appreciation of Sci-Fi and Gaming but do take note that i made NO mention whatsoever to these aspects of the Expo and i did not call the event a total failure(from different standpoints of sci-fi and gaming content).
I only targeted the cosplay/anime/manga section and even then i emphasized on the cosplay section. I’m not going to say, “Oh, but it was my first time.” True, if the Expo was to be considered from purely a cosplay standard, it would’ve been low in the ranks. However, the highest standards in my dictionary have only ever been AFA(which i also criticized on specific areas) and CF and numerous other events held back home in Malaysia.
3. On the subject of furries, I am surprised after seeing them for the first time, which would happen to anyone not seeing such people in their life. I don’t have anything specific against furries or have an intense dislike of furries for that matter.
Like you said, I don’t know you and you don’t know me. I believe I’ve explained what has to be explained above. If we were to argue anymore, that would just be the beginning of it because you don’t know what sort of person I am and I don’t know what sort of person you are.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Just a further note…
I do realize that what I’ve said is extremely judgemental, seeing as I’ve only gone to the Expo for the first time.
I also was told by a friend that it was a very very bigoted blog entry, and as a writer, i don’t normally do such things, this would actually be the first time.
I apologize for any misgivings and insults i may have thrown around.
Furthermore, it’s my wrong to pre-judge something on this scale and henceforth, this post will be removed but the photos and comments retained.
Call me a coward/attention-whore, etc but do try not to pass judgement too quickly until you’ve actually met me.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:27 am
I don’t pass judgment on you as a person. I was simply taking this sort of post as yet another example of what I’ve already experienced within the Asian cosplay / cosplay photography community. I too am a Cosplay Photographer as well as a cosplayer. Many cosplayers in the UK have some experience of both, so I understand your focus. However, I think you were missing the point of expo nevertheless.
The fact is, you’re NOT the first person from Asia to voice these views. Please don’t think you are. You have a very widespread opinion (even if it is relatively unspoken) and this opinion is what I object to. What I am disgusted with is the fact that the asian cosplay community seems to disregard the fun that can be had at an event of this type and focus simply on the aesthetic – you say yourself that you had “more fun” than in asian events, yet categorized the quality of expo cosplay as “a problem”
I am not calling you anything or drawing certain conclusions on your personal values. Your words are what formed my impression, and I fully reject the idea of calling people out as bigoted, a coward, or an attention whore before clarifying, which is what my comment was an attempt to do. You are who you are and I hardly know you; I simply objected to your opinion and was comparing it to the opinions of others that I encountered.
I think, however, you should not be apologizing to me, but to the local UK cosplayers. That’s all.
Thank you for your understanding and the removal of your post.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:09 am
You already walked into a minefield, Trap chan?
October 29th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Stormy>> A huge one to be exact.
Miyun>> If they’re up in arms about it, sure. But i don’t see any of that happening yet. And i never accused you of calling me a bigot or judgemental either. That’s just an opinion of a friend of mine who also read the article.
In any case, thanks very much for your comments.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:10 am
… I sorta feel a bit guilty now >____> I feel I also need to apologize a lil bit since I shared similar thoughts as Aoshi did. However, due note that I’m still fresh to the community here and back home so its kind of a new thing for me to see what I did on expo day. I apologize if I’ve offended anyone as well T__T just not used to it yet and it came as a culture shock for me. Sorry…
November 27th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Only inferior cosplay events do not have Daleks.
Therefore Expo is win.
November 29th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Hahahaha… right you are!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:09 pm
[...] if you’ve had the chance to read a previous article I wrote on my experiences at MCM Expo London you’ll soon figure out that I too, am certainly, MOST DEFINITELY biased against bad cosplay. [...]