Cracking Egg: Gyaru Representation

Yuukatan

  This past week Egg, popular Japanese fashion magazine, and the bible to generations of gyaru around the world announced that its May issue would be its last. This is the latest in a string of gyaru themed magazines to fold. Eggs sister magazine, MensEGG, ceased publication last November only to be followed by the bankruptcy of Inforest Publishing just last month, which resulted in the printing of both Happie Nuts and the popular hostess magazine Koakuma Ageha to end. 

  While all of these magazines’ endings are a huge blow, they don’t compare to the loss that Egg represents to gyaru culture. Egg started in 1995, when gyaru was just beginning to pick up steam in Shibuya, and it was the leading force that pushed gyaru into mainstream popularity and notoriety by showcasing extreme styles such ganguro and manba. Eggs slogan, Get Wild & Be Sexy, was the battle cry of gyaru for nineteen years as these young women rebelled against the traditional beauty values of Japanese society by emulating what they saw in egg. Their war paint was tanned skin, piles of makeup, and hair dyed and bleached to outrageous colours. Though gyaru has changed tremendously over the years, Egg has always been ahead its time and remained as a style leader whether it was the extreme yamanba style of the early 2000’s to the more recent toned down kuronba style and even the casual and more sophisticated look of onee gyaru. Egg was the go-to for gyaru of every style for such a long time and was able to outlive so many of its magazine peers that it seemed it would always be able to stand the test of time.

  Sadly the anthem of the original gyaru to Get Wild & Be Sexy doesn’t seem to resonate with this generation of young women in Japan and Shibuya is no longer the center of the world as it once seemed to be for fashionable young girls. The end of Egg brings up a big question- is it a sign that gyaru itself is dying, or is it the next step of the style reinventing itself?

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Cosplayer of the Week : Akahime

Akahime

This week's selected cosplayer and first ever on our blog is Akahime! She was our first choice because Akahime, to us, embodies what it means to be a cosplayer. She is not only a talented and crafted costumer but she is also a valuable asset to the cosplay community. She is welcoming, inspiring and supportive of other cosplayers and finds her biggest joy in celebrating her favourite characters with other fans. She also gives great advices to fellow new and veteran cosplayers through tutorials and progress photos. Truly a dynamite cosplayer and part of the cosplay community that you we love. 

(photo by Kuraiai)

What got you into cosplay?

I first ran across the first cosplay photo ever in my life via internet. I was very intrigued and impressed that my favorite characters came to life. And then soon after the first photo, I found cosplay.com. Everyone on there pretty much did it and if they could do it, why couldn’t I? It was too much fun to not get into!

What was your first cosplay?

Hyuuga Hinata Shippuden from Naruto. Hahaha!

How long have you been cosplaying?

I tried to get into cosplay back in 2006 when I first discovered cosplay. I actually made my first cosplay and did closet cosplays. BUT I didn’t have any money to go to cons and make friends, so I put a hiatus on that for a long while. Like, actually for 5 years. I started in 2011 again to give it a try with a closet cosplay, so it’s been three years. :) But I’ve been sewing my cosplays for two years seriously. :3

(photos by Kuraiai)

What is your favourite part of putting on your cosplay?

My favorite part happens at the end of completely putting on the cosplay —when I see all of my efforts come together successfully, it just makes me smile and all happy. Because I’m now the character who I enjoyed watching/reading.

What’s the best part of cosplay for you?

The best part of cosplay is definitely the socializing. I love making friends and finding friends with similar interests is hard outside of the con scene, anime clubs, etc. 

What is your favourite cosplay? (personal collection)

Oh boy! That’s a hard question! *a couple of hours later* I think overall, it has to be my Okuni from Samurai Warriors. I love being Okuni! She is one of the only two characters I really get into being in character. Her cosplay is also very comfortable to wear. It’s too much fun cosplaying Okuni!

Do you have a current cosplay or cosplayer favourite? (other people’s collections) 

I actually don’t. There’s just so much cosplayers with so much talent and they all inspire me to strive harder to go out of my comfort zone when it comes to making cosplay. 

