Genderbending, Nerdery, and Armorsmithing, Oh My
February 16, 2013 7:22 PM Subscribe
Having previously written an article titled "Don't Dress as Slave Leia" and then, a rather more nuanced rehash in which he explored why telling people not to dress as Slave Leia is not itself free from problems, Ryan (of Mad Art Lab) has decided that, actually, he's going to dress as Slave Leia this con season; or, rather, Slave Leo.
Hot.
Wait, did I miss the point?
posted by tooloudinhere at 7:36 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Wait, did I miss the point?
posted by tooloudinhere at 7:36 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think the kilt is wimping out a bit, but otherwise it's a cute interpretation.
posted by Karmakaze at 7:41 PM on February 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 7:41 PM on February 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
I thought it was very cute, and found it entertaining that so many immediately started commenting on his hotness and/or various details of his anatomy they liked, pretty much underlining the whole point of Slave Leia.
posted by emjaybee at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by emjaybee at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
To be perfectly blunt, I always preferred white-dress Leia with the high slit skirt and the white leather boots. This is also sexist, but it's more-acceptable-in-public sexist. This makes my susceptibility to sexual pandering superior to the susceptibility to sexual pandering of those into the slave outfits, simply because the pandering I enjoy is less overt.
OK, let's go watch Roger Rabbit again.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
OK, let's go watch Roger Rabbit again.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
Oh, engineering grad students at Waterloo, you know how to have a good time.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:20 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:20 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
Agreed on the slightly wimpy kilt (should be open down the sides, more like a loincloth), and I think the chain should be longer (for a start, exactly how would he choke Jabba with that length?). The shoulder/arm/hair pieces come off as closer to armor than decoration, which isn't quite right - I think if I walked past him I'd think 'Roman Gladiator', to get a Leia reaction he really needs to be more sexualised. Maybe the hair pieces should be a little more delicate, and make the shoulder/arm pieces more like bracelets. I'd probably replace the leather strap across his collarbone with one that goes from the neck strap down to the kilt and definitely have some kind of emphasis on his crotch beyond the bag there.
But he's clearly put far more effort into it than I've ever done for a costume, so props!
posted by jacalata at 8:22 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
But he's clearly put far more effort into it than I've ever done for a costume, so props!
posted by jacalata at 8:22 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Things sure have changed since Disney took over...
posted by George Lucas at 8:27 PM on February 16, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by George Lucas at 8:27 PM on February 16, 2013 [11 favorites]
The juxtaposition of the previous Slave Leia opinions with the current Slave Leo opinions is keeping me taking me to the floor in fits of misanthropic laughter.
posted by Slackermagee at 8:49 PM on February 16, 2013
posted by Slackermagee at 8:49 PM on February 16, 2013
Hmm, while impressive, it's not reading as " concubine ( concubino? Idk) " as much as " Roman god, maybe?". Like it needs to be more sexualized, much shorter kilt, a loincloth would be ideal as mentioned, and like, swirly metal hip pieces pointing at the crotch with maybe some more metal bits looped around the chest just covering the nipples cause, much like how a peice of jewelry on a nude figure drew attension to the nudity ( a separator in depicting divine or philosophical nudity from the more earthy type in the western painting canon) just covering something like that and leaving the rest bare draws attension to what's not being covered up.
That said, impressive.
posted by The Whelk at 9:11 PM on February 16, 2013
That said, impressive.
posted by The Whelk at 9:11 PM on February 16, 2013
the shoulder/arm/hair pieces come off as closer to armor than decoration...he really needs to be more sexualised.
There is nothing sexier than the avant harness. Nothing!
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 9:20 PM on February 16, 2013
There is nothing sexier than the avant harness. Nothing!
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 9:20 PM on February 16, 2013
Slave Leia was ruined by Friends.
I can't be the only one who read the title?
I can't be the only one who read the title as "Genderbending, Nerdery, and Aerosmithing"?
posted by Mezentian at 9:35 PM on February 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
I can't be the only one who read the title?
