Online and Offline Experiences of Hong Kong Cosplayers: Personal Growth and Identity Development

Overview

Cosplay has become increasingly popular in Hong Kong. The emerging cosplay subculture has become ubiquitous. However, the underlying understanding of cosplay is scarce. The cosplay culture has been getting increasingly well-known and popular during the past twenty years when information technology has broadened communication and enhanced globalisation in which adolescents usually spend considerable time to develop their identities and relationships on the Internet. The Internet provides them with opportunities to search, explore, act, define, and develop aspects and constructs of their identity. The context of the Internet, for example, social networking sites, is especially a new and rich context for adolescent cosplayers to explore their identities and engage in relationships. Eleven participants were purposefully chosen. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. A pilot interview was conducted. Data were analysed while adopting Thomas’ (2006) inductive approach in the phenomenological data analysis method.