Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Geography

Major Professor

LaToya Eaves

Committee Members

Derek Alderman, Stefanie Benjamin, Martin Griffin

Abstract

Cosplay is the portmanteau of the words costume and play; cosplay is a mode of dressing and acting where individuals not only costume themselves as a character, but act as said character, effectively playing that part (Geczy 2016). My work shows that convention spaces, the practice of cosplay, and thus cosplay spaces in general, [LEE1] opens avenues of gender expression and community building for queer individuals, especially women, which would not be possible in other social settings. Inspired first by my experiences at Yamacon, a convention held in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, each December, that focuses on anime and cosplay, and expanding to other anime conventions, Renaissance Fairs, and various informal spaces of cosplay, I study the power of expression and community building that these places foster. The freedom of expression, the possibility of self-exploration, is critical in the politically conservative Bible Belt of Appalachia, as spaces such as these fly under the radar of oppressive laws that limit the accessibility of queer spaces. I combine three main methods of inquiry: journals filled out through Google Docs at cosplayers’ leisure, five interviews with key informants who facilitate events at the convention, and an autoethnography featuring my own knowledge from nine years of this convention. This methodology explores how cosplay helps navigate anxiety, personal reflection– especially gender identity and sexuality–interpersonal relationships, how different genders act and are seen as participants, organizers, and objects on view at this convention space, with an emphasis on the perhaps female (or perhaps a more complex matrix of genders) leadership in this convention, and the lasting connections between cosplaying convention-goers even after the conclusion of the event.

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