Just figured I'd put the trailer to my cosplay series here. Go to www.cosplayspotlight.com for more information and to see full episodes. And yes, I know I was going to do a weekly blog. One day. LOL
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
CONVENTION CREEPERS… ARE THERE AS MANY AS YOU THINK?
It seems there is a lot of outrage nowadays about creepers at conventions. If you aren't familiar
with what a creeper is, it's usually someone (in most cases a guy) who attempts to grope
someone (in most cases a girl), touch them inappropriately, makes unwelcome comments about
someone's physical attributes or tries to take pictures at angles designed to show more than the
subject of the picture is comfortable showing (like up the skirt shots or closeups of cleavage).
Creepers are a definite problem at conventions, there is no doubt. People who treat others as
objects are a problem everywhere.
I can't help wonder, though, if some of those labeled as creepers are not actually creepers. I'm not
saying in all cases… they are out there. But I do have to wonder if some convention goers…
usually cosplayers… are so worried about creepers that they see them where they don't exist.
There are definite actions that make one a creeper. Unwanted physical contact is definitely one
of them. There can be no debate that creeping has occurred if a butt is grabbed or a breast is
touched.
But consider the following scenario. Let's say we have a nineteen year old female cosplayer. She
is dressed in a costume that reveals a lot of leg and cleavage. She is approached by a couple
different guys. Here's how the interactions go:
A 20 year old guy who would be considered "good looking" by many women, approaches the
cosplayer. He looks her over from head to toe and, since he's a heterosexual male, his gaze
lingers a little longer on the exposed cleavage. He then looks the cosplayer in the eye.
"Nice costume," he says.
"Thank you!" The cosplayer then proceeds to chat with him and pose for a picture.
Now, same scenario, only instead of it being a 20 year old guy, let's put in a 45 year old guy. The
years haven't been that kind, he's losing some hair, has a bit of a paunch. He too approaches and
looks the cosplayer over from head to toe and, since he's a heterosexual male, his gaze lingers a
little longer on the exposed cleavage. He then looks the cosplayer in the eye.
"Nice costume," he says.
"Ugh. Creeper." The cosplayer walks away, feeling violated.
In both situations the actions were the same. However, in the first case the cosplayer enjoyed the
attention from someone she thought might be "cute." In the second… this guy was older and not
good looking (to the cosplayer), so it was creepy.
Sure, there are plenty of subtleties in these interactions. Tone of voice, facial expressions and
more can definitely affect the outcome. But if all things are equal, this scenario results in the
same two different reactions from the cosplayer depending on the person who is approaching
them.
Again, I don't state for a moment that creepers aren't out there and cosplayers don't need to be
aware of them. However, some cosplayers dress in sexy outfits not just for the fun of it… but
because they enjoy the reactions of some of the people they meet. Some don't stop to think that
some of the people they meet might give the desired reaction… but may not be the one they want
the reaction from.
To further delve into this issue, let's take a look at the book and film series Twilight. In the first
book and film, Edward admits to entering Bella's room without her knowledge to watch her
sleep. She doesn't find this creepy… she seems to find it romantic. Because Edward looks like a
very attractive boy of seventeen. But he is over 100 years old. Imagine instead of looking like a
seventeen year old, he looked like a fifty year old. Instead of being slim, tall and attractive, he
has a beer gut, thinning hair, he's short in stature and looking like he hadn't shaved in a week.
Would that be romantic? Or would it be creepy?
The majority of cosplayers enjoy attention when they are at an event. Which is fine. I'm a
cosplayer and I love it when someone tells me I look good and wants a picture with me. I also
realize that I might get enthusiastic attention from some people that I might not consider
attractive. Yes, as a male cosplayer I do not get nearly the same amount of "creepers" that
female cosplayers do (though I do get some). I would just like cosplayers to consider… is the
person you're dealing with doing something that would be acceptable if they were younger or
better looking? Is it really the kind of attention you received that's offensive or is it that you
didn't like the person giving you the attention? Should people who are older or less attractive be
held to a different set of standards than younger, more attractive people?
While legitimate cases of cosplayers or even just convention attendees in general being
victimized by creepers do exist in more numbers than there should be, it is my belief than some
people are so oversensitive to the possibility of being "creeped on" that they see creepers where
they don't exist.
I would love to hear some thoughts… what do you consider being "creeped on" at a convention?
