HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!~ <3
Made this super cheesy thing because WHY NOT? MichixHaru is one of my favourite ships, and I love to sail it with my dear Gillykins. <3
…I’m so sorry.
Perf.
I recently did an interview with BUST Magazine and they gave me permission to post it here as well! Click the image to read it at it’s original source.
Katrina: I just wrapped up a piece for our blog about false binaries in “The Battle of the Fake Geek Girl”, and the role that labels play in the conflict. It seems that the trouble always begins when one group (in this case, geek naysayers) tries to categorize another group (in this case, “fake” geek girls) as “not-them”. What has your own experience been with the geek/nerd subculture and its labels? Do you consider yourself to be a geek girl, and furthermore, do you think that the labels of “geek” and “not geek” need to exist at all?
ALB: I don’t consider myself a “geek girl”, but I don’t consider myself anything. It was never by conscious effort, but I haven’t found masking taping a label onto myself to produce positive results of any kind. I just like what I like, and I don’t apologize for it to anyone. However, some of my interests fall under the category of “geekdom” so whenever the name is mentioned my ears perk up, because there’s a good chance you’re speaking my language.
But don’t get me wrong, if “geek” is someone’s identity, then more power to them! Every human on this earth feels a need to belong, even in small ways. So I think that at times labels, such as geek, can help people find others who share similar interests or levels of passion about a subject. What makes the difference is when labels are placed on you, versus labels you construct and choose for yourself.Katrina: Your video, “Fake Geek Girls” is making its way around the Web like wildfire. It’s my personal favorite takedown of the whole “Fake Geek Girl” debacle. What did you initially want viewers to come away with, after watching your video?
ALB: I didn’t really know what I wanted to accomplish with this video. I was just angry. And frustrated. Because Tony Harris’s rant, as ridiculous as it was, represented a tangible piece of evidence of what I, and other people, have been experiencing for years. I just needed to express myself, and to talk, and create dialogue. And to be honest, I didn’t think it would take off the way it did. But I think that speaks to my point- people, especially women, could relate with what I was saying, meaning it’s a widespread problem. I guess now, after the fact, I can say that I want viewers, especially certain men in the geek community, to self evaluate with an honest heart.
Katrina: Have you ever felt personally attacked for being a girl who is interested in things within the geek subculture? How has your interaction with the realm of all things geeky been altered because of this negativity (if at all), and how do you combat the naysayers?
ALB: I’ve never been attacked in real life, only online, but that speaks to the cowardice of certain individuals. What I have experienced though, is normalized sexism. Asking to join a D&D group in high school, and being turned down because they didn’t want to “have to deal with women”. Asking for help in a comic book store and being talked down to as a result. Constant and endless quizzing from men once they find out I’m interested in a fandom they participate in. It’s discouraging, sure. I’m not sure if it’s my personality, or the way I was brought up, or something else, but it never made me want to give up. In fact, it made me want to be there even more. If you tell me I can’t do something, or that I’m not welcome, I’m going to do it. So in a way, I think the best way to combat this behaviour is to exist. To be seen, be heard, and to not back out or leave, even when being bullied. To support and encourage other women to pursue whatever interests they want. To demand safe and respective “geeky” environments.
Katrina: What advice would you give a younger girl who is interested in exploring the geek subculture, but who may be feeling put-off by all this recent insanity?
ALB: To younger girls, I say, jump! Take the leap and bust in. Because there is so much wonderfulness to be had. Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t know enough, or you’re too new, because at some point they were too. Everyone was once where you are, no one is born an expert. You’re aloud to like whatever you want. And if anyone tells you otherwise, pull a Big Barda and push them aside with one hand.
Katrina: Finally, what’s your wildest fantasy/impossible dream/ultimate hope for the end of this conflict? Where does the geek subculture go from here, in terms of being a more inclusive and far less hostile body? What can women do to contribute meaningfully despite the backlash?
ALB: My dream? Oh man! I think I want, and this sounds really simple but just hear me on this one- listening. I want the protective geekdom fenceholders to listen. And not just listen, but UNDERSTAND. Because no one likes feeling excluded. Everyone just wants to belong. And at the end of the day, isn’t that the point of this subculture? If this is where someone feels they fit in, shouldn’t we let them? We all, women included, need to look at ourselves and say, is the mindset I’m promoting elitist? And if so, what does that say about the relationship I have with others, and myself? I think that’s one of the problems with labelling yourself, once you do, it can become your whole identity. And if someone you don’t agree with wants to wear your identity too, you can feel personally threatened, like they’re trying to take something away from you. But they aren’t, not really. They just want to belong. And there is room for everyone in this sandbox.
Oh my god amazing, one of my favorite bloggers saying cool shit in one of my favorite magazines!!
Ardella Cosplay, Eve Beauregard Costumes and Black Cat dropping a serious truth bomb!
“How to Avoid Being Branded a Convention Creeper”
Flawless. A must-see! :D
Look, I’m part of a meme!
And I love the message on this one, too. GIT ‘EM
A little bit of a side-step with this post. While enjoying many of the photos and posts that have been coming through over the weekend. There was one in particular that caught my eye. Read it here, you really should for it is a perfect example of some of the abuse and bullying that too often seems to be handled at cosplayers.
Even before this blog was started one of the chief complaints that I had heard from people about such a project was that “it would never work, cosplay models are a bunch of divas”. Of course though, exactly the opposite has occurred I have found that the cosplayers who I have conversed with have been some of the best to talk with. Sometimes there are posts that require that thorny issue of copyright. I firmly believe that cosplayers no matter what should always be treated with respect. As such I always try to ask before posting photos.
I have found that on every occasion, a cosplayer has always responded positively to my request. Not once has it been turned down and surely if there was a definition of a diva, then the word cosplay is nowhere to be found in that definition.
There is no better moment where I have posted about a particular cosplayer and that person responds with a thank you or expression of joy. Those are what I enjoy the most and what I work towards, a blog that they can enjoy just as much as anyone else.So it’s when I read the previously mentioned post that my first initial reaction is not one of disgust, but of pure disappointment. In cosplay, it isn’t just the presentation. Its the production, the heart, soul and time that has been invested in their creation and to have it reduced to a image where you are expected to behave in a certain way is inconceivable but unfortunately all too common.
I find it incredibly surprising how people can treat them this way and yet not keep in mind the characters they are portraying. There is no way anyone would walk up to Jean Grey as Dark Phoenix, make a bunch of lewd comments and not walk out of there without being atomised. There’s no way someone could make remarks about X-23’s cup size without being suddenly lobotomised.It’s unfortunate that there are some who think that the only way to react to a cosplayer is to treat them as a bit of eye candy. I try to read as many of the re-blogs as possible regarding my entries and while most of the time they are complimentary, there are still a few who believe that it is acceptable to treat them like a piece of meat. It’s a shame really, because in what I have seen from the cosplayers I have talked to so far, their personalities, imagination and creativity are their true strengths and will always be their greatest success.
Now that i’ve said my bit, Normal service will resume.
Needless to say, I highly recommend everyone who loves cosplay follow the above blog! :D
Fresh Face Appreciation Post #2
Last week I compiled a group of photos celebrating lovely (cosplay) ladies sans-makeup. The prospect of photographing a fresh face was intimidating for some, and second nature for others. Either way the message is the same - natural beauty deserves its time in the spotlight, too.
I’ll keep posting these as long as photos are sent my way. Show me what you’ve got, ladies! You don’t have to be a cosplayer - I just know a lot of them. :P
[Click the photos for credits!]
I love this idea and I’m proud to be a little wee part of it :) Do you recognize me, all makeup- and wig-less?
