Impact of COVID-19 on Communication Patterns of Czech and Slovak Cosplayers

Authors

  • Anna Paulína Jelínková University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Author
  • Andrej Trnka University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34135/communicationtoday.2023.Vol.14.No.1.11

Keywords:

cosplay, COVID-19, fan convention, fan studies, participatory culture

Abstract

Cosplay is a distinctive hobby of fans of popular culture texts such as comics, manga, anime, digital games and films. Members of the cosplay community are active participants affiliated with various fandoms and communities who produce their own costumes, props and make-ups. An important part of those specific fan and community groups are fan conventions and festivals, which have been cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This fact is reflected significantly in usual behaviour, community life and participation of cosplayers. The main goal of this study is to identify the main changes and impact of the pandemic on Czech and Slovak cosplayers’ fan and community behaviour and communication habits. This study uses qualitative research strategy, specifically a series of in-depth interviews. The research unit consists of Slovak and Czech cosplayers who have been involved in this activity for at least eight years and are active members and participants in cosplay communities and fan conventions.

Author Biographies

  • Anna Paulína Jelínková, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

    Anna Paulína Jelínková is a PhD. candidate affiliated with the Faculty of Mass Media Communication of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. She focuses on subcultures, fan studies and participatory culture. In her dissertation she deals with an in-depth study of the cosplay phenomenon in the European-Asian context. She teaches subjects focused on academic writing, the correct use of research methods and fan studies and knowledge about participatory culture.

  • Andrej Trnka, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

    Andrej Trnka is Associate Professor affiliated with the Faculty of Mass Media Communication of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. He is engaged in statistical data processing, data mining, data mining applications in marketing and behavioural research on shoppers in the online environment. In the field of science, he focuses on the Six Sigma methodology and the application of data mining to this methodology.

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Published

2023-04-23

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2023): Communication Today 1/2023

Section

Research studies

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Communication Today

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Jelínková, A. P., & Trnka, A. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 on Communication Patterns of Czech and Slovak Cosplayers. Communication Today, 14(1), 174-191. https://doi.org/10.34135/communicationtoday.2023.Vol.14.No.1.11