Cosplay: The Beginning

It probably has never crossed your mind to wonder how cosplaying began. For us, it always has been and always will be. That’s enough. But for those of you curious, here’s a little history on the invention of cosplay.

It began in a convention in 1939. Yes, they had conventions in 1939, even though it does seem like the Dark Ages. At the World Science Fiction Convention, a con-goer by the name of Forrest J. Ackerman decided that not only did he want to attend, but he wanted to dress up as a futuristic spaceman. Google him – he’s got his own Wikipedia page. (He ended up having a career in science fiction as well as an infamous passion for its memorabilia.) His costume is rather laughable, and only vaguely space-esque, but it sparked the phenomenon that ties us to our sewing machines today.
The term “cosplay” wasn’t actually coined until 1984. Nobuyuki Takahashi, president of Japan’s Studio Hard, was impressed by the various people dressed up at the Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon used the phrase. It is a combination of the words “costume” and “play.”

Cosplaying as we think of it took off in the 1970s in Japan with the release of Gundam. The frenzy found American in the 1980s, although most of you will probably want to block out any images from that (80s hairstyles were bad; the cosplaying was worse). But, in their defense, it was less of an art form and more of a fun experience. Today, with it so prominent in American anime culture, the talent involved in it as well as the criticism sometimes lashed out has risen significantly.
Since it has grown, various media outlets specifically for cosplay. Particularly since the internet became widespread, more and more people have delved into the fandom and given it a chance, what with information so readily available to assist them. With newer technologies, wider community acceptance, and more dedicated cosplayers, it is poised to grow even further in the coming years.
(This article is from : http://www.cosplayshopper.com/blog/cosplay-the-beginning/)