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Monday, 25 April 2005
1017 - If you don't like it, don't look!
 btime posted, as one comment in a long message to both his LJ and the Penguicon community:
Also, to the gentlemen in costume (You know who you are) WEAR A FREAKIN CUP!! Have some respect for the people around you, jeepers!
I'm going to assume he was referring to me because I only saw one other guy there wearing tights, and he had on a codpiece.
My reply to that is simple: I make and wear costumes because I enjoy it, and because I have had some modest success in getting the details right. Whether you like it or not, the clothes of the characters I've done so far have been designed to be skintight by their creators. After the storm last year (and my discovery that I was incorrect in my assumption that the actors in TRON did not wear any underwear), I've gone to wearing dance belts, or similar support. That, however, is the extent of the concession I'm willing to make (and, as it happens, I'm willing to go that far only because it's more accurate to do so).
My goal is to duplicate the clothing and other appearance factors of the characters I portray, limited only by my artistic ability (and I stretch those limits whenever possible). I'm not out to coddle the sensibilities of those who lose all reason when confronted by the merest outline of male genitalia. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you do not look at that part of my body - or that of various superhero characters in movies and TV, or Renaissance-era costumes either in the mass media or live at such venues as Renaissance faires, or many athletic events, or lots of other places. Like it or not, men have those features of their anatomy, and you cannot wish them away.
It's not a matter of disrespect. I choose, instead, to believe that people are worthy of the respect that goes with being honest with them. I choose also to believe that they will be mature enough to avoid those experiences that distress them. If it bothers you that much, look at something else.
I enjoyed Penguicon. I enjoyed it more because I spent not one minute of the con in street clothes, and because I got many positive comments all weekend on the various costumes I wore. I intend to do the same in the future.
current mood: ![[mood icon]](https://www.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/determined.gif) determined
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Comments:
I hope you're going to post pictures!
Not because I want to see cup vs. non-cup *smiles*, but your costumes sound awesome. The only costume I wore that hasn't been posted before was the Renaissance outfit I wore Friday afternoon and evening. (I wore the Xinchub costume Saturday, and the TRON costume Sunday.) I don't have a good picture of that one to post, but the con photographer got one of me, and said he'd post it online. When I find out where, I'll link to it. Leland was the con photographer, and his LJ name is uplinktruck. He has some pics up from Thursday and Friday. I'm expecting more this week. Great costumes! I am amused that this critic was prudish enough to urge you to obscure your crotch (which I am sure can compete with anyone's) rather than complain about your displaying your non-athletic physique.
Personally, I did not find your costume offensive. Oh, I knew that...if you had, you'd have told me long before now. (I am constantly amazed that nobody - not one single person - has said anything negative to me about it in person. They have been profuse with anonymous comments (and some, more brave than those, have even signed their names to it), though.)
The whole prudery thing gets me. I just don't understand why some people go so nonlinear. I am constantly amazed that nobody - not one single person - has said anything negative to me about it in person.
That's just human nature--most people are too embarrassed to criticize people to their face.
But I don't understand the prudery thing either--especially not in this day and age.
How much are dance belts? That sounds like a good idea... I was left in a lurch for Halloween with no time to improvise. I had to wear silly shorts over my White Ranger outfit because it looked like I had a mushroom in my tights. $15 or so. Make sure you get one that's appropriately sized, or it will be very uncomfortable. |
