9 minute read
Meant for This
Sharon Berger - Librarian, Cosplayer, Inspiration, Woman of Power
BY CHARMAINE LIM
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As children, we might enjoy wearing Halloween costumes or playing pretend in our parents' work clothes. Even now, dressing up is a novelty that most of us enjoy. But for a few people, it goes far beyond.
Sharon Berger, former serials technician at Murray Library, is one of those people.
Origin Story
Before stepping into her costumed career, Berger graduated college with an art degree. Her college friends introduced her to the world of comics, where she fell in love with serialized storytelling. Though she loved the world of comics, it wasn’t until she and her husband Dan met a cosplayer at a convention that she thought about cosplaying.
In 2012, Berger debuted a punk rock spin on the White Rabbit. From there, her love of creating and wearing costumes grew into a second career that she’s built through passion, hard work and a love of the community. Diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) in the same year, Berger used cosplaying to rediscover herself.
“It was a lot to process,” Berger said. “It affects my energy levels, my body, my weight. I’m now at a place where I’m comfortable saying that I’m a bearded lady. But at the time, it was a little bit embarrassing. I didn’t really recognize myself in the mirror.”
Her first version of Captain America is what Berger truly considers her first hardcore cosplay. The first time she assembled her cosplay of a pin-up Captain America, she didn’t see her insecurities or anger about her PCOS. She saw a strong, confident superhero.
“That really helped set me on a path to reclaim my body confidence and artistic confidence,” Berger said. “From that day forth, I realized that this was a community and art form that I absolutely want to dive head first into and be a part of.”
Sharon in full Captain America cosplay
Photography by Adrian Gibbs
Empowerment
As a member of the Central Pennsylvania Heroes Coalition, a non-profit cosplay group, Berger speaks at hospitals and events about what it truly means to be a superhero.
“Even though [body positivity] is a conversation we’re having now, we have a problem in this society with idealism of certain body types and not embracing the fact that we come in all different shapes and sizes,” Berger said.
Her outspokenness about her struggles with mental and physical health have given her numerous opportunities to connect with other cosplayers and comic lovers within the community.
At a convention where she was a guest speaker, Berger was approached by a girl in cosplay. The girl had attended her panel in the previous year and had been afraid of cosplay because she was a plus-sized woman. But Berger’s encouragement pushed her to design her first cosplay — Melisandre.
“I don’t remember the girl’s name, but I remember her joy at that moment,” Berger said. “I was so happy to have been a part of her journey. I love those moments.”
In the age of social media, it’s getting harder and harder to reconcile the idea of a perfect image with what we see in the mirror every day.
“You have to bear in mind that everything you see is curated,” Berger said. “Don’t hold yourself up to some standard that doesn’t exist. If I held myself to the standard of everyone’s professional cosplay photos, I would never think of myself as valid or worthy.”
This empowerment is something she wants to share with younger generations.
“Literally in our pockets, we have access to what can be idealized images of men and women,” Berger said. “It can feel like an internal pressure to look a certain way. I’m always transparent when I talk at schools and conventions that I have professional makeup and photography of me in cosplay on my feed. That image that you see? That’s three months of making a costume, three hours of makeup, a photographer who is a wizard with lighting, and post-edits. That’s okay, but me covered in foam dust with no filter at 2 a.m. is also me.”
2D patterns that will guide the construction of an elbow guard. Flat patterns aid in the transition between working two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally.
Photography by Amelia Markey
Art Expression
Though she had been attending conventions, the lack of a creative outlet in her life had taken a toll on her mental and emotional health. It wasn’t until she began working on her White Rabbit costume that she realized how much she needed to have that outlet.
“It was really cathartic,” Berger said. “It kind of re-taught me what it felt like to be a creative person, to be an artist. It has opened a door to an art form I never knew I could enjoy. I’ve learned so many things — how to sew, sculpt, resin cast and apply makeup effects. I think I’ve kept up with it because it challenges me as an artist.”
Adjustable wrist gauntlets Sharon makes that can be used for many different cosplays - a Merida or pirate cosplay, for example.
Photography by Amelia Markey
For most costumes, it takes her a month and a half from start to finish. In rare cases, like her She-Ra costume, it can take as few as 12 days.
To keep her work from taking over the house, Berger and her husband converted the garage into a workshop. It’s not just a workspace; it’s her bat-cave.
“95 percent of cosplay is problem-solving,” Berger said. “It’s ‘How do I, a 3-D human, recreate something that was drawn in 2-D?’ or ‘How do I get this costume piece to work?’ I feel like with cosplay, you are the three dimensional canvas. It’s like a puzzle and I love that. It’s fulfilled me creatively and professionally and I love the community.”
Sharon often starts with more intuitive materials, like plastic trash bags, before moving on to foam.
