PERSEPSI PENONTON TERHADAP COSPLAYER PADA EVENT COSPLAY DI KOTA KENDARI - Amalia, Rizky Nur; Suyuti, Nasruddin; Jalil, Abdul (Jurnal Budaya Etnika, 2025)
Abstrak: Di era globalisasi dan kemajuan teknologi, budaya populer Jepang seperti anime, manga, dan cosplay dengan cepat menyebar ke berbagai negara, termasuk Indonesia. Hal ini memicu tumbuhnya komunitas penggemar di Kota Kendari yang aktif menggelar event cosplay sejak 2012. Cosplay menjadi media ekspresi diri, kreativitas, dan identitas sosial, namun memunculkan beragam persepsi di masyarakat, dari yang menganggapnya seni hingga yang melihatnya aneh. Setelah pandemi, aktivitas cosplay kembali marak dan menarik perhatian publik. Oleh karena itu, penting untuk mengkaji persepsi penonton terhadap cosplayer serta faktor yang memengaruhinya, mengingat hal ini dapat memengaruhi penerimaan subkultur tersebut di masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan mendeskripsikan persepsi penonton terhadap cosplayer pada event cosplay di Kota Kendari serta faktor-faktor yang memengaruhinya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif etnografi dengan teknik observasi partisipatif dan wawancara mendalam terhadap delapan informan yang terdiri dari anggota komunitas cosplay, penonton, dan panitia event. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan teori Interaksionisme Simbolik oleh George Herbert Mead (1934) melalui tahap kategorisasi fenomena, pelabelan kategori, hingga penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya pergeseran persepsi masyarakat dari yang awalnya menganggap cosplay aneh menjadi lebih positif seiring meningkatnya intensitas event cosplay dan interaksi langsung antara cosplayer dan penonton. Kini cosplay dipandang tidak hanya sebagai hiburan, tetapi juga sebagai seni, kreativitas, dan ekspresi identitas yang diterima dalam masyarakat Kota Kendari. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa cosplay di Kota Kendari kini semakin diterima sebagai bagian dari seni, kreativitas, dan ekspresi identitas, seiring meningkatnya pemahaman dan interaksi masyarakat dengan para cosplayer. Oleh karena itu, disarankan agar event cosplay terus difasilitasi dan melibatkan berbagai elemen masyarakat guna memperkuat penerimaan sosial, sekaligus mengedukasi publik tentang nilai positif di balik budaya populer ini. Kata kunci: cosplay, persepsi penonton, budaya popular, anime, manga Abstract: In the era of globalization and technological advancement, Japanese popular culture such as anime, manga, and cosplay has quickly spread to various countries, including Indonesia. This has sparked the growth of a fan community in Kendari City, which has been actively holding cosplay events since 2012. Cosplay has become a medium for self-expression, creativity, and social identity, but it has also given rise to various perceptions in society, from those who consider it art to those who see it as strange. Following the pandemic, cosplay activities have resurfaced and gained public attention. Therefore, it is important to examine audience perceptions of cosplayers and the factors influencing them, as this can impact the acceptance of this subculture in society. This study aims to identify and describe audience perceptions of cosplayers at cosplay events in Kendari City, as well as the factors influencing these perceptions. This study employs a qualitative ethnographic method using participatory observation and in-depth interviews with eight informants consisting of cosplay community members, spectators, and event organizers. Data were analyzed using George Herbert Mead's (1934) Symbolic Interactionism theory through the stages of phenomenon categorization, category labeling, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study indicate a shift in public perception from initially viewing cosplay as strange to a more positive outlook as the intensity of cosplay events increases and direct interaction between cosplayers and spectators grows. Today, cosplay is not only seen as entertainment but also as art, creativity, and a form of identity expression accepted within the community of Kendari City. Based on this, it can be concluded that cosplay in Kendari City is increasingly accepted as part of art, creativity, and identity expression, alongside growing public understanding and interaction with cosplayers. Therefore, it is recommended that cosplay events continue to be facilitated and involve various community elements to strengthen social acceptance while educating the public about the positive values behind this popular culture. Keywords: cosplay, audience perception, popular culture, anime, manga