Bad Guys Doing Good: The 501st Legion's Impact

Delve into the intriguing world of the 501st Legion, a Star Wars cosplay group known for their charity work and volunteerism. Formed in 1997, they boast a military-like hierarchy and international presence. Discover their sites of practice, theoretical relevance, and dedication to promoting interest in Star Wars through quality costumes and community contributions.

• Bad Guys Doing Good
• 501st Legion
• Star Wars
• Cosplay
• Charity

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Presentation Transcript

1. A preliminary analysis of bad guys doing good.

2. Overview Background Sites of practice Examples of learning Theoretical relevance

3. Background Star Wars cosplay group, formed in 1997 International organization Military-like hierarchy Units, garrisons, squads, outposts, detachments (theme-based groups) Each member has a serial-number designation Called upon by Lucasfilm; respected as best amateur cosplayers for Imperial characters. To recognize the dedication and contributions of the 501st Legion, Lucasfilm has graced us by incorporating the name "501st Legion" into their official material including such milestones as Timothy Zahn's novels Survivor's Quest and Fool's Bargain, the Episode III Visual Dictionary, LucasArts' Star Wars Battlefront II video game, numerous toys, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series and more. In contact with Steve Sansweet (professional collector and fan-turned- expert manager of lore and communities for Star Wars).

4. "...The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work..."

5. Sites of practice Website Social media Podcast Forums In-person events

6. Website News feed: charity work, trooper of the month awards, memorial posts, celebrity inductions Values: the mission, honoring members, status of the organization Featured member in cosplay (top-right sidebar) Costume gallery all members costumes, by category Costume reference library list of components and 501stspecifications Resources links to detachment websites Request an appearance button Publicly accessible For hospital visits, charity events, and even toy/movie releases

7. Social media Twitter 501stoverall, as well as individual garrisons #BadGuysDoingGood #501st Facebook Same; overall and individual Updates for upcoming events More casual, also movie and merchandise discussion

8. Podcast 501stCast 89 episodes and counting About 3-5 per year (very infrequent) Hosts are from multiple countries Read stories about charity events, reported by garrison members Some fandom news, usually related to cosplay event coverage

9. Forums No idea, since they re restricted to members only and you can t just make an account, you need an official membership number. Instead, I went to the forums for the Bloodfin Garrison of south Indiana. (Continue slideshow for sample texts from this group.) Presumably, though, they re the same as the breakout groups: organizing events, help with costumes,

10. In-person events

11. South Indianas Bloodfin Garrison Liked the Facebook page Applied for access to closed forums as Scruffy_Nerf_Herder

12. Facebook Mission alerts Pictures from events Posting new costumes Welcoming new members Interestingly, no casual banter. (Not sure if that s a rule.)

13. Bloodfin forums Hubs for larger/external organizations 501st Rebel Legion (sister organization cosplay for hero characters) Mos Espa Base local Rebel Legion group News and events Current and upcoming Archives of past event threads Legion events beyond Indiana General discussion See next slide for example

15. The Armory Bloodfin s costume-making threads Most direct form of learning Charity work and social norms are pervasive, yet diffuse Costume-making knowledge is isolated, yet intensive Link to example: http://www.bloodfingarrison.com/forums/showthread.php?5632- ATA-bucket-question

17. ExampleATA bucket question BigBadaBoom: So I'm finally putting together my helmet and I've got the rivets in place to hold the two main bodies together. However there is some strain that has me worried along the lateral creases that the ears will cover. My question is how did you deal with it? I mane have a 1/4 inch lip sticking out just below the ear rivet. I've got glue and a heat gun. Has anyone tried using a heat gun to create a smoother transition on the sides? I'll get pics on here soon if that'd help. Motliek: Yep pics will help Gep: Yeah, get pics up. I've done an ATA and have a fair bit of strain on my side rivets. You'll be surprised what that bucket does once you bolt the ear caps on. They kind of pull every thing into place provided you cut out the curves tight. [Gep posts pictures of his helmet before it was finished, showing BigBadaBoom that he had similar problems/concerns.] BigBadaBoom: Great pics. My situation is almost identical. Especially the gaps on the bottom of the bucket where the two pieces meet. Thanks for posting your pics. I'm at that same stage right now. States the problem Request for more information