I can't be the only one who read the title as "Genderbending, Nerdery, and Aerosmithing"?
posted by Mezentian at 9:35 PM on February 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
I also read "Aerosmithing" and almost didn't open the thread because of it.
posted by naoko at 9:51 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by naoko at 9:51 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Agree with The Whelk that he should have drawn more inspiration from depictions of boy-toys in sword and sandal films from Ben Hur to Caligula even to Dune, but I am impressed by his craftsmanship.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:01 PM on February 16, 2013
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:01 PM on February 16, 2013
Young man rediscovers Rule 63, thinks he invented it. Holofilm at 11.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:06 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:06 PM on February 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think he was dressed as the Tenth Doctor, not the Eleventh.
I agree that the costume wasn't as skimpy and sexualized as it could have been, but that's his first attempt (and technically/artistically a great job). He obviously had to get beyond a lot of discomfort to go even as far as he did. And I appreciated his re-think on telling people how to dress.
What are the odds that he'll go for a Slave Leo II?
posted by maudlin at 10:14 PM on February 16, 2013
I agree that the costume wasn't as skimpy and sexualized as it could have been, but that's his first attempt (and technically/artistically a great job). He obviously had to get beyond a lot of discomfort to go even as far as he did. And I appreciated his re-think on telling people how to dress.
What are the odds that he'll go for a Slave Leo II?
posted by maudlin at 10:14 PM on February 16, 2013
I am so ashamed.
Well clearly I was including the Shalka Doctor as the One True Ninth.
posted by Mezentian at 10:17 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
Holy cow he put a lot of effor in to that costume, and it sure shows. I thnk the costume is great just the way it is, with one exception. Three of the things that spell Leia for me are the arm bands, the neck chain--both of which hes got down perfectly--and the hair. I've watched a comedian come on with just the hair rolls and a simper, and the audience immediately got it. That may or may not have been what he was going for.
The best part was the mad come-hither look he's got going in the second photo. Cracked me up, and the third, of him laughing, nearly put me on the floor.
I'd love to attend a con he would be at to watch him carry this off with flare
posted by BlueHorse at 10:18 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
The best part was the mad come-hither look he's got going in the second photo. Cracked me up, and the third, of him laughing, nearly put me on the floor.
I'd love to attend a con he would be at to watch him carry this off with flare
posted by BlueHorse at 10:18 PM on February 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I like the part where it dawns on him that "there aren’t that many females in Star Wars, even fewer with iconic or even recognizable costumes if the genders were swapped." I hope he realizes that it answers the "Real Nerds Dress as Voltron" section of his first article. OK, so as a male trying to do gender-bent cosplay you have a hard time finding a female character to play that's even "recognizable"? Now imagine that you're female and trying to find a female character that's not just recognizable, but a character you admire, identify with, or just enjoy dressing up as. Maybe you'd have a hard time getting enthusiastic enough to qualify as a "real nerd."
posted by Orinda at 10:33 PM on February 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Orinda at 10:33 PM on February 16, 2013 [9 favorites]
Now imagine that you're female and trying to find a female character that's not just recognizable, but a character you admire, identify with, or just enjoy dressing up as.
I'm not into cosplay (I actually think it's a bit silly, but my opinion doesn't matter) but it seems like there is a universe of female characters out there to potentially identify with ... although it might be that that universe has a very narrow body shape and bra size.
posted by Mezentian at 10:39 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm not into cosplay (I actually think it's a bit silly, but my opinion doesn't matter) but it seems like there is a universe of female characters out there to potentially identify with ... although it might be that that universe has a very narrow body shape and bra size.
posted by Mezentian at 10:39 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
in before someone proposes "Man Mothma"
posted by mightygodking at 11:14 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by mightygodking at 11:14 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
it it seems like there is a universe of female characters out there to potentially identify with ... although it might be that that universe has a very narrow body shape and bra size.
