Professional cosplayers entrepreneurial identity and exploitation

Chris McCutcheon; Michael Hitchens; Mitchell McEwan

doi:10.4324/9781003271109-4

Professional cosplayers entrepreneurial identity and exploitation

Chris McCutcheon^*, Michael Hitchens, Mitchell McEwan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

We interviewed ten Australian professional and semiprofessional cosplayers focusing on topics of identity, perception, and exploitation for this relatively new category of entrepreneurs. Using thematic analysis, we identified a number of issues such as self-esteem, body positivity, cosplay business practices and settings, and exploitation. We discovered that, contrary to current theory, professional cosplayers do not identify with the characters they cosplay. However, professional cosplayers face personal and business obstacles that leave them vulnerable to exploitation by non-cosplay businesses.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Entrepreneurial cosplay
Subtitle of host publication	creating identity, building identity, brand and business acumen
Editors	Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols, Amy C. Lewis, Dave Tomczyk
Place of Publication	Oxon ; New York
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	2
Pages	33-48
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003271109, 9781000890082
ISBN (Print)	9781032217581, 9781032220888
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003271109-4
Publication status	Published - 2023

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title = "Professional cosplayers entrepreneurial identity and exploitation",

abstract = "We interviewed ten Australian professional and semiprofessional cosplayers focusing on topics of identity, perception, and exploitation for this relatively new category of entrepreneurs. Using thematic analysis, we identified a number of issues such as self-esteem, body positivity, cosplay business practices and settings, and exploitation. We discovered that, contrary to current theory, professional cosplayers do not identify with the characters they cosplay. However, professional cosplayers face personal and business obstacles that leave them vulnerable to exploitation by non-cosplay businesses.",

author = "Chris McCutcheon and Michael Hitchens and Mitchell McEwan",

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Professional cosplayers entrepreneurial identity and exploitation. / McCutcheon, Chris ; Hitchens, Michael ; McEwan, Mitchell.
Entrepreneurial cosplay: creating identity, building identity, brand and business acumen. ed. / Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols; Amy C. Lewis; Dave Tomczyk. Oxon ; New York: Routledge, 2023. p. 33-48.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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AU - Hitchens, Michael

AU - McEwan, Mitchell

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AB - We interviewed ten Australian professional and semiprofessional cosplayers focusing on topics of identity, perception, and exploitation for this relatively new category of entrepreneurs. Using thematic analysis, we identified a number of issues such as self-esteem, body positivity, cosplay business practices and settings, and exploitation. We discovered that, contrary to current theory, professional cosplayers do not identify with the characters they cosplay. However, professional cosplayers face personal and business obstacles that leave them vulnerable to exploitation by non-cosplay businesses.

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SN - 9781032220888

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A2 - Tomczyk, Dave

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Professional cosplayers entrepreneurial identity and exploitation

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