Many people look forward to Halloween all year long. It's a time when millions of people... adults and children alike... will be wearing costumes... and it's not limited to those who identify as cosplayers and costumers.
The majority of people who will be wearing costumes to celebrate the holiday would not characterize themselves as cosplayers. Which is fair... while the definition of cosplay states it's "the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime"... and certainly Halloween celebrants might qualify... it's my opinion that the title of cosplayer is something one decides to take on. It's a decision to be a cosplayer.
Am I saying that you can't be a cosplayer if you dress up in a costume for Halloween? Am I saying that you can't be a cosplayer if you buy a Halloween costume from a store? Absolutely not. Cosplayers love to dress up for Halloween just as many others do... and wearing a costume, no matter the source, qualifies you to be considered a cosplayer. I'm just saying it's your choice if you want to be considered a cosplayer.
So if anyone wearing a costume can be considered a cosplayer, does that mean anyone who wears a costume IS a cosplayer? Someone actually said this would be the case. But if you attend a Halloween party... that is attended by people who only wear a costume for Halloween parties... and ask them if they are a cosplayer, most of them will say no. Some of them might even ask "what's a cosplayer?"
Traditionally, those who consider themselves cosplayers wear costumes at other times of year besides Halloween. This is not a rule, just an observation. There is no law that states you cannot call yourself a cosplayer if you only dress up for Halloween. But there's also no law that states that you must call yourself a cosplayer if you dress up in a costume.
Halloween can be (and has been) a jumping off point for many cosplayers. But for some, Halloween is the only time they care to wear a costume and might object to being called cosplayers. While those of us in the community view the title with pride, those outside the community have varying views of what a cosplayer is. Not everyone who wears a costume wants to join the cosplay community.
(Of course, anyone who does want to join is more than welcome... they are encouraged and applauded.)
So we will have a lot of people dressed in costume who do not call themselves cosplayers. So do the cosplay rules apply?
For those who might not be sure, here are the rules for cosplay (as I see it):
1) Have fun
2) Respect other people
3) Respect other people's costumes and props
4) COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT
These are the basic rules of cosplay. Anyone can cosplay whomever and whatever they want because it's all about fun. What cosplay might mean to you individually is not a rule, it's your take on cosplay (such as making your costume, striving for screen accuracy, etc.).
You've probably figured it out, but all these rules STILL apply.
It should be obvious that they would apply, but in my opinion it's better to state the obvious than have someone say "I didn't know."
One rule I would like to point out especially is that cosplay is not consent. It's the principle that just because someone is dressed in a costume, this gives no one the right to have any physical contact with them without their permission.
I've always found this rule, while laudable, to be a little narrow in it's focus. A better rule would be that EXISTENCE is not consent. Whether someone is wearing a costume, a bathing suit, a party dress, tight pants or any (or no) outfit... in any situation... this doesn't give anyone license to have any physical contact without their permission. And with so many parties coming up for Halloween, to be clear, someone who is drunk to the point of impairment cannot give consent.
To force physical contact on someone, especially in regards to physical affection, is harassment, assault, sexual assault and even rape. It's a violation of another person no matter what they are wearing. It's not just breaking cosplay rules, it's breaking the law.
So by all means... put on a costume, call yourself a cosplayer or not, get out there and party! Have lots of fun!
Just remember that your fun should never take away from someone else's fun.
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