Cosplay Clans of Dedication

In most of the geeky tribal groups, the designation is usually based on the era or genre the clan likes. So Anime fans will have a clan for people really into Gundam, and Mecha. Then the videogame fans will have tribes based consoles and the games they played.

CosPlayers do not work that way. Instead it's the level of commitment they have to the costume and clothes. The starter group wears a T-Shirt or clothing items to represent the culture. Then a small, easy to assemble costume takes them deeper. Then they buy a whole costume as a way to show off their love. Some at the show make a large level of commitment, never even letting people see them without the mask. Finally, there is a group so dedicated, the costume is everyday clothing.

A friend of mine wears a pendant on her necklace that has something from the legend of Zelda on it. She has several of these in fact. If you didn't know the game, you wouldn't recognize the heart piece or triforce. She wears them specifically to see who notices them for what they are.

The same goes with T shirts. It has a meaning, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to get it. Those who do can share in their love of that subject. A geek can thus show their love, without being ridiculed.

Several groups have clothing as a sign of their devotion. In the Pacific islands, it is expected that any event you attended come with a t-shirt to represent the thing you did. Some religious groups require clothing of a special kind to be worn to show their devotion to the subject.

Other times it is a signifier of who they are within the culture. For example a Catholic priest wears a collar to show his priesthood. Likewise, volunteers are given special shirts so visitors know who to ask.

Most of my shirts now are from conventions I volunteered at. It can add up quickly.

Then, there are people who make small costumes. These costumes are easy to put together, and easy to take off. They can be in costume for a moment, and then move on.

This is usually a fairly cheap purchase, that can easily be identified to those who know. So a suit and tie of a specific color might let people know you are the purple man. The entire premise is a quick pose, and back to work.

I did this while in college. I looked like a 1939’s gangster, so I got a trench coat and fedora to match that look. I didn't mean to be menacing, only to look like what I thought others thought I was like.

Once again, they either got it, or didn't really notice.

When you want to make it obvious, you show your dedication by buying a premade set of clothing. Some of these suits can run in the hundreds of dollars. This is meant to let people know your dedication, and your willingness to be photographed.

This is still only to be worn at gatherings. You don't wear it anywhere else. It's a signifier to the group, not anyone else, to your dedication.

This is where the seeking of connections begin. The previous clan does have a connection, but it is only to signify themselves within the group. Very often in a subtle way. The buying of costume, means you want to represent your dedication in a more outward way. You seek the connection between yourself and your fandom.

The hand made, or specially assembled groups do not want you to separate you from their character. In some clans of dedication, you can't ever see them out of costume and they must act as their character at all times.

Case in point, the 501st stormtrooper group will actually have special displays and even their own changing rooms at conventions. You have to request them being there, and give them special privileges. I did see some out of uniform, but I knew better than to take a picture at that time. Every bit of the clothing has to match a specified detail to be accepted.

Another clan is the Halo clan. If you dress as a grunt, you walk like one, and move like one. They don't mind if you see them out of costume, or tell you how to make a suit. However, when they are in full combat clothes, they act as if on display. The suits can be any color.

The level of dedication on display is amazing. I have heard of people dressed as the Doctor, and walking inside a built TARDIS so they can surprise people when they step out. The Halo people explain their suits have no AC in them and it gets very hot and sweaty inside. They can barely see out of their visors because their breath fogs up the screen.

Gatherings can be any place. For example many dress up when meeting up at a comic shop on a weekend, or for a quick meeting in a park.

This is actually very common. You've done it in fact. If you went to your college or highschool graduation you dressed up in clothing to signify your graduating. If you go to church in nice clothes you do the same. Often tourists will dress up in what they think is local clothing.

When cosplayers go to a gathering, they continue to wear their costumes. They walk to the bus, ride the ferry, and chat as they show where they are going and their willingness to be there.

They do the same when they walk back.

It doesn't occur to them that anything is wrong. The gathering place is the key. They can explain what is happening, and assure people they dress in normal clothes afterwards.

You can see their excitement sometimes. This is what they really want to be. Not the person who wears ordinary clothes.

Once it is all done, they go back to their normal lives and are happy. They move on, but remember that time they were able to be at the gathering.

The last group never changes out. The clothes are their ordinary clothing. Often times you don't know if they are dressed up or not. The guy above was popping his head in to see why all the dressed up people were walking to the same place. Those are his ordinary clothes. I had to ask if he was a wizard.

The clan no longer views themselves as separate from their costume. The gathering is just a chance not to get gawked at. I found this out at a Harry Potter book release. The death eaters were dressed in their ordinary clothes, and some didn't even like the books.

This is usually a sign of devotion, and worn with pride by religious groups. A culturally Jewish person looks nothing like a hasidic Jew with his head coverings and specifically chosen clothes. They're both Jews, but you can see their difference easily.

There are groups that make whole communities as a way to be who they want. In Arizona there are large neighborhoods of people who want to dress up to be part of the same group. In some groups it is not dressing at all. The nudist groups are showing their devotion just as much as the hippies.

Within cosplay the usual clans and tribes have to be put on the side. Instead we have levels of dedication. The majority of the people wear a shirt or small item to see who notices. Some buy a small costume that can be worn and put away quickly. Past that the group seeks more of a connection, using a store bought costume as an entry point. The more dedicated groups have rules and ways to do things to keep the connection. Finally some groups stop viewing themselves and the costume as different.

A cosplayer is a person who puts on a costume to find a connection with fellow fans. They have incredible levels of dedication. When they meet up, at times the costume makes them feel more natural.

They have various reasons to connect. Some desire to connect with others at an almost religious level, seeing the character as something to aspire to. Others see it as an imaginary friend. Even others see it as a means of power.

You see their dedication as almost clans. The desire to connect grows at the level of dressing up. Some even stop considering the costume as separate from themselves.

We see them though. We connect with them. They are a part of our gatherings. The cosplay is here to stay, and connect us to our loves.