Identity, curated branding, and the star cosplayer's pursuit of Instagram fame
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2020.1949Keywords:
Creative praxis, Fandom, Identity brand, Influencer culture, Online culture, Online monetization, Social influencer, Social mediaAbstract
In response to the digital landscape, the nature of cosplay, in which the cosplayer constructs an identity complementary to the character via costuming, has changed from a performative expression of fandom appreciation to a desire to achieve viral fame. As a signifier of popular culture, such so-called star cosplayers commodify their bodies to market a social identity through the curatorial process of displaying work on Instagram. A creative project, ".//wired: TRENDING," promotes the aesthetic value and function of cosplay while utilizing social media to create an identity brand for endorsement.
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Copyright (c) 2020 Fiona Katie Haborak
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