• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.132-143
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to observe cospla subculture in 1990s new generation of Korean youth, focused on activity that was reproducing the appearance of individual characters in animation, comic books and computer games, and to understand the representing process and meaning of appearance. The ethnographic methods including in-depth interviews and observation were used to approach such cultural form more closely from the youth generations perspective and their language. The results were as follows: 1. Although the cospla is originated from Japan, the local experience of Koreans make it the special youth subculture of Korea. 2. There are homological features and hierachical structure among group members of cospla subculture. The core values of Korean cospla are that they are realizing their ideal and elevating their own self-esteem. 3. Their appearance has connotation as symbolic resistance. The cultural activity of cospla is non-realistic, non-productive, but cosplayers conform to the social norm, too.