Have you experienced a Cosplay event? For those who aren’t familiar with this artform, it's simply the cultural practice of wearing costumes to mimic imaginary characters. The unique word itself is an ingenious fusion of 2 terms: costume + play.
Interestingly, it's the anime, manga, and video game trend of Japan that massively triggered the creation of this phenomenal idea. Nowadays, this contagious fad has spread globally, influencing foreign fans who have gone to great lengths in portraying characters from short stories, novels, films, plus other fictional sources.
Despite pursuing an extremely technical profession, I've always been fascinated by Cosplay, especially the artistic details involved in these costumes, suits, and attires, not to mention the character roles the costume-wearer or model intends to personify.
Hence, how could I refuse a free invitation to a small Cosplay show when the moment arrived? In fact, I was one of the earliest visitors who arrived at the scene, capturing lots of memorable photos for my collection.
A glorious feast for the eyes indeed! Various Cosplay personalities were present to captivate the audience with their astonishing acting skills, fancy gadgetry, and fashionable antics.
The most common age groups of the participating Cosplayers were definitely children, teenagers, and young adults. The older generations were typically their older parents or passing spectators who were passionate about the craft.
However, as I was busy entertaining myself with the enchanting performances of the Cosplayers, an interesting insight suddenly snapped within my philosophical brain.
“Why are so many people obsessed with Cosplay? Are there much deeper reasons why die-hard fans decide to fantasize and be part of a world of make-believe? Could these choices be related to hiding behind psychological masks and identity crisis.”
I do understand that although Cosplaying is meant to be a temporary pastime, wholesome hobby, or professional endeavor for some, it's the entertainment aspect that lures loyal followers to this peculiar lifestyle. I'm not saying that this worldwide genre is a detrimental activity, yet for the sake of this post’s reflection, let's approach it from a metaphorical perspective.
There are plenty of acceptable and unacceptable rationales why human beings tend to conceal themselves behind symbolic veils of secrecy.
Fear of judgment and public scrutiny. Sense of belonging. Avoidance of conflict. Shame of embarrassment. Worry of transparency. These are basically a few of the potential justifications why people shield themselves from the outside world.
On the contrary, there are likewise evil motives as to why individuals dread revealing themselves to the open. Jealousy, envy, competitive desires, strategic warfare in political conflicts, and manipulation of others fall into this category. As much as these unfavorable factors are unbelievable, they have penetrated the norms of society. Mind-boggling, isn't it?
“For the most of us who, despite not being Cosplayers literally, could we still be constantly wearing invisible costumes for protection in reality?”
“In a way, yes. Apart from the confidentiality of our privacy, we have the tendency of projecting public personas for the valid reasons already mentioned above.”
“If so, what are some of the harmful consequences as a result of this adsurd behavior?”
“Seclusion or isolation, feelings of loneliness, and depressive conditions are some of the most likely scenarios when trapping ourselves within our own prisons.”
Most of us have been there, anxious about the painful outcomes of pushing beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. I, for one, find it seldom challenging to protrude my head outside my hard shell, and although it's possible to live like a turtle for the rest of my life, personal growth and development is surely not guaranteed. Isn't it?
If there's no progressive improvement in our human evolution, what's the point of continuing to survive in the long run? We couldn't possibly keep hiding from the outside world forever, right? I know I can't.
Inspired by my headline’s title, the emotional lyrics of the hit song “The Great Pretender” as immortalized by the musical legends such as The Platters and the rock group Queen may have something valuable to teach us after all. And as profound as the composition of the touching words in that masterpiece are, they strike a chord in the different relationships we play with other people.
To wrap up, whether we love to participate in Cosplaying for fun or for the purposes of figuratively isolating ourselves from the attacks, criticisms, and harsh truths of our existence, it's all an adventurous game we need to play by hook or by crook.
Vulnerability, as scary as it seems, doesn't kill you - don't worry. It simply empowers you to be a much stronger voyager during the cruel battles of life. And most importantly, by becoming really authentic, you shine even brighter.
Thoughts?
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