My last words:

I went back into cosplaying again because I was at a point in my life where I was losing friends in college. I actually forgot about the con scene and cosplaying until my sister invited me to head to my first one ever back in 2010. Cosplay helped distracted me from the stress. Though I may not have friends at the time who liked anime, gaming, and/or cosplay, but I realized that there were passion and fun behind all of the people who cosplayed at the con. I wanted a share of the laughter and thus the next year, I decided to give it a try. Even when I didn’t gain friends until a couple of years later, I continued to cosplay because it was so much fun. I come to realize now that cosplaying with friends is fun, but cosplaying as your favorite characters, regardless of its obscurity or fame, was even better —it is the best part of cosplaying! :D

You can find a lot of my recent cosplays here: TUMBLR
You can find a lot of my old cosplays and some recent cosplays here (you’ll probably also run into cosplays I made for my siblings and friend): COSPLAY

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Star Wars: Casting News

Grayson Graves

  A long time ago, in a studio far away a film was created that captivated and captured the hearts of earths citizens. It made kids dream of galaxies far beyond their own and crave adventure. It created beloved characters who became household names and made leaps in advancement in the film industry.

  Star Wars grew and continues to grow a fan base unlike any other. With spoofs, parodies, songs, movies about the films and thousands of stories to share the Star Wars universe quickly expanded. In the time of nostalgia it seemed only fitting that a trip back to the stars was soon approaching (lightspeed kid). Earlier this year casting rumours had surfaced for a potential film. Fans filled social networking sites with story ideas, fancasting and reactions to the rumours. Official news broke today for Star Wars: Episode VII to put those rumours to rest. The film will see the return of some familiar faces : Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker. New cast members include: John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow. The film is set to be directed by J.J Abrams and set to be released December 18, 2015. 

No doubt we are excited about the news and the cast is undoubtedly wonderful but we have to wonder...Why is Star Wars still a boys club? When rumours started about Boyega being cast in a lead role we had nothing but high hopes for the new chapter in the Star Wars franchise. He is  best known for his role as the take charge leader in Attack the Block, a British monster movie that took on cult status and gained the actor recognition. 
The actor is accompanied by a stellar and talented cast. However many female fans have been asking themselves, "Why so few ladies?" With an opportunity to create and write a fresh new story the lack of a female presence is a major let down. It seems like a step backwards. The reaffirmation that girls love the genre too is tiring. While millions of little boys get to look at the screen and pick a number of characters to choose from, little girls consistently struggle with the one female character they are given within the franchise. The question remains will we find solace in her characterization or will we be let down?

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Fashion and Identity: A Study of Orphan Black

Grayson Graves

  It is often of the opinion that fashion as a means of expressing oneself is a shallow and superficial way of presenting yourself to the world. It has negative connotations associated with it because it buys into the idea of consumerism and societal expectations. But what happens when we break those rules? 

  Fashion has always been, for me, a very interesting way of expressing identity. The very notion that clothes are an expression of who we are is fascinating. The bow in your hair, the studs on your shoes, the shade of lipstick you chose to wear are like words on pages of a book and they are telling your story, allowing people to know a little something about you before you even open your mouth. Articles of clothing can enhance who we think we are or even helps us become the person we want to be. Make you stand out or even help you blend in. The possibilities of expression are endless. 

  Last year BBCAmerica aired a small show about clones called Orphan Black that twisted the idea of identity on its head. We watched in awe as one woman played several different characters convincingly. Although it has everything to do with the talent that is Tatiana Maslany, a real tour de force, it is interesting to dissect the choices made by the costuming department for each character and how it pertains to identity. A quick study of the characters shows that what we choose to wear has everything to do with the identity we want to assume.

Sarah Manning 

The first character we meet is Sarah Manning. She is wearing a leather jacket, cut off shorts, knee highs and combat boots. We can already tell before the character ever speaks that she has a rebellious streak. She makes interesting fashion choices which tells us that from time to time she enjoys being noticed. She isn't afraid to take risks in fashion as well as in her day to day life.  Her leather jacket and combat boots show a side of Sarah that is tough and ready for action. She is adaptable and dresses to be on the move.  Within minutes of the first episodes we meet the second clone, Beth Childs, a girl who looks exactly like Sarah. As Sarah's life spirals out of control she assumes the identity of Beth in order to settle some things in her own life and to help more clones along the way. Despite the characters being identical (played by the same actress) we see Sarah go through a makeover montage to become Beth Childs. The show is quick to jump into one of its themes, identity. It is repeated time and time again. There is no one like me. I am one of a kind. I am unique. We learn that this is true when we begin to meet the other clones and I would argue how the costume department has chosen to present them. 