Photography by Amelia Markey
Comic Community
One of Berger’s greatest inspirations is Steve Rogers. Her love stems from his natural instinct to stand up for the “little guy,” even before he became a superhero.
“He was a weird kid from Brooklyn who then became a superhero,” Berger said. “That resonates with me because I think it relates to my journey. Here I am now, getting incredible opportunities to cosplay professionally. But when I first started, I didn’t know what I was doing and I was this weird art kid trying to better myself and fight my own demons.”
The responses she’s received from being open about her mental and physical health struggles have empowered and encouraged her to embrace the vulnerability.
“I have found that there are so many in this community who, like me, have used cosplay to overcome self-esteem issues,” Berger said. “Maybe they never saw themselves as strong or beautiful or handsome, but through this lens of becoming a character they admire, that’s where they shine in their confidence.”
The community of comic lovers and cosplayers has become a safe space for many to express their love of geek culture and express themselves and their interpretations of a shared art. Berger also shared this love when she was the serials technician. Her position allowed her to recommend comics and graphic novels to Sarah Myers, the Collection Developments Coordinator at the library.
“We’ve been trying to curate more themes that honor the readership on campus,” Berger said. “Even slowly getting faculty to incorporate it into their curriculum. If you read something like The Walking Dead, you’ll realize that it’s talking about morality, life, death, society, violence, the patriarchy and even what it means if you’re a person of faith in a world of zombies.”
Though she no longer works at Messiah, her love of comics brought a new perspective for readers and librarians on campus. The contributions she made were a reflection not only on her love of comics, but also her personal faith.
“One can argue that there’s faith commentary in a lot of [the comics and graphic novels] we have,” Berger said. It’s no wonder that she draws most of her inspiration from the characters that first appeared on the pages of a comic book. In the same way she advocates for comics and graphic novels to be part of wider literature, she does the same for cosplaying to have a place in the art world.
“I think it’s valid because it’s in the public eye as much or as little as you want it to be,” Berger said. “I think cosplay is the most accessible format of performance art available today.”
A section of the pegboard from Sharon's garage. "I've had hardcore [...] makers come in and be like 'This is an A+ setup, lady!'" she says.
Photography by Amelia Markey
The Bucky to her Rogers
Previously, her part time library job gave her the flexibility to spend time at home working on her costumes. It also allowed her to be intentional about spending time with her husband.
Berger’s husband is her biggest supporter. He reminds her to eat and stay hydrated during long nights of costume-making, helps her fit props and costumes in the car for conventions, and works the booths. Though he loves the community too, he rarely cosplays.
He has only made two exceptions. First as the King of Hearts, and years later as a fusion of Hades and Batman for a group cosplay that Berger created.
“I could not do this without him,” Berger said. “I can’t stress that enough. I know other people who do this and they don’t have as good of a support system. It’s a lot of work even with a support system.”
One late night, while she was making a costume in the garage, Berger’s husband told her, “This is what you’re supposed to do.”
Live on Screen
That hard work paid off when Berger was hired by Marvel as part of the “Marvel: Becoming YouTube” series. Creating a screen-accurate version of Captain America pushed her skills as an artist and also increased her admiration for cosplayers who choose to do screen-accurate designs.
“I think being invited to the Avengers: Endgame premiere with the purple carpet and getting to meet Brie Larsen while I’m wearing my Captain Marvel cosplay and having that moment to interact with her is something that will stick with me forever,” Berger said. “There were only so many cosplayers who could be at the event and it was wild. I never thought in a million years that I would be asked to be a part of a Marvel project. It’s surreal.”
A model Sharon made of a "bowtruckle" from the Harry Potter world and sells at conventions. "I can't make them fast enough!" she says.
Photography by Amelia Markey
Future
Though nothing is likely to beat being at the Endgame premiere, it doesn’t stop Berger from bringing her career high and further, though not quite faster.
“I think for this year, I’ll pick two or three cosplays and just go for it,” Berger said. “I used to put all this pressure on myself to do a lot of cosplays in a year, but I’ve learned that I much prefer to do bigger, more elaborate cosplays and just pour my time into the details. Then I feel happy with them and not burnt out or rushed.”
Outside of her work, Berger continues encouraging people to pick up comics and try their hand at cosplaying. No matter the reasons, the empowerment achievable from putting on a costume and playing a part is something Berger thinks everyone should experience.
“You are enough. It has taken me a very long time to reach a place where I feel like I’m enough, and that is fine. I don’t need anyone else’s approval but mine.”
Follow Sharon:
@Sharonrosecosplay
www.sharonrosecosplay.com
Don't forget to cover your ears! A screaming "mandrake" Sharon brought to life from Harry Potter. Each one has a slightly different personality.
Photography by Amelia Markey
