In this episode of Lost in Fandom, we sit down with Dominican-American cosplayer Arly Langomas (she/they) to discuss how they creatively integrate their cultural heritage into their cosplay. Arly shares their journey into the world of cosplay, how they’ve navigated the challenges of underrepresentation in media, and why being a visible Latinx cosplayer is more crucial than ever. We also explore the broader impact of representation in media, discussing recent studies highlighting the ongoing gap between Latinx population numbers and their visibility in TV and film. Join us as we delve into the intersection of culture, identity, and fandom and discover how Arly is making their mark in the cosplay community.

The disheartening experience of vendors and attendees at the poorly executed Animation Fest, an anime and body art convention in Los Angeles. It highlights the promises of high attendance and vibrant activity that fell dramatically short, leaving booths empty and expectations needing to be met. Through interviews with disillusioned vendors like Clover and insights from industry experts, the piece explores the ramifications of inadequate planning, insufficient advertising, and lackluster security. It offers a cautionary tale for future events, emphasizing the necessity of thorough organization and genuine community engagement to prevent such disappointing outcomes at inaugural conventions.

In this short, we focus on Katie Aguilar. For more of the podcast, check out the Full Episode.