What Is a "Good" Halloween Costume?

[Chase]

Holidays are nothing without controversy - and to stir the cauldron on Fright Night - I bring you Hunter's hopefully annual "Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays" thread.

It doesn't have candy, but it does have some thought provoking opinions.

Maybe.

Before you keep reading - do know that - as is the case with many a thread I write I genuinely shoot straight when it comes to how I view things. There is no intent to kill however. If you find yourself a tad pricked by my sharpness - do understand that I am about as cuddly as a porcupine. It's not like I'm out trying to stick you on purpose.

It's the internet, and I'm allowed to have an opinion. The good news is, so are you. I welcome it here.

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The question this grouchy gremlin posits this year is this - "What costumes are GOOD". It's probably not all that original, but - unlike Valentine's Day where I just wish the day didn't exist at all, Halloween isn't terrible when it's done well. With clever thinking and respectable execution.

Here's the brownie point section (or costumes I think are very reasonable.)

Pop Culture Copies

The Deadpools. The Donald Trumps and Hillary Clintons. Sports Figures. Anime and Video Game characters. Even those questionable masses of women who think they can pull off Suicide Squad's Harley Quinn - and Horror figureheads Scream, Micheal Myers, Jason Vorhees. These are all fine by me.

Regardless of the way it's presented. When I get to the "roast" section of toast-or-roast here, you'll see my reasoning for shaking my head at costumes be along the lines of too disturbed, too soon, too brainless, or too risque.

Let's use Risque as an example, bringing back Harley Quinn. Harley Quinn may be someone who wears short shorts and actually changes in her latest iteration of film - but the reasoning behind people being Harley Quinn isn't questionable. Harley is a major, relevant pop figure. Even if Harley's presentation is not only suggestive, but also disturbing (i,e Undead Harley Quinn) - it's still riffing off of a popular figure. I may personally shake my head, but I understand the intent. The intent matters behind the costume more than anything else. If you're just wanting to dress up and it's pretty evident that your doing so "because it's Halloween"...

We got no beef.

the Internet Champions

Essentially, an internet champion "wins the internet". Some of you fools refer to them as "Memers" - and while this is a declining medium for me, there was a time when the best of the internet made me laugh or appreciate something a whole lot. There -is- some discretion, but there are some good things out there the Web to bring to the neigborhood along with your candy carrying devices. Like Success Kid. Or your RuneScape avatar. Emoticons. Your League Champion of choice. Your best interpretation of Dan (that's a REAL champion right there.)

The things I can't like under this category however - Harambe (qualifies under "too soon" and "too brainless" for being a meme that is so toxic it gives everyone who appreciates it cancer.) ...and that's all I can think of right now. People using costumes to make political points - even in meme form - also qualify here.

the Random Rangers

Those people who walk around in a cardboard box with a duct tape "X" on the front to say they were "an Xbox" for Halloween. The modern Bedsheet Ghost. The Ketchup Bottles. The Cow costumes. The DIY projects.

Cheers, my friends.

...and then there are the four horsemen of Halloween faux pas.

too Disturbed.

If you can't make a distinct reference as to why you're running around with your head ACTUALLY nearly clean off, or why you're in a body suit that has a re-copied image of an agape mouth, or if you just have blood for no reason whatsoever other than to scare others. Get off my lawn.

If you can, it's one thing - but I don't appreciate people trying to make me uncomfortable first and foremost. I didn't have to sign a waiver like you do at haunted houses, so be smart out there folks.

too Soon.

I wanna be Philando Castile for Halloween - someone who doesn't understand why that's a terrible idea. Especially if they are white and are reaching for blackface.

too Brainless.

Brainlessness is pretty subjective. Down here, it's probably okay to be a confederate soldier more than it is up north. Down here, things like "Yeah, most of our ancestors fought on the Confederate side" mean more than they do in say, New York.

