And who says, it has anything to do with the audience. Who says it's not for them as cosplayers, to take a photo... for themselves, that they want to share. Not all art is *MEANT* for the masses, and I could easily turn this into a "why you cosplay" discussion and talk badly about the large majority of cosplayers. I could talk about how "bad cosplay" is more offensive than this, or how "cosplaying for attention" or even "cosplaying a character you know nothing about" is more offensive than this, but I'm not turning leaf to that argument (so PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THAT PART, rather please just get why I made the comparison).
Cosplay is cosplay for the sake of cosplay to each individual and person. While I am personally offended to some extent as to why people do a lot of things, they are in their every right to do so. Everything anyone does will be found offensive by somebody. It's an understanding of why it's offensive, why you are getting offended, and why should you care that matters. Hell, the representation of some of the characters in Hetalia as designed, can be incredibly offensive to a lot of people. Bad stereotypes ontop of inaccurate portrayals as representitives of a nation can be found offensive. But you know what? Why should that bother me. It's a portrayal as seen by an artist. Inaccurate, accurate, it doesn't matter. It was created for their purpose and many people will enjoy it. I will interject my opinion, but in no way should it truly affect anyone. I will speak mostly objectively and very matter of factly to allow people to decide how they want to feel.
Again, if this image offends you, then it offends you. There's no two ways about it. But what I want you to do is really think about why it's offensive to you, and why you feel you should make an issue out of it at all. In return, think about what you do, and why other people may find your actions, thoughts, and portrayals offensive (because people do). Is this going to stop you from being you? From doing the things you want to do, and acting upon the life that you see? Artistic and creative thoughts are displayed in the smallest of actions. People willl find them offensive. If you truly don't want to offend people, you won't do anything at all. Some things are worth making a hoopla about, when they are truly offensive and can affect other people. Something like this is merely a portrayal of someones thoughts and opinions of a character. Of the past and a portrayal of how things were. This is not the opinion of the cosplayer themselves. This is not a cosplayer, attacking and trying to surpress other people.
So see it how you want and why you want. But at least attempt to understand what it is before you pass it off as something bad.
