Cosplay is a growing subculture in which people dress as characters from science fiction, fantasy, or comics. Often the costumes can be very elaborate and expensive. The trend originated in Japan and Jim Pethokoukis’ piece at The Week draws some parallels between Japan’s stagnant economy and our own. Using the rise of cosplay as an indicator didn’t go over too well with the fandom.
Does the rise of Japanese-style cosplay in the U.S. portend a Japanese-style economy? http://t.co/zzFUYfdk2e pic.twitter.com/Gz86C8U1QM
— The Week (@TheWeek) October 9, 2014
My twins, 17, in a tizzy bec they think they're bane of anime community due to this article written by their dad. http://t.co/v4BzsFcdGW
— Colette Moran (@ColetteMoran) October 9, 2014
Shorter: Nerds are playing dress up. Ergo, the economy is doomed. http://t.co/CsEj4j5Eju
— Jon Terbush (@JonTerbush) October 9, 2014
This is all true because most can't make them outfits unless they got someone else financing the habit RT @ANN_Bamboo http://t.co/sqzANo6cZB
— Daryl Surat (@DarylSurat) October 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/laureninspace/status/520341273417625600
https://twitter.com/kmundahl/status/520261793596194816
https://twitter.com/squarelyrooted/status/520271379149910017
@ExecutiveOtaku @laureninspace I think he's making a bit of a stretch there
— justaddScott (@justaddScott) October 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/JustCallMeDjm/status/520333755102556161
This is straight up Vox level vapidity it's not insulting but a display of utter ignorance of the subject – http://t.co/KfUAIXYLgh
— alexandriabrown (@alexthechick) October 9, 2014
The 'cosplay is a harbinger of the end of our economy!!' article is the most ridiculous thing.
— Common Parkinglot Nuisance (@GreyWays) October 9, 2014
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Um, what? So people spending all that money on the resources to create cosplay costumes is *bad* for the economy? http://t.co/saHFAf53YU
— Matt Baldwin (@thisbrokenwheel) October 9, 2014
Not football, nor movies, nor prime time TV, nor Facebook. Not even Tumblr. Nay, it's cosplay that shows the rot in our economy.
— Preston Austin ? (@gl33p) October 9, 2014
Website doesn't understand what cosplay is, but thinks it's probably a bad sign for "the economy"? http://t.co/ppsqz4s5V7
— Matt Youngmark (@MattYoungmark) October 9, 2014
@JimPethokoukis Please stop throwing blame on a subculture that you don't know and point fingers in the wrong direction.
— Serephita – B L M – Remember Stonewall (@serephita) October 9, 2014
@RoninErik @JimPethokoukis And implying that we're all early 20-somethings just out of college looking to escape our pitiful lives is
— Serephita – B L M – Remember Stonewall (@serephita) October 9, 2014
@RoninErik @JimPethokoukis a huge misrepresentation, and insulting to many cosplayers.
— Serephita – B L M – Remember Stonewall (@serephita) October 9, 2014
Their argument being, of course, that cosplay is popular in Japan and THEIR economy is stagnant, so obviously nerd costumes are the devil.
— Victoria (@vqnerdballs) October 9, 2014
"any rise in people fleeing reality for fantasy suggests problems with our reality” uh oh some1 should probably go tell every novelist ever
— Victoria (@vqnerdballs) October 9, 2014
@vqnerdballs Other things bad for the economy: sushi, bubble tea, cats who are not actually cats.
— Katie Schenkel writes comics (@JustPlainTweets) October 9, 2014
@JustPlainTweets @vqnerdballs giant radioactive monsters… That one might actually be no good
— Philip Lopez (@firehawk32) October 9, 2014
the year is 2026, cosplay has finally destroyed the global economy
what little settlements remain are brutalized by roving groups of nerds
— Beepo 3: ODST (Oneironautical Deep Sleep Time) (@RevolverUnit) October 9, 2014
Heh.
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