Closet cosplay

Everyday expressions of science fiction and fantasy fandom among women

Bibliographic Data

ID21875330
AuthorsDina Smith-Glaviana (0000-0001-6926-8820, Virginia Tech), Casey R Stannard (0000-0003-0644-8490, ISNI: 0000000106627451 Louisiana State University), Casey Stannar (Louisiana State University), Jenna Tedrick Kuttruff (Louisiana State University)
Year2020
Volume7
Issue1
Pages29-50
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueFashion Style & Popular Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2050-0726 • E-ISSN: 2050-0734
PublisherIntellect (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1386/fspc_00004_1
OpenAlexW3004317753
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited23

Some American science fiction and fantasy (SF&F) female fans participate in Cosplay or costume play, the global practice of dressing in costume and performing fictional characters from popular culture. Cosplay is typically only socially sanctioned at conventions and other fan events, leaving fans searching for new ways to express their fandom in everyday life. Closet cosplay is one solution in which everyday clothing and accessories can be worn to express fandom. The motivations for wearing everyday fan fashion have been only briefly mentioned by other authors or studied within limited social contexts. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore SF&F female fans' participation in closet cosplay as it is worn in everyday contexts. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a social interactionist perspective, and Sarah Thornton's concept of subcultural capital and Pierre Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital. Semi-structured, online interviews were conducted with sixteen participants who wore closet cosplay related to SF&F films and/or television series, which included Star Wars, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney films, Harry Potter and anime fandoms like Sailor Moon (1995–2000). The interview data were analysed using NVivo qualitative analysis software and the constant comparison method. Two themes emerged from the data: the definition of closet cosplay and motivations for wearing closet cosplay. Through examining these themes, it was evident that female SF&F fans used closet cosplay to express a salient fan identity, which enabled them to simultaneously gain subcultural capital and feminized cultural capital

Androgyny · Art · Closet · Comics · Everyday life · Fandom · Fantasy · Literature · Masculinity · Media studies · Popular culture · Postmodernism · Sociology · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Sports, Gender, and Society

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