18. ExampleATA bucket question [some back and forth about paint and online tutorials, then back to the helmet in progress] Gep: My opinion is that you are fine. When you cut the ears, leave PLENTY of material behind on them. DO NOT cut to the knit line. It's way to close and does not properly fit the curvature of the bucket. I found this out the hard way. If you look at pandatrooper's build, you'll see he has a lot of ear left right around that curve. That whole overlap you have will be completely covered. This right here is the key... [reiteration of the same concern and then further reassurance from Gep] BigBadaBoom: So frustrated after tonight. I tried to get the ears on and thus finish the "hard" stuff but I am unsatisfied with the way my bucket is looking. I feel like it is too asymmetrical and the imbalance of ear cutting is just weighing on my mind. I don't feel like this helmet is turning out well. Pics following. [pics do, in fact, follow] Reassurance, with supporting details Frustration, also with details

19. ExampleATA bucket question Gep: AJ, one thing I struggled with on my TK was symmetry. I absolutely hated this part of my build (the ears). It's the one thing I don't like about the ATA. The buckets were not symmetrical in the movies so to try to get everything perfectly equal on the ears is really tough, and honestly, not necessary. Looking at my bucket from the front, the left ear is thicker than the right. Same thing on the back. I gave up trying to make the identical and made the fit as smooth as I could On the right side, how would it look once you put that bottom screw in. There's a fair bit of tension on my ears on the bottom screws. You are doing it right, in that you do not appear to have taken too much material off the ears. When you fit them, you'll also find that if you tilt them a bit from front to back, they will fit a cozier, and they are actually more accurate that way. Don't get upset if you end up drilling a couple if different holes for that bottom screw. I have several holes on each side of mine, trying to get it right. If you are uncomfortable with these, bring it along to the AP and I can show you mine. I can also show you the set of ears where I took too much off trying to make them 'perfect'. Reframes the problem: it s perfectionism. Admits his own struggle. Provides new parameters of acceptability. Offers to show more, review more.

20. ExampleATA bucket question BigBadaBoom: The final screw was in but I took it out in a fit of rage at the end ha. It fits great but the view from the bottom has the left ear pinned more posterior than the right ear which I had to use a heat gun to get cozier with the curvature. My right ear has more material left on it and the left is pretty close to the mold lines. Looking at the pics now it does kind of look right. I guess I'm just holding it to an unrealistic level of expectation. [BigBadaBoom expresses a desire to make his costume Centurion -level perfect, an above- average degree of authentication from 501st judges that grants more prestige. Gep replies with posts of his building process, as well as a link to some pictures of actual in- movie prop helmets that are also asymmetrical.]

21. ExampleATA bucket question Gep: As GML, I have no say in the EIB and Centurion approvals. That is done at the detachment level. The big thing on the ears are the # of screws, their color, and the bar painting. Personally, I would not recommend focusing so much on the Centurion thing that it makes your build unpleasant. I stopped at EIB due to my kit being AM and not wanting to drop coin on a better E-11. You get a nice rank bar thing over on FISD, but that's about it. Hardly worth stressing over. I'm not telling you to be a slacker on your build, but I am telling you to relax, have fun, and move forward. BigBadaBoom: Oh man. You were singing my same tune in that second link there. Glad you posted tonight. I'll get that last screw in and post pics so you can see. If you think it looks good I'll push on. My hope is to have the bucket done before the armor party. Thanks for the encouragement brother. Assistance with identity work; advice on negotiating interest/enjoyment. Appreciation and acceptance of renegotiated standards.

