Philomath v01 February 2016 | Page 5

"Cosplay can be very roughly defined as a hobby in which individuals dress up in costumes portraying a persona other than themselves. While the above definition seems very broad, such is the nature of the hobby. There are no strict rules or guidelines governing the community. The only thing mutually agreed on is that a certain level of respect be shared amongst participants.

Cosplay has seen an undeniable and rapid growth as a subculture in Jamaica. The group that started this movement locally is JA Cosplayaz, the host of Anime Nation, our biggest annual event. Following suit, other groups like the Anime Nerds of Jamaica have also recently started hosting their own cosplay events. I’m still relatively new to the community, having only been cosplaying for two and a half years, but even in that short period I’ve found myself awe-stricken every time I attend an event and see all the creative, larger-than-life costumes people create. It’s no easy feat keeping up with such a high caliber of dedication and resourcefulness. "

SING COSPLAY

What is Cosplay?