DE RE AD ABSURDUM: THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN IDENTITY IN THE PHENOMENON OF COSPLAY (ONTOANTHROPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS)

Abstract

The object of the article is a phenomenon of cosplay and the subject is the problem of a cosplayer’s identity. The problem of identity is considered from the viewpoint of anthropological crisis. The author points out the causes of occurance and popularity of cosplay within up-to-date media culture. The author makes a conclusion that putting on a “carnival” mask a cosplayer may lose his selfhood splitting into uncountable multitude and at the same time find himself seeing himself in the Other.