The Mega-Blog

Is Cosplay’s Popularity a Sign of America’s Economic Downfall?

Take a breath, no one is blaming cosplayers for the downfall of America’s future – far from it. James Pethokoukis over at The Week thinks the rise of Cosplay is because of the economic stagnation, and he makes an interesting case. Pethokoukis argues that when you have a bunch of people who can’t find work, they’re more likely to have the time to indulge in escapism. He’s not saying escapism is the cause, not even close.

He’s saying that economic stagnation is the fire, and the increase in cosplay is the smoke.

It’s an interesting point, but I’m not sure if I agree with him. Pethokoukis states that cosplay’s popularity in Japan is because of Japan’s own economic stagnation, and I’ll take his word for it. But the increase in Cosplay is directly in sync with the increase in popularity of Japanese media in American nerdom. Was cosplay less popular with cons in 1995? Yes. But Anime was a much more niche genre in America then. Even in the early 2000s though, cosplay was huge at Anime cons in the US, and I think it’s just a case of the popularity of Anime affecting the numbers.

Pethokoukis thinks this is an ice cream sales/crime wave correlation. I think it’s more a Bing search/potato sales situation.

Who knows who’s right?

Well I do. I’m right. This is stupid.

Via The Week (through ANN)

Trae Dorn

Trae Dorn has been staffing conventions for over twenty-five years. They also wrote and drew the now completed webcomic UnCONventional, and produce the podcasts BS-Free Witchcraft, On This Day With Trae, Stormwood & Associates, The Meatgrinder, and The Nerd & Tie Podcast. This leads many to ask how the heck they have the time to get it all done. Trae says they have the time because they “do it all quite poorly.”

4 thoughts on “Is Cosplay’s Popularity a Sign of America’s Economic Downfall?

  • Andrew Wurm

    I wonder how Civil War reenactments fit into his argument.

    Reply
    • Cosplay for NRA members.

      Reply
  • Paul Langland

    Are you sure it’s not just a desire to dress up more often than just halloween?

    Reply
  • Nicholas S Schneider

    Christ died, and then the Roman empire fell.

    HALF LIFE THREE CONFIRMED

    Reply

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