That being said, don't go into a black neighborhood dressed like a KKK member. Don't be a gorilla dragging a child down the street. Don't be stupid. That's all.

too Risque.

this is probably going to be the most controversial of them all, because it deals with both the observer and the person being observed.

To clarify, no matter how a woman dresses, it's not okay for a man to gawk and claim the woman was asking for it. People -are- indeed able to resist.

However, there are costumes out there - specifically found in stores like Spirit Halloween - that run on the desire for women to use Halloween to "be sexy" before anything else in terms of viability. Remember when I said Harley Quinn was reasonable?

"Naughty Nurse" or "Sexy Soldier" isn't nearly passable. That's not intended to kinkshame those who are into that sort of thing (That would be hypocritical if I thought about it long enough.) - but it's intended to be a point in terms of self-respect. Humans are not just things to look at, therefore, you should probably pick your costume along that true statement as opposed to "appearing" to be hypocritical when you later deflect a man's accusation that you were asking to get looked at like an object.

That's just common sense.

[Combat]

I'd say I'd agree with your list, though I would add that if you're going to be a pop culture icon, you need to do it well. Putting on clothes that 'might' be something the character you're going as would wear does not immediately mean you're that character. For example, I went as Bane from Batman a few years ago, and wore a black trench coat. While Bane doesn't generally wear something like that, my mask and other accessories soldered the burden, making it more recognizable. I would call something like this passable.

What you should do, is be one of those people who put hours and hours of work into their costume. I've seen some realistic Dragon Slayer Ornstein costumes before. This is a pop culture copy who just won the internet.

In short: If your going as someone people would recognize, make sure you actually look like it.

[HughJ]

But can I be an Indian Chief

[Ironbound]

If you mean a Native American, wynaut just go as Braviary, staryu'll be absol-utely donphantastic. Pokémon costumes can never be too gastly if they're well exeggcuted.

EDIT: perhaps I did try a bit too hard to cram as many puns as possible into two sentences. Rip.

[Chase]

You -can- be an Indian Chief.

You -can't- be an Indian Chief carrying a sign related to the Dakota Access Pipeline battle that is going on with the Sioux tribe. That would qualify as "too soon" and wouldn't necessarily be in the spirit of the holiday.

I mean, you could if you want to, but you're not really celebrating anything -or- you're making a mockery by using a culture that is under duress by our country as a Halloween costume idea.

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I would agree that execution for clarity is important, but sometimes the impressive work comes from using what you have at home and making it somewhat fit what you're trying to go for.

For example, I heard about someone who wanted to be Debbie Thornberry from the Wild Thornberrys. She had regular clothing -and- the natural appearance to pull it off with minimal work. From what I saw, the comparison was quite good.

I think icons like Bane are a bit too obvious - making them hard to mess up even with personal variations (such as a trench coat.) Something like Debbie Thornberry though (a very OLD iconic person not very many people would put a finger on at first) would indeed need to be spot on.

I guess I half agree with you. If you're going for an easy-to-see costume, the effort can afford to be lessened for the point to get across. Something not on the tip of everyone's tongue would need to be done better in order to increase everyone's ability to pick up the idea.

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C'mon Viri, that's just trying too hard, pal.

[Neo]

If you mean a Native American, wynaut just go as Braviary, staryu'll be absol-utely donphantastic. Pokémon costumes can never be too gastly if they're well exeggcuted.

EDIT: perhaps I did try a bit too hard to cram as many puns as possible into two sentences. Rip.

Kill me.

And nah a dressing up as another culture is just poor taste all around. People ain't costumes, and they and their rich histories shouldn't be reduced to that.

[HughJ]

I'm not wearing the people though I'm wearing their costumes

[Neo]

No, you're reducing a people's culture down to a few tropes and wearing it out for the night without taking into account the significance their cultural garb has. Nobody wants to see someone dressed up as a caricature of their people.

[Eviora]

This year on Halloween I dressed up as a mummy and laid in bed all day. I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't nearly as fun as the times I went as a princess (i.e. myself) and stayed in my tower (i.e. my home) all day watching Halloween videos.