Alison Hendrix 

The next clone we meet and one of the most interesting clones is Alison Hendrix. Soccer Mom Sarah is portrayed as a suburban mom of two. When we first meet her she seems put together and just like her outfits the act is just a mask. Sure it might be reminiscent of a life before the clones but Alison is just holding on. Her outfits are put together, thought out and cookie cutter. They are what is expected of her in her community. Alison Hendrix probably has an outfit for every occasion, coaching soccer or figure skating, community socials or even learning to shoot. The interesting thing about Alison's wardrobe is that it is full of pastels. In contrast to Sarah, who wears a lot of black, Alison can be found most often in white.  A colour associated with hope and innocence Alison is anything but. Out of all of the clones Alison tends to act abruptly and dangerously when she is cornered. The soft colours are meant to distract and convince the people in her life that she is simple suburban Alison. What is interesting is that sometimes white is viewed to symbolize new beginnings. For Alison's character this is true because she is actively trying to start fresh from some of the choices she made in season 1. The more concerning implication of the white colour as a symbol is that of sacrifice. It might be a look into Alison's future but it is also indicative of some of the sacrifice's she has made in her personal life and in terms of her sanity.

Cosima Niehaus 

Through Alison we meet Cosima Niehaus, resident geek and universally known as the hot one. Cosima's fashion choices are filled with bold colours and bold patterns. The implications behind her wardrobe tell us a number of things about her. We quickly learn that Cosima goes to school away from family and friends. We learn that she is lonely. Her clothes are a way for her to express herself and stand out. A way for her to grab people's attention and make friends. Upon learning about the clones Cosima might be struggling with her identity and her need to be unique, to be one of a kind because she understands the biology. The interesting choice for Cosima are the glasses. They separate her from all of the other clones and raise questions about the science behind all of the girls. The bold patterns she mixes and matches are indicative of her personality and her chaotic life, her need to experiment and try

things even if they don't work. The colours that surround Cosima are warm and welcoming which is also very indicative of her character. She is charming and personable. The colour that stands out for Cosima is red. This colour is often associated with passion and love, words we would ascribe to her personality. She is passionate in every aspect of her life, in science and in love. We could view Cosima as logical and scientific but often times we also see Cosima be lead by her heart.  

Rachel Duncan 

Rachel is one of the newest clones to be introduced and although we don't know a lot about her, the mystery surrounding her has kept the audience interested and engaged. Tatiana's brilliant performance shows us a character who is cold, stoic and serious, a major contrast to all of the other clones we have met. Her wardrobe is also indicative of her character. It is tailored, sharp and ready for success. It exudes power. The neutral palette of her wardrobe reminds us that we know very little about Rachel. We don't  her motivations, we don't know very much about her emotional capacity because like her colour palette she is very neutral in ton and expression. Her neutrality commands our attention, demands we seek her approval and makes her a powerful player in the game and leaves us wanting more.






Through the dynamic performances delivered by Tatiana Maslany and in part to the artistic direction of the show we are presented with several representations and engaging female characters. The show reminds us that a woman can be a bitch, a lover, a child, a mother, a sinner or a saint. 

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Fake Geek Girls

Hello and welcome to Fake Geek Girls

What is a Fake Geek Girl?

Fake geek girl can be categorized and defined as the notion that a human of the female gender is pretending to enjoy the following : fantasy, sci-fi, video games, table top, rpgs, cosplay comic books, comic book movies, action films, giant robots, giant robot films, films in general, all consumption and celebration of media is in fact fake. They spend thousands of dollars on conventions, costumes and merchandise to impress their dominate counterpart and reigning gender on all things geek culture. 

What should we do about Fake Geek Girl?

Squash the notion. 

This blog is focused on recognizing and celebrating everyone in our subculture through displays of cosplay and fashion. 

Blog Contents: 

• Cosplay
• Cosplayer of the Week
• Cosplay Tutorials
• Cosplay on a Budget
• Product and Seller Reviews 
• And examinations of our favourites 

Meet the Bloggers: 

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