Fandomania

[Kyokun]

I work in a library, and we just got a book in called Fandomania, published by Aperture.  It's an photo book of cosplayers, including Thorn, from Bishie Bingo (I was flipping through it, and was all, Hey!  I've seen this guy!).  I thought it was kind of cool, so just wanted to let people know this was out there, and maybe others will see people they recognize.

[~~Loktera~~]

This book was also reviewed in Entertainment Weekly.

I giggled a bit when I saw it in there... "Oh, those crazy cosplayers. Next week I might just see one on a cereal box."

[hellangel]

This book was also reviewed in Entertainment Weekly.

Reallly? Which one? Funny how I subscribe to that but didn't see that >__>

[~~Loktera~~]

Bugger... I forget which issue... I'll have to check my Archives or dig up the article.

[Lady_Hoshi]

http://www.aperture.org/store/books-preview-bio-flash.aspx?ID=555

that's a link to where you can buy the book.  as soon as I have some free cash I want to buy a copy.

[ININ]

I clicked on the Gallery link and I recognize at least two cosplayers.  The aerial shot at AX'06 was the CLAMP gathering.  I see myself taking pictures.

[Kyokun]

Wow... am I interpreting that last gallery picture correctly, and Thorn pierced his back multiple times with rings, and then looped ribbon through them in a corset pattern?  Insane!  None of the "non-artsy" pictures were included in the book.  The book is entirely posed photographs.

[Lady_Hoshi]

by the way, what library do you work at?  I want to go and look thru the book.

*wishes she worked at a library*

[hellangel]

The aerial shot at AX'06 was the CLAMP gathering.  I see myself taking pictures.

Woah, you're right. I was there, too o_O"

Wow... am I interpreting that last gallery picture correctly, and Thorn pierced his back multiple times with rings, and then looped ribbon through them in a corset pattern?

Yup. http://users.adelphia.net/~tyler273/DSC_0295.jpg

Here's pictures from the photographer's website, by the way.
http://www.elenadorfman.com/art/fandomania/index.html

[senritsu]

that was the bishounen auction yaoicon of last year
that was one amusing ycon

[hellangel]

Well, here's my review of the book. Copy and pasted from my LJ entry. Haha. Enjoyu~~

--------below-----------

As some of you may know, a photography book of cosplay has recently been published. It's called Fandomania, and I took it upon myself to inspect it. I had great expectations, for it seemed as if the photographer really sort of understood the passion and feeling put into great cosplay.

I must say, however, that I was sorely disappointed. In her attempts to magnify the artistry of cosplay, the photography failed to capture the characters behind many of the cosplays. And it did not help that she picked many subjects with cosplays that weren't exactly up to par.

I'm not criticizing the cosplayers by any means. I'm saying that, especially in the U.S., many cosplayers make up for lesser-quality cosplays by showing great passion and personification; the enthusiasm shines through not-top-notch work, and the effect can be quite wonderful. However, the photographer tried too much to grasp the "serious art" part of cosplay, and had her subjects stand mostly in stoic poses, completely losing any and all character that the cosplayer was supposed to personify. This dismal effect is magnified by the fact that she failed to photo the outfits of many of the cosplayers in the book, getting, instead, a blank headshot or a plain back. In other words, photos that fail to represent cosplayers. The most-used pose was the straight-pose with no facial expression and hands clasped in front...basically the ultimate BAD pose in any fashion photography, because it gives the model no character, and it covers up the cosplay. I'm pretty sure that the photographers must have posed them and instructed them to look indifferent, because I know some of the cosplayers shown in the book, and they *do* know how to pose properly. Other than that...some choices, I thought, were too risque for the first "major" publication of our niche. Having a crossplayer pull up his skirt to reveal panties is not exactly the best way to officially introduce us to mainstream society. (Though it wouldn't be bad to have it in a later publication, once people have warmed up to cosplay more. It was still a pretty good sailor fuku =3)

Overall, I feel the book totally misrepresented our community.

Nevertheless, there were some very nice shots, and some very nice cosplays, even though they weren't properly shown in the photos. The Suu picture at the very end? Absolutely perfect =3
And, as always, I can tell there's definitely more potential for all the cosplayers ^__^ That's the way we are~ we're always improving, right? (I'm sorry if I sounded like I was at all criticizing the cosplayers themselves. I wasn't! You're all wonderful people, and good sports for standing around in a studio ^__________^)

I hope there'll be a second, better done publication.

[Lady_Hoshi]

you are right about the photographer posing the cosplayers.  I had a photo taken by her, she told me she wanted sad or pensive pictures.

[hellangel]

you are right about the photographer posing the cosplayers.  I had a photo taken by her, she told me she wanted sad or pensive pictures.

ugh WHY??? >__<

photography was pretty, capturing the essence of cosplay was lacking. *sigh*

well, it was a good try, I guess. We cosplayers should release our OWN book. Or something.

That would be a huge project...*runs in a wall and dies*