Juliapop

Cosplay. It’s a strange, blended word with strange, confusing connotations. Those who participate in it respond to the word with eager excitement and stories of previous costumes and dreams of designs yet to be realized. Those unfamiliar with the term may wonder what on earth it could mean. Is it a game? Does the Cos stand for “Cosby”? is it pronounced with an “s” sound or a “z” sound? (Answers: not exactly, no, and the “s” sound is preferred.) Most of us fall somewhere in between those two extremes, but no matter where we stand on it, it still piques our curiosity. Whether you see it as glorious, fun, odd, or ridiculous, cosplay stands as a clear and growing element of popular culture. When we were young, many of us played dress-up, donning play clothes that would turn us into pretty princesses or swaggering cowboys. Normally, our parents would only allow us to go out in public wearing these get-ups on one very special day: Halloween. This was the moment when everyone, at least f...