No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on March 26, 2014

LSCC stands for the London Super Comic Con which we attended.

For those of you new to the term Cosplay, it means the act of dressing up and acting like the character that you dressed up as.

According to Wikipedia Cosplay is short for “costume play”, is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered on role play. A broader use of the term cosplay applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context.

It comes out of the anime convention circuit but has invaded just about every fandom convention you can name.

There has been a problem that some people think if you are dressed up as a character and acting like the character, they can take liberties since you are dressed “that way.” This has led to some rather unfortunate events at conventions and a lot of debate on the Internet.

Out of this has come the simple phrase “Costuming is not Consent.” You can find a good article on this subject at Geeks are Sexy which is a good website about a lot of issues in fandom.

Conventions are also being more proactive about harassment in its many forms not just in terms of cosplay and inappropriate behavior.

One of the first things I noticed as I walked into the venue was a very large sign with the harassment policy of the convention, which covered a variety of issues. It was stated that by purchasing a badge or wristband, you agreed to adhere to these rules and if you violated them, you would be removed from the convention and not allowed to return to this or any convention run by this organization.

This sign was in several prominent places all around the convention floor.

Another problem some cosplayers have is getting into costume. It is fine if you have a hotel room that is connected to the venue but try riding the tube in your Judge Dredd gear and see how far you get. The convention had a changing room for cosplayers that was off the main floor and had screens for the privacy for those who were changing. They encouraged the cosplayers to use the room during the convention but also seriously encouraged them to keep it neat. It’s a two way street here and more than one person has to use the room so I thought it was reasonable. They also provided water and a place to sit for the cosplayers.

In turn, the cosplayers were out having their photos taken with the convention attendees. There were a couple of groups that had photo set up with backgrounds and the like that anyone could use.

I noticed a lot of really high-end camera equipment being used at the convention. I have not seen so many bounce screens since my last puppet catalogue shoot. There were some serious photographers in the room and a lot of them outside the room. Walking the convention center both inside and out, I noticed all kinds of photo shoots going on with lots of groups of cosplayers. Everyone seemed to be having fun and I didn’t hear of any incidents during the convention however in observing I found a few of the angles a little suspect and I don’t know if the cosplayer was aware of the upskirting that seem to be going on. I don’t know for a fact that this happened, it is just my observation. Everyone seemed to be having fun.

I have to say that the London Super Comic Convention did right by cosplayers.

I did see some amazing costumes. I don’t have many (OK hardly any) photos of these costumes but they were great. I like that the kids were dressed up too in both manufactured and some kicking homemade costumes. Lots of little Doctors running around including one curly haired tot in a Capaldi get up. Marvel and DC was running about even. A lot of 2000 AD judges and the like running around including two Judge Deaths. Not many Battlestar or Star Trek costumes although the Ghostbusters had a table. Everyone was very friendly and I learned about some new materials and techniques from them.

I am grateful for conventions that pay attention.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 25, 2014

I can finally revel what I had only called Secret Project #1 for the past couple of months since it was a birthday present.

Scarlett O’Hara in the famous Curtain Dress
(For the VI: This is a puppet of the character Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind. She has brown hair and green eyes. She is wearing a green dress and a green hat with gold fringe)

This was an interesting project to undertake. I was lucky that the original dress and hat went up for auction within the past two years and I got screen shots of the catalogue photos which allowed me to figure out all kinds of things about both the dress and the hat.

The rest of this is under a cut since it is rather picture heavy.

(more…)

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 24, 2014

This morning I woke up on my own at a reasonable hour to get up without feeling like I am dragging myself out of bed because I had to get up and get Caroline off to school. First time in a while that I felt like this.

I am already half way through my second cup of coffee for the day so the brain knows that it has had caffeine so this may be random but the coffee has kicked in.

We met up with Ariel and her beau yesterday in Port Jefferson and had lunch. It was nice to see Ariel and catch up on things including when her graduate graduation is and where. Caroline was so happy to see Ariel. She misses her big sister.

Caroline also did cookie sales with her Girl Scout troop on Sunday. She is quite the little sales person.

