Minami Con 19

[ryoko]

[Diablos]

Amended and tightly enforced is what I would like. I think that all costumes should have their roots in anime, manga, gaming, or something else of Japanese origin. This leaves a very broad range of things to choose from. Costumes outside of this rule should only be as part of a skit, and only as an accessory to ones within this rule. Therefore Richter Belmont could slay that one from Twilight, but Darth Vader and Iron Man wont be teaming up versus Chuck Norris.
_________________
BEHOLD!
A toilet without a seat!
(cue Twilight Zone esque music)

You sit on it, but you can't take it with you.
Why is it gone then?
I took it.

[Edmon]

It strikes me as sad that this topic is once again leaning towards harsh, unforcable restrictions simply to exclude fandoms that do not match those of the posters here.

The vast majority of fans love games, manga and anime pretty equally. They love Japanese things, but are not limited to liking only that which Japan produces.

I think most people will follow the guidelines most of the time. They do not have to be strict and excluding and you shouldn't want them to be.

Even if they were, are gophers going to refuse event entry to people who don't follow them? Gophers are already resented enough just for politely checking badges (a very necessary task that ensures that people cough up money for each event, thus paying for the next one).

Look at the cosplays I did:
1) Vincent from Catherine (JGame)
2) Fuka from Disgaea 4 (JRPG)
3) Duke Nukem (PC)

So because I did Duke one day? I shouldn't be allowed to attend events? Or the con entirely? Ironically, it was actually requested that I bring Duke because it was a great laugh at last years Aya. I even flavoured it for the event by picking up random anime cosplayers for "Duke babes". So where does it stand in that instance?

There is so much grey area anyway, the whole idea of making such strict rules seems a pointless task that will only create conflict and bring the event down.

Come on, you should be having too much fun to fret these details. Right?

[Diablos]

[ilpalazzo]

[Diablos]

[hunter]

*sigh* Its a tough one really. The con (specifically it's committee) would be damned if they do or don't over this.
The risk of excluding western cosplay falls into the 'elitist' and 'non-accepting' reputation, leaving an opening for negative feedback on the event as a whole.

Majority vote would agree that we'd like to see more Shaela Shaela's and less Harry Potters at cons but those same people would not want to hamper anyone's wish to cosplay westerns either.

This reminder and discussion will hopefully generate some awareness... and I genuinely think that (for now) we should try for this to be enough before 'enforcing' anything. Hopefully it will work a little and a personal thanks goes out for your bringing this up (brave opinion to push when points can be easily misinterpreted).

It goes without saying that Eastern cosplay is encouraged, but if you asked me if I'd rather see this years masquerade with only the eastern reps (smaller than average entrants remember) or the way it was (incredibly beautiful and entertaining if a teeny bit off topic), I'd vote on the latter.

-This is where the tiredness has kicked in and I'll prob come across snipey buuuuut: Might be worth remembering that Cons were setup as communal gatherings of appreciation not contests or catwalks. If you wish to see rule applied Japanese only then Euro-cosplay is definitely a better fit.

Incidentally Ed, I'd have loved to see your Fuka cosplay alongside those prinnys

[Diablos]

[Revd. Mike]

[Misato]

You haven't understood what I said!

I actually said while I hadn't seen either Dr Who or Full Metal Alchemist, I have had more exposure to FMA as it is an anime and therefore cannot really before avoided if you take part in anime fandom in general. Therefore I did find some parts amusing as I had some vague idea of who some of the characters were. Same applies to Big O, Streets of Rage, and many others in the past.

This is just an example, luckily I had some vague idea about all the skits performed this year, except the Dr Who and Barbie ones, which (possibly simply by coincidence) I both had no real knowledge of and happened to be Western shows/franchises.

Obviously I know that Dr Who exists but I didn't get any of the jokes or references. I didn't actually see the Barbie skit but heard a bit of it and was quite perplexed as to its relevance.

Obviously this set of circumstances will not apply to every attendee, but I would have thought on the balance of probability, the people at any anime event would be more likely to 'get' and therefore enjoy a skit based on an anime rather than a skit based on a Western show.

At the end of the day they didn't detract from the event and I wouldn't have bothered saying anything had this thread not been made, which hopefully sums up my overall feelings on the whole thing

[Edmon]

[Diablos]

Minamicon is delicious crispy bacon.
The costumes of people cosplaying things that don't fit the anime/manga/gaming theme are tasty chocolate ice cream.
You don't put ice cream on your bacon.
I stand by this analogy, and it represents my view perfectly.
_________________
BEHOLD!
A toilet without a seat!
(cue Twilight Zone esque music)

You sit on it, but you can't take it with you.
Why is it gone then?
I took it.

[Edmon]

[Revd. Mike]

[Diablos]

[ryoko]

At Aya last summer the non-anime/non-Japanese related costumes seemed out of place at the masquerade. When someone does a good cosplay of a show or character I don't know then I can learn about new anime related things.

Doctor Who already has official conventions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17491660 so there is already plenty of opportunity for fans to get together and do whatever around that subject matter.

I don't go to anime conventions to learn more about Doctor Who.

[Milo jimewbi]

I really would like to say that I'm on the line here and I have followed this thred for some time and avoided posting until now. Tbh, I honestly think that Diablos is right.

I think that it's fair to say that people should cosplay as whatever they want, but minami is an ANIME convencion and I feel that a Masquerade, run at an anime convencion, should have Anime/Manga Charactors and Computer Game Charactors (that have Anime/Manga/Japanese roots). However, I do like the idea of a seperate skit rule, which would allow for other charactors, as long as a charactor fitting the first rule is included and significant within the skit.

Now I don't think I'm being unresonable saying this, after all for the past 2 cons, I myself, have wanted to enter an anime charactor into the masquerade, but the costume it's self is based in a parody video from an abridged universe. I have been given mixed opinions as to weather or not I should (given examples of exeptions in the past), but reluctantly, I went with what the rules say, because they are the rules after all.

Now regardless of my opinion on this matter, I do think that the committee should make a decidion on this matter, since everyone is so divided on this, weather it's a rewrite of the rules or being a lil' stricter with the rules.

[Milo jimewbi]

[Diablos]

[Diablos]

Two month bump (even though it is still top regardless...)

Any chance of a committee verdict on this issue? I really think this issue needs some strong clarification, preferably also letting us know why you will have reached the verdict you have reached, so that people will understand your reasoning for doing so.

Please, make a decision. For the sake of clarity.
_________________
BEHOLD!
A toilet without a seat!
(cue Twilight Zone esque music)

You sit on it, but you can't take it with you.
Why is it gone then?
I took it.