But at least those videos are still waiting for me! Halloween is probably my favorite holiday 'cause I love scary stuff, and everyone suddenly decides it's their job to make scary content!

[Ice Cream Sand Witch]

I think an ice cream sand witch would be a cool idea for a costume.

[Combat]

I'm not wearing the people though I'm wearing their costumes

I feel like Native Americans are "off limits" in most polite culture simply because of hard hard they have been hit over the years. The Washington Redskins is a good example of how touchy or society is. To point it out though, a costume is part of their previous and current culture. The world has been more progressive these days (Bravely Second changing the costume for one of the characters) but as of now, I would not say that that is a good, or appropriate costume.

Of course, I took an ethnic literature class last year, so these ideas were hammered into my head. Just try not to insult anyone.

[Alistair]

I think an ice cream sand witch would be a cool idea for a costume.

icy what you did there

[HughJ]

No, you're reducing a people's culture down to a few tropes and wearing it out for the night without taking into account the significance their cultural garb has. Nobody wants to see someone dressed up as a caricature of their people.

Isn't the whole point of a halloween costume to dress up as something recognizable and demonstrate craftsmanship

I'm not burning the headdress I'm just wearing it

Besides if I wore a traditional English knight's outfit that's just soliciting recognition; I'm not trying to say jack about medieval England or swordsmanship

[Neo]

Isn't the whole point of a halloween costume to dress up as something recognizable and demonstrate craftsmanship

I'm not burning the headdress I'm just wearing it

Besides if I wore a traditional English knight's outfit that's just soliciting recognition; I'm not trying to say jack about medieval England or swordsmanship

False equivalency, fam.

without taking into account the significance their cultural garb has

Oddly enough a Knight's armor doesn't have heavy cultural significance to the English. (Especially because it was used all over Europe). Native American headdresses are incredibly significant and must be earned before one can wear them.

Like, have fun on Halloween, by all means. But respect other groups of people while doing so. Wearing a costume that bears resemblance to stereotypes of them/their cultural clothing isn't being respectful.

[HughJ]

That's kind of a different argument though

Now you're saying I shouldn't wear the headress because of the amount of effort and status that comes with it? Yet people dress up as doctors or other professions which require much training and consequent respect within a culture

And again, I'm wearing the costume respectfully. I'm not trying to imitate Navajo speech or endorse stereotypes, I'm dressing up in the historic garb of the people

I couldn't exactly wear a common tunic or fur outfit for Halloween because it wouldn't be recognized - the headdress on the other hand is widely recognized. It might be disrespectful if I said I was "an Indian", but if I said I was a "Native American Chief", wouldn't that be accurate enough to dispel stereotypes?

[Combat]

Now you're saying I shouldn't wear the headress because of the amount of effort and status that comes with it? Yet people dress up as doctors or other professions which require much training and consequent respect within a culture

I think you might be missing the point here, this isn't about effort or skill that goes into the profession, this is about the group you want to represent. The Native American people were slaughtered, discriminated against, and were forced to convert. A doctor is just an occupation. While you could say that being a chief is an occupation, it goes deeper than that. Being a chief is almost like being a religious leader, someone who ushers in order for their people. I won't pretend to understand how their culture works, because I'm of white European decent, but frankly, its just insensitive. Its kind of like the white child who recently dressed up as Martin Luther King Jr and wore black make up. Despite not meaning any harm, the child was insulting a people because of his appearance.

Sorry if I'm getting a little salty here, but I feel like this isn't discussed enough.

[HughJ]

I mean the whole reason I brought this up was for discussion, I didn't wear anything for Halloween

The fact that you're of white European descent has nothing to do with this, but thanks for sharing

You also can't really reduce your entire point to "it's just insensitive" because that's kind of what we're debating

As for the child who wore black makeup, I'd say that was in bad taste because blackface has historically been linked to a mockery and oppression of the black American population

But I'm not wearing anything linked to the oppression of the Native American peoples with my headdress, I'm just wearing what they wore so that I can be identified and potentially complimented on my craftsmanship

[YinYang9705]

I mean, it depends on the kind of makeup.