22. ExampleATA bucket question Gep: Having an engineering background and being overly OCD, I wanted this thing to be within .001" on every dimension and be totally symmetrical. I remember talking to someone in the Garrison about an analytic/mathematical take on the TK and they told me to think of it in a more 'organic' way. I think it was either Graburn or Mike, our CO & XO, respectively. It's really good advice if you are hung up on the measurements. Be careful with the heat gun on the ears. I tried that and had one buckle at the narrow part. Lesson learned. [more concern from BigBadaBoom] Establishes new goal. Gep: It's kind of 'what can you live with?'. You could jack with it and maybe close it up on the front, but then the back may open up a little. I would not hold up an approval based on that gap. If you really want to tighten it up, you can prolly take out the bottom screw and move the lower part a smidge to the front of the bucket, then refasten. I found that just re positioning it before I tightened down everything made a big difference.

23. ExampleATA bucket question Confirmation of achievement and validation of the reframing solution. [almost done with helmet, BigBadaBoom posts updated pictures] Gep: Very nice work! Once you get all the details on, the little things like ear gaps are much less evident.

24. Example: the interesting stuff Yes, there were plenty of details; Gep and the other commenters were able to confirm and expand upon BigBadaBoom s knowledge of glue, heat guns, and paint types. But the learning which interests me in this discussion is how Gep, a self-identified OCD engineer, taught BigBadaBoom to focus more on the results than the perfection of each measurement along the way. Lots of concern reassurance concern examples pictures reassurance relief The relationship between costume-building skill and prestige in the group, and the tension between enjoying the craft while pursuing higher-tier quality. Gep uses his authority as a judge to reassure BigBadaBoom. Gep encourages him to enjoy the hobby, rather than worry about perfection.

25. Example: the interesting stuff This exchange is similar to other instances of apprenticeship, where the apprentice is practicing independently, but with instructional and ideational feedback and encouragement from the mentor. How does a learner start and become independent in the first place? Did BigBadaBoom have another ad-hoc mentor for an earlier phase of the build? Is mentorship in affinity spaces dependent on identifying with the apprentice s problem? In other words, is the role of teacher tied to specific hurdles, or to the process in general? So, are the only people likely to help someone with a gap in their helmets, those who have already dealt with helmet-gap frustration? If so, what are the pitfalls of such narrow opportunities for mentorship? (Is there an increase in efficiency and empathy because it s so specific and relatable or is it problematic that ad-hoc also means short-term ?)

26. Example: the interesting stuff Despite having successfully built and even judged costumes, and eventually taking on the role of mentor as he reassures BigBadaBoom, Gep is a peer who is willing to share stories of failure as much as appeals to authority. How does authority and the role of mentorship different in affinity spaces, as opposed to institutional student/teacher dynamics? Are ad-hoc mentors more willing to admit failure?

27. Example: the interesting stuff What s most fascinating to me is the lesson that a finished product that is organic is better than stressing over one that is down-to-the- millimeter perfect but will never be completed. Is this a lesson that is common in communities of practice? To particular hobbies, or personality types? How do communities teach what s good while tempering that with reassuring standards of what s good enough? What is the relationship between identity work and interest-based enjoyment? BigBadaBoom obviously wants to be someone who is adept, but also just wants to finish the helmet. If he became too frustrated, would this have driven him away from making his own costume? Maybe we can talk about the identity resources in relation to interest/enjoyment.

28. Final notes I m still much more interested in the gradual enculturation of fans into a prosocial community than I am with cosplayers getting help with ear gaps on their helmets. From what I ve seen, this social learning is more diffuse and is not easily identified in any one post, or even at a single site. In listening to the podcast, I found it interesting that all the stories reported to the hosts by the many international groups followed the same structure. I would like to know how the narrative design of their stories was crafted and canonized. The discovery of the Rebel Legion, the sister organization of the 501st, finally answers my question, Why are people just doing this with Imperial characters? Wouldn t charitable people want to be hero characters, too?

29. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master.