The issue isn't just the numbers of women, it's the identificationability of them, both physically and in terms of personality. For example, if I don't think a character's funny I won't really identify with him or her. Women don't always get a chance to be funny (or at least sardonic) in a relatable way. Also, yeah, physically, women in real life often get either the "body shape" or the "bra size" but it's not so easy to get both (and it's perfectly valid to have neither) and it's VERY easy to feel like you're not wanted or represented.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:18 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
The issue isn't just the numbers of women, it's the identificationability of them, both physically and in terms of personality. For example, if I don't think a character's funny I won't really identify with him or her. Women don't always get a chance to be funny (or at least sardonic) in a relatable way. Also, yeah, physically, women in real life often get either the "body shape" or the "bra size" but it's not so easy to get both (and it's perfectly valid to have neither) and it's VERY easy to feel like you're not wanted or represented.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:18 PM on February 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
OK, so now I'm reading Slave Leia as Steve Leialoha. Not good. More coffee required.
posted by Grangousier at 3:28 AM on February 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Grangousier at 3:28 AM on February 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also read "Aerosmithing" and almost didn't opened the thread because of it.
posted by Fizz at 6:22 AM on February 17, 2013
posted by Fizz at 6:22 AM on February 17, 2013
he should have drawn more inspiration from depictions of boy-toys in sword and sandal films from Ben Hur to Caligula even to Dune
The Road Warrior
posted by adamdschneider at 8:55 AM on February 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Road Warrior
posted by adamdschneider at 8:55 AM on February 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
I was expecting something more Frank Frazetta; the large expanse of hip and the need to manage the difficulties of that is one of the things that makes the Slave Leia costume work better than a plain bikini.
posted by Mitheral at 9:20 AM on February 17, 2013
posted by Mitheral at 9:20 AM on February 17, 2013
What are the odds that he'll go for a Slave Leo II?
Alt history Anti-Monothelite cosplay would be pretty out there.
posted by zamboni at 10:13 AM on February 17, 2013
Alt history Anti-Monothelite cosplay would be pretty out there.
posted by zamboni at 10:13 AM on February 17, 2013
He does Leia right. You can tell he's not comfortable at all in his costume--and that's how Leia was as well. To be fair, it's hard to act gloomy at a con, and you won't make many friends doing it, but any Slave Leia you meet is going to act more like Bikini Barbie. Not saying that's bad, but this guy looks like an actual sex slave, and that's both disturbing, and well, arousing.
On another website, I recently drew the ire of a group of pseudo-feminists by admitting to some sexual proclivities. Some people think that fantasizing about something is to condone it, but I believe facing your fantasies head on with no denial is the best way to ensure you won't subconsciously act them out on someone unwilling. So I'll admit it frankly--if Slave Leia was not such a powerful character on her own, and if she actually wanted to dress that way, it would be less attractive. And I think that's what originally bothered him about Slave Leia costumes.
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:54 PM on February 17, 2013
On another website, I recently drew the ire of a group of pseudo-feminists by admitting to some sexual proclivities. Some people think that fantasizing about something is to condone it, but I believe facing your fantasies head on with no denial is the best way to ensure you won't subconsciously act them out on someone unwilling. So I'll admit it frankly--if Slave Leia was not such a powerful character on her own, and if she actually wanted to dress that way, it would be less attractive. And I think that's what originally bothered him about Slave Leia costumes.
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:54 PM on February 17, 2013
The kilt thing is such a huge cop-out. When I saw him from the waist up I had a glimmer of hope that someone was taking such a project seriously, but NOPE.
posted by stoneandstar at 7:11 PM on February 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by stoneandstar at 7:11 PM on February 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Nice Guy(tm) advises girls how not to get raped: geek edition.
posted by pfh at 7:35 PM on February 17, 2013
posted by pfh at 7:35 PM on February 17, 2013
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posted by maggieb at 7:32 PM on February 16, 2013