Was it traditional blackface, with the ultra dark makeup and exaggerated lips? or was it a simple brownish type of makeup that makes you look like actual person of African Descent?

[HughJ]

I mean, it depends on the kind of makeup.

Was it traditional blackface, with the ultra dark makeup and exaggerated lips? or was it a simple brownish type of makeup that makes you look like actual person of African Descent?

That's pretty sus (this coming from the guy in the headdress)

If you've applied a substance to your body (brown, black, whatever) for the purposes of making your skin darker and forming a 'costume' of a black person I'm pretty sure that's still blackface

Yeah

Not a good plan because the idea behind the practice is still riddled with racist sentiment

[YinYang9705]

I mean, one is a caricature, the other is harmless. or look at it this way, there is a difference between the former, using stereotypes

as humor, and the latter, actually looking like a black person.

[Neo]

But I'm not wearing anything linked to the oppression of the Native American peoples with my headdress, I'm just wearing what they wore so that I can be identified and potentially complimented on my craftsmanship

Wear something that doesn't have heavy cultural significance to a group of people that've had to endure genocide and having their culture mocked and erased. The part you're failing to see is that it has little to do with your intentions behind wearing it, and everything to do with the historical and social aspects of it all.

I mean, it depends on the kind of makeup.

Was it traditional blackface, with the ultra dark makeup and exaggerated lips? or was it a simple brownish type of makeup that makes you look like actual person of African Descent?

Darkening your skin in any aspect is poor taste and liable to get you socked the fuck out.

I mean, one is a caricature, the other is harmless. or look at it this way, there is a difference between the former, using stereotypes

as humor, and the latter, actually looking like a black person.

Nah, man. My skin ain't an accessory for you to wear. I gotta deal with all the systemic and social issues that stem from my blackness. Someone wearing blackface doesn't. You don't get to put on my skin on for fun.

[HughJ]

Wear something that doesn't have heavy cultural significance to a group of people that've had to endure genocide and having their culture mocked and erased. The part you're failing to see is that it has little to do with your intentions behind wearing it, and everything to do with the historical and social aspects of it all.

Don't you think considering the entire history of the people group whose garb you've emulated and worn as a costume is reading too deep into a holiday activity whose main goal is to gain shallow recognition and appreciation for said costume

[Neo]

Don't you think considering the entire history of the people group whose garb you've emulated and worn as a costume is reading too deep into a holiday activity whose main goal is to gain shallow recognition and appreciation for said costume

Not at all. Being aware of your actions in relation to other people isn't terribly difficult.

[HughJ]

Not at all. Being aware of your actions in relation to other people isn't terribly difficult.

There's a difference between being conscious of your actions' impacts and reading too deep into them.

This is a (traditionally/originally children's) activity revolving around a demonstration of imitative talent. Dressing up a figure of any culture shouldn't be disrespectful to that culture if you properly identify what occupation, historic figure, or mythological/fictional character from that culture you are dressing up as. The harm comes from the perpetuation of stereotypes/generalizations of that culture - so if your costume doesn't accurately reflect who or what it's based on, then it is literally a bad costume.

If we come to attribute such fundamental aspects of a culture as the official garb of its leaders to genocide or mockery, even when they are presented in a perfectly respectful manner, then isn't that what's disrespectful to the culture?

[Tacos]

When your culture has essentially been attacked in the past and has experienced incredible discrimination and in quite a few cases, genocide, I don't think it's too strange a concept to wish that what's left of the culture is treated significantly. There's a difference between a worshipping Jewish man with his hair styled in payot and a person running around with curls of wig hair taped to a stereotypical hat begging for candy on every doorstep. To ask that these persecuted cultures be treated with respect by not using their cultural garments and styles for a silly costume doesn't seem like too much of a demand.