Anime Cosplay Model

Date

2015

Description

Creator of the image: Vicent-Boutique
Date of the image creation: 2015
Medium of the image: Photograph
Person depicted: Cosplay model

This photograph appeared in 2015 as part of an advertisement for a wig sold by eBay retailer Vicent-Boutique. The synthetic-hair wig, made in China from heat-resistant material, has the eBay number 131647376920, and is one of 4,369 items that Vicent-Boutique had for sale at that time. This wig could be yours for just £9.71, including standard international postage.

This is the first of four similar photographs of the wig-wearing model, which goes under the somewhat incoherent title: ‘Long Straight Synthetic Pink MIxed [sic] Harajuku Cosplay Hair Lolita Party Full Wig’. From this a number of contextualizing associations can be found: Harajuku, an area of Tokyo famous for its fashion; ‘cosplay’ (costume + play), a performative fashion typically involving dressing up as a manga, anime, film or video-game character; and ‘Lolita’, a Japanese fashion subculture, drawing inspiration from Victorian sexual aesthetics.

This photograph is taken in the ‘selfie’ style, giving the appearance of the model taking a self-portrait. Typical of this style, this selfie is taken from a high angle, which aims to exaggerate the size and expressiveness of the eyes, while simultaneously making the chin appear slender and pointed. As with most selfies, it exhibits the selfie’s trademark staged casual look.

The model’s right arm leaves the frame to apparently grip the front-facing camera on her smartphone, while the fingers of her left hand run through the long pink strands of her for-sale synthetic hair. Her eyes are very large, possibly digitally enhanced to exaggerate the selfie effect. Close inspection reveals four thick-black accentuated eyelashes on each of her lower eyelids. In this image, the Japanese anime aesthetic combines with the selfie in the service of advertising to create a performance of intimacy, carefully crafted so as to exhibit a particular brand of cutesy femininity.

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