We're also talking (for the most part) American F&SF costumers, not American cosplayers. If they're baffled about our sorts of presentations, I would love to see their reaction to cosplayers who think they're doing things the Japanese way.

"I was not even considered worth going up on stage because I didn't have a skit that either involved dance or lesbians."

XD Har!! This makes me alternately laugh and weep.

We are aware of this semantic difficulty. Andy's written about it, in fact.

Unfortunately, it is a term well-established in fannish tradition.

The term "masquerade" has been around since the dawn of fandom. The earliest convention masquerades (Worldcon 1940 is the first I've seen record of) were costume dances, although they did feature awards for "best costume" and such. The modern convention masquerade is 60 years of evolution from that beginning. I'd have to talk to Karen Anderson, but I believe that the presentation-style masquerade had already come about in the late 50's.

I just find it hysterical in the context of western cosplayers for whom it's all about the skit, sometimes to the degree that caring too much about the quality of your costume and your work is "elitist."

I find the idea of this kinda cool. I am a serious newbie to costuming, but went to the last 2 costume cons. My favorite part is being able to take pictures, close up, of the costumes, and admire everyone's amazing and fabulous work. I have learned so much about sewing, some of it just from seeing how 'experts' make some of these fabulous clothes.

Wrong way around... it's the American cosplayers who complain that Harry Potter isn't cosplay. I've never heard a Japanese cosplayer complain about Harry Potter.