WorldCon Report 2: The Art of Being a Fan -- Costumers
It is sometimes hard to spot the Big Talent at a science fiction convention: editors, artists -- even famous writers -- can pass, unnoticed, among the general fan population. Unless you know who they are, it's hard to spot the superstars like Teresa and Patrick Nielsen Hayden or Connie Willis*, who looks like someone's favorite aunt:
Or, would you know, if you were standing on line with them at a Starbucks, that these guys*:
are this year's Big Names at the Hugo Awards (Left to right) That's John Scalzi, winner of the Campbell Award, Robert Charles Wilson, winner of this year's Hugo for the Novel, and David G. Hartwell, winner of the Best Professional Editor Hugo* (the photos of Connie Willis and the Hugo Winners are Copyright 2006 by Keith Stokes).
Under some con conditions, you might be totally unaware of who just brushed against you in the dealer's room, or was sharing that endless wait for the elevators. OK, granted, it would be hard to miss Hartwell in that jacket and tie, but you might not be amiss in thinking only that he was a man who favored... uhm, colorful clothing. If Scalzi was wearing his tiara, you might suspect something (but not necessarily that he was important) , or perhaps if Wilson were walking around carrying his trophy... but even then, you'd have to really be observant. Heck, we'd met John Scalzi and didn't recognize him standing on line behind MaryAnn at the hotel check-in (see WorldCon Report 1).
And there are so many levels of interest at a convention, with so many subtle variations on who is important in the subset, that you could spend a year going to a different convention every weekend and still not quite get the whole social structure. Anyway, the point is, it isn't always easy to spot the talent, or the Big Name Fans, or even the Filkers if they're not wearing some sort of performance gear.
But there is one group of talented individuals who are impossible to miss at a convention. And that's the Costumers.
Costumers are a whole other colorful -- literally -- subset of the science fiction/fantasy community. At a big convention like WorldCon, and others like BaltiCon, and PhilCon, there is always a Masquerade. There is a whole secret heirarchy of Masters and Journeymen and Novices and they get awards and prizes that move them up the costuming ladder. I'm not sure how the system works, but they are always a treat even for the uninitiated. The wonderful array of costumes can incorporate science fiction and/or fantasy. They can be characters from a favorite book, tv show, movie or anime. They can reflect a current zeitgeist in the s/f community (see the previous Pirates entry). Or they can invent an entire persona for themselves. Costumes can be as deceptively simple as putting together just the right blend of army fatigues and worn t-shirts to be Kaylee from the Firefly series, or creating an elaborate character from whole cloth, as it were. I'm often envious and frequently puzzled but they are always a delight to look at.
I present some examples, in no particular order:
1. The Living Embodiment of Lady Tottingham (Tottie) from Wallace & Grommit's "Curse of the WereRabbit"
This women came to our party and she was beautiful -- really! Her hair alone was a work of art. She was also very sweet and funny.
2. Robots Walk Among Us.
This person was so into the robot thing, it never talked! I don't know if the person in the robot was a he or a she, but the Robot was definitely a she.
3. Sand People Family:
Was on display in the Main Hall, together with several other beautiful costumes. This one impressed me because it was a whole family of the Sand People from the Star Wars movies. I've seen just the male Sand People, but of course, the rest of the population have to come from somewhere!
4. Young Fen
These young girls were just cute as could be. I'm not sure who -- or what -- the young girl with the military jacket and the cap is supposed to be, but it really doesn't matter. It might be something from anime, or it might be a character she's developed for herself. But she's just very into the whole fannish thing and extremely cool. The other girl, who can't be more than 12 or 13, is wearing a "Revolver" t-shirt. That took me back!
5. Fabulous Ones!
I left the whole background in on this picture so you can see what the place was like! I ran into these women on my way to the art show. At first, I thought these women were dressed like Guinan from Star Trek. I thought they were just the most gorgeous things I had ever seen! But on another day of the con:
6. Fabulous Ones Part 2:
Here they were again, with a friend. I believe they presented themselves as representatives of Xerps -- which is making a bid for hosting WorldCon 2010.
7. Big Bad Wolf and Young Fans
I have no idea what this critter is supposed to be. He sure had quite a following though!
8. Stepping Back to the Future
This lovely is wearing a costume based on characters in Blade Runner.
9. Out of This World:
They were just amazing. I do suspect that the man on the right hand side was Mungo the Magnificent or Zorg... or something from Buck Rogers... All of them may have been something from Buck Rogers or Tom Corbett... My ignorance of their origins, however, does not keep me from appreciating them as art!
10. Out Amongst the Fennish:
Just a gathering of beautiful intergalactic fantasy creatures.
11. Obi-Shawn Crosby -- Old Republic Jedi
OK. I confess to being drawn instantly to this guy because a) Star Wars; b) he looked like Ewan MacGregor in Star Wars; c) he was just so damned adorable; d) he had a hot car! Well, mainly (c)... but hey! Star Wars. Cute and Star Wars. He turned out to be married in the mundane world and in his Star Wars universe as well. He (and his car) belongs to a group called the Rebel Legion and I'll mention them (and him) again in another report.
There were hundreds of other wonderful costumes and creatures floating by. For some wonderful shots of the Masquerade, check out http://www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/06worldcon.htm and go to the Masquerade entries.
Stay tuned for Report 3: Out And About In the World
Comments
The creature with the huge bouffant is a Martian from the Tim Burton movie "Mars Attacks"
Posted by: Jeliza | September 25, 2006 7:56 PM
ah! many thanks, Jeliza.
Posted by: bonnie-ann black | September 26, 2006 11:53 AM