Today is all about the laundry since I have almost two weeks worth to do at this point. I am down to my laundry day underwear.

Since the Jets announced they are giving Michael “It’s my culture and I didn’t know better” Vick, it is much easier for me to figure out which team I am cheering for here in New York. Hint it has a Manning as the QB. The sports talk shows have been all abuzz with discussion about this up here in New York. There are the apologists for Vick and the outraged at Vick. Personally this one is a no brainer for me and I am out of the Jets Nation. If this is their major move for the off season, I am thinking they aren’t going to do much during the season. There is no excuse for what he did to those poor animals.

I am asking for those who haven’t gotten to their DVRs yet, please talk about your reaction to not the event in the Good Wife that happened last night. My jaw dropped and I thought, ‘they can’t really be doing this.’ But they did and changed the dynamics of the show forever. Wow! I have been reading up on the why and thinking back on some other things that happened this season and the track work was there.

And then there was Once Upon a Time which is moving at a better pace this half of the season. Two new episodes in and I’m fully engaged in what is going on. Also the way they have things set up with who has memory and who doesn’t works for me. And then there is poor Rumple. Mad props to Robert Carlyle for creating yet another facet to an already fascinating character. And mad props to Rebecca Mader for creating such a delightfully evil character, which allows Lana Parrilla to yet again release her inner Evil Queen.

Welp onto to the mounds of laundry and some basic household gotstados.

I am grateful for waking up and not feeling like my head is full of cotton wool.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 22, 2014

On Monday we went to the Doubletree Hotel in the West End of London to put us more centrally located to various things in the city. Also Peter was signing at the Forbidden Planet flagship store that was within walking distance of the hotel.

Caroline and I decided to go to the Tower of London. She made a bee line to the Crown Jewels which she wanted to see because of the trailer for Muppets most Wanted. She really got into the mystery of the little princes and the tower. We went around and visited the Bloody Tower and where they think they found the princes’ bones years later.

That evening Peter did the signing and we had a lovely dinner with one of the owners of Forbidden Planet.

Next day started early since we were on our way to Cardiff. The train ride was about half an hour longer than usual due to water in the signaling system so we had to take a little detour to get around it.

Why we went to Cardiff is the Doctor Who offices. Peter got in touch with Neil who got in touch with the production offices who were gracious to invite us round for a look see.

I will say more of what we saw after the episodes relevant to what we saw have been aired so I will be making it part of the New Who Review. After the season is done, do I have some lovely pictures to post.

The most fun was that they were not shooting in the TARDIS so we got to run around and play on the set. Caroline was allowed to flip switches and levers to her heart’s content. It was so cool. Again I do have photos but I have to wait for the all clear before I can post them.

But not to be a total tease, I do have a couple of photos that have been vetted.

Caroline at the door of the TARDIS

(For the VI: Caroline is standing to the left with her hand on the handle of the door. She is holding her doll Caroline.)

The War Doctor visits the TARDIS

I am grateful to everyone I met at BBC Wales.

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Posted By Kathleen David on March 22, 2014

Travel is fun overall once I get where I am traveling. Getting ready to travel, traveling, and the aftermath can be a bit stressful.

This trip was a little harder due to the time change. I was a bit jet lagged going over and it has taken me a couple of days to get myself back to this time zone. Peter will be at Emerald City Con next week in Seattle so he is settling into this time zone only to get thrown the other way.

There is also the unpacking which I plan to finish today along with restocking the larder. I have planned out the meals for this weekend and made sure that we have what we need.

Today Caroline is going to sell Girl Scout Cookies with her troop. Tomorrow we travel to Port Jeff to see Ariel.

Right now I feel like I am still regrouping from the last trip. There are things that we promised people that we need now to deliver. There are things that we need to get done around here to settle back in.

I guess that my biggest problem right now, I feel unsettled. Things aren’t where they should be. And I know that they won’t be until Peter gets back from Seattle.

But I will muddle along and get done what I need to do. I am really good at that.

I am grateful that I woke up on my own at a reasonable time.

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