Are some people oversensitive? Where do you draw the line?
with what a creeper is, it's usually someone (in most cases a guy) who attempts to grope
someone (in most cases a girl), touch them inappropriately, makes unwelcome comments about
someone's physical attributes or tries to take pictures at angles designed to show more than the
subject of the picture is comfortable showing (like up the skirt shots or closeups of cleavage).
Creepers are a definite problem at conventions, there is no doubt. People who treat others as
objects are a problem everywhere.
I can't help wonder, though, if some of those labeled as creepers are not actually creepers. I'm not
saying in all cases… they are out there. But I do have to wonder if some convention goers…
usually cosplayers… are so worried about creepers that they see them where they don't exist.
There are definite actions that make one a creeper. Unwanted physical contact is definitely one
of them. There can be no debate that creeping has occurred if a butt is grabbed or a breast is
touched.
But consider the following scenario. Let's say we have a nineteen year old female cosplayer. She
is dressed in a costume that reveals a lot of leg and cleavage. She is approached by a couple
different guys. Here's how the interactions go:
A 20 year old guy who would be considered "good looking" by many women, approaches the
cosplayer. He looks her over from head to toe and, since he's a heterosexual male, his gaze
lingers a little longer on the exposed cleavage. He then looks the cosplayer in the eye.
"Nice costume," he says.
"Thank you!" The cosplayer then proceeds to chat with him and pose for a picture.
Now, same scenario, only instead of it being a 20 year old guy, let's put in a 45 year old guy. The
years haven't been that kind, he's losing some hair, has a bit of a paunch. He too approaches and
looks the cosplayer over from head to toe and, since he's a heterosexual male, his gaze lingers a
little longer on the exposed cleavage. He then looks the cosplayer in the eye.
"Nice costume," he says.
"Ugh. Creeper." The cosplayer walks away, feeling violated.
In both situations the actions were the same. However, in the first case the cosplayer enjoyed the
attention from someone she thought might be "cute." In the second… this guy was older and not
good looking (to the cosplayer), so it was creepy.
Sure, there are plenty of subtleties in these interactions. Tone of voice, facial expressions and
more can definitely affect the outcome. But if all things are equal, this scenario results in the
same two different reactions from the cosplayer depending on the person who is approaching
them.
Again, I don't state for a moment that creepers aren't out there and cosplayers don't need to be
aware of them. However, some cosplayers dress in sexy outfits not just for the fun of it… but
because they enjoy the reactions of some of the people they meet. Some don't stop to think that
some of the people they meet might give the desired reaction… but may not be the one they want
the reaction from.
To further delve into this issue, let's take a look at the book and film series Twilight. In the first
book and film, Edward admits to entering Bella's room without her knowledge to watch her
sleep. She doesn't find this creepy… she seems to find it romantic. Because Edward looks like a
very attractive boy of seventeen. But he is over 100 years old. Imagine instead of looking like a
seventeen year old, he looked like a fifty year old. Instead of being slim, tall and attractive, he
has a beer gut, thinning hair, he's short in stature and looking like he hadn't shaved in a week.
Would that be romantic? Or would it be creepy?
The majority of cosplayers enjoy attention when they are at an event. Which is fine. I'm a
cosplayer and I love it when someone tells me I look good and wants a picture with me. I also
realize that I might get enthusiastic attention from some people that I might not consider
attractive. Yes, as a male cosplayer I do not get nearly the same amount of "creepers" that
female cosplayers do (though I do get some). I would just like cosplayers to consider… is the
person you're dealing with doing something that would be acceptable if they were younger or
better looking? Is it really the kind of attention you received that's offensive or is it that you
didn't like the person giving you the attention? Should people who are older or less attractive be
held to a different set of standards than younger, more attractive people?
While legitimate cases of cosplayers or even just convention attendees in general being
victimized by creepers do exist in more numbers than there should be, it is my belief than some
people are so oversensitive to the possibility of being "creeped on" that they see creepers where
they don't exist.
I would love to hear some thoughts… what do you consider being "creeped on" at a convention?
Are some people oversensitive? Where do you draw the line?
Body shaming and the impossible standard...
