What MIT Students Like: Cosplay, Fandoms, and Media Favorites

Just as Anime Boston is filing the streets with cosplaying fans this weekend, The Tech has published an eight-page special section on what MIT students like to do for fun. An undergraduate survey revealed fandom pursuits, cosplay costuming tips, plus literature, film, and TV favorites. Download a PDF for statistics and visuals or enjoy a few highlights:

The Iron Man suit was created by Brian Chan ’02, an instructor at the MIT hobby shop. Photo: The Tech

Time to Pretend

Editor Jessica Pourian reports that 30% of surveyed students say they have dressed up as a character, for example as Harry Potter or Dr. Who. While many may casually throw a Gryffindor scarf over their shoulders, others plunge deep into costume play or cosplay. Constructing great costumes can be timeconsuming, so some students and parents are concerned cosplay could interfere with classwork. One student said her parents called it a "time sink" but begged for photos afterwards. Read the article to learn how students pick characters and construct costumes.

Faculty Interviews

Find out what Robert Langer and other professors like to watch on TV. Or find out how Flourish M. Klink, a lecturer in MIT’s Comparative Media Studies program, has built a life around fandoms.

Fandom by the Numbers (see the PDF):

• Top rated among 30 TV/film titles: Harry Potter, The Avengers, Lord of the Rings, and Batman

• Hogwarts home of choice: Ravenclaw is most popular with 45%

• Favorite original pokemon character: Charizard

• Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Overall, Star Wars triumphed (with 3.76 over 3.47 on a five-point scale) but Trekkies prevailed in certain living groups and one course.