Play's the Thing
Play’s the Thing
Yes, I have a Labubu.
What I’m actually going to do with it, I haven’t the foggiest. He might just end up a desk mate in my office, doomed to forever be pushed off by my cats in a Sisyphean loop.
His mere existence in my home is evident of a few things: 1) The heat, the job hunt and the current abysmal state of the U.S. has made me go crazy; 2) Play is essential to keeping afloat.
There have been umpteen reports on how adopting a childlike and wondrous attitude can “(increase) life satisfaction and overall well-being.” There’s an entire institution built on this concept, and as a former education editor, I value this opinion. Why do children seem so worry-free? Certainly, it’s due to the efforts of careful parents, teachers and other community members. But in the adult world of hustle culture, being on call 24/7 even in professions that don’t warrant this leash, play is frowned upon. You’re “immature” if you like Disney or collect action figures or enjoy a good swing set. That stuff’s for kids, and it’s perceived as almost creepy or pathetic if you’re over 18 and dig cartoons.
I am so grateful the mindset is changing. If it weren’t for “childish” things like anime, I don’t know how my fam and I would’ve survived the Covid lockdown. Escapism is so vital to processing trauma, and I’d much rather invest my heart in what’s going on with a teenage esper (Mob Psycho 100) than the scallywags on Love Island. Besides, anime is an artform, and it’s not solely for kids. Give Cyberpunk: Edgerunners a whirl—it’s titillating and intense.
Edgerunners and so many other anime serve as a positive influence in the cosplay community. The grit and gusto that go into everyone’s costumes—often handmade—is astonishing. The elaborate and true-to-screen designs allow the builder and the model to wear their joy on their literal sleeves. Cosplay is hard work, whether you’re adept at sewing or 3-D printing, or if you’re like me and compile outfits from thrift store finds. The journey is a job, and the reward is play. Pretending is a childhood necessity; and for all the lauding of “thinking outside the box” that goes on in business, imagination is stifled. Trends that beget profits are what matter, not what could be. Cosplay is possibility on parade.
Cosplay, whether in one’s home or in public at a comic book convention, is about honoring your ambitions. Dressing up like Captain America can show your desire to help the less fortunate. I’m a Harley Quinn girl, the Batman antihero who pivots between her desire to impress the Joker and her former gig as an intelligent psychologist. I fancy myself a smart, funny, ingenious chameleon that can apply that vibe to leisure and to work. She’s got a tenacity that I admire.
Another venue of play that I highly recommend is video games. Yeah, yeah, they rot your brain and turn you violent. Not necessarily true. In fact, gaming can lead to increased brain activity, reflexes and even sociability. For me, they help channel my frustration and pain into beautiful fiction. I’d much rather yell at my TV screen over an insurmountable fantasy boss than yell in a public square at all the injustice in our world. Lately I’ve revisited Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and reveled in its messages of hope and alliance. (Though, I swear, Cal Kestis falls off cliffs more easily than a lemming.) On the lighter side, at a recent shindig, the host treated us guests to hilarious rounds of Jackbox.tv. The kooky collection of fill-in-the-blank minigames is great at doling out smiles and teaching players about one another. It also ushered in some interesting self-discovery: that in apocalyptic times, I’d best be employed as a laundry maid. Who knew?
And who knows what creativity can emerge when one allows themself the chance to play? I’m all for it.