Just a quick rant... this society has turned into a very polarized, black and white one. For example, I just read an article about reactions to an advertisement asking "Are you beach body ready?" and featuring a picture of an attractive girl in a bikini... a model with just about zero body fat. It was an ad for a weight loss program of some kind. Reactions to it were quite amusing, as people reacted to the body shaming message. And I quite agree that holding women to an impossible standard of beauty is stupid and ridiculous. However, many people say "No matter your weight, you are fine. You are good the way you are." I like that message, but does it always apply? I've been working on losing weight myself, not because I am trying to look like Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy (OK, I would love to be that muscular and defined), but to improve my health. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. You don't have to be a supermodel. But if you are overweight and it's affecting your health, then you do need to do something about it. There are a lot of health problems with being overweight... and sometimes being overweight can be a sign of other health problems. So while I don't think every woman should look like a model, I also think every woman... and man... should try to attain a healthy weight. It's wrong to hold people up to ridiculous standards, but I also think it's wrong to say that some who is extremely overweight or obese shouldn't be looking to improve themselves. (I also think those who do look like "models" and maintain that look in a healthy way shouldn't be shamed either.) This world has so few black and white areas... the best way is usually in the middle somewhere. I wish more people would see that. </end rant>
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Welcome the Captain Kyle's (b)Log!
I intend to post at least once a week and will likely occasionally include a video version (at least when I can). In this blog I intend to give my opinions on current events, cosplay, sci-fi books, TV shows, movies, conventions, social issues and whatever else enters my head.
Now keep in mind these are my opinions... you are free to disagree or wholeheartedly endorse me. That's up to you. It could be that you'll consider Captain Kyle's (b)Log is a pile of shit... yes, I am quite aware of referring to it as a log will bring all kinds of excrement jokes. I don't mind... just try to be creative.
I will also likely blog about projects I'm working on and various short films or written works I've produced. Hey, you can skip that if you want.
If you wonder why I'm putting my opinions out here and wondering "who the hell is this guy and why does his opinion matter?" then I could go all Whovian and say everyone matters. But the point is.. I'm opening up discussions (or at least I hope I will be) and your opinion is just as valid as mine. We may have to agree to disagree, but that's what civilized people do. Point out the flaws in my arguments, give me your two cents... but please, if you need to resort to name calling, then I've pretty much won my point. And like Who's Line Is It Anyways... the points don't matter... except of course, when they do.
A little background on me... I've been a geek since the days when being a geek was far less tolerated or accepted. I'm an author... I wrote a book on cosplay that explores the culture more than actual costume making. I also intend to write fictional works that you may find interesting. I also write screenplays for short films and am working on a fwe feature length scripts. I'm an actor and director, though the level of my skill is for you to decide. Oh, and I'm a cosplayer. Lots of characters, many of them captains... hence the name.
If you want to check out my cosplay stuff, you can at www.facebook.com/capkyle
You can follow me on Twitter: @captainkylepa
On Instagram it's CaptainKylePhilly
And if you want to check out my book, you can find it at http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Cosplay-Kyle-J-Williamson-ebook/dp/B00UA7157K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1425834627
I hope you find something of interest here.
See you around the 'verse.
Captain Kyle
Now keep in mind these are my opinions... you are free to disagree or wholeheartedly endorse me. That's up to you. It could be that you'll consider Captain Kyle's (b)Log is a pile of shit... yes, I am quite aware of referring to it as a log will bring all kinds of excrement jokes. I don't mind... just try to be creative.
I will also likely blog about projects I'm working on and various short films or written works I've produced. Hey, you can skip that if you want.
If you wonder why I'm putting my opinions out here and wondering "who the hell is this guy and why does his opinion matter?" then I could go all Whovian and say everyone matters. But the point is.. I'm opening up discussions (or at least I hope I will be) and your opinion is just as valid as mine. We may have to agree to disagree, but that's what civilized people do. Point out the flaws in my arguments, give me your two cents... but please, if you need to resort to name calling, then I've pretty much won my point. And like Who's Line Is It Anyways... the points don't matter... except of course, when they do.
A little background on me... I've been a geek since the days when being a geek was far less tolerated or accepted. I'm an author... I wrote a book on cosplay that explores the culture more than actual costume making. I also intend to write fictional works that you may find interesting. I also write screenplays for short films and am working on a fwe feature length scripts. I'm an actor and director, though the level of my skill is for you to decide. Oh, and I'm a cosplayer. Lots of characters, many of them captains... hence the name.
If you want to check out my cosplay stuff, you can at www.facebook.com/capkyle
You can follow me on Twitter: @captainkylepa
On Instagram it's CaptainKylePhilly
And if you want to check out my book, you can find it at http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Cosplay-Kyle-J-Williamson-ebook/dp/B00UA7157K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1425834627
I hope you find something of interest here.
See you around the 'verse.
Captain Kyle
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