Praktik Sosial Komunitas Fotografer Cosplay Mirai Kameko di Kota Medan

Abstract

This study aims to examine the social practices carried out by the cosplay photographer community Mirai Kameko in Medan City and how these practices are utilized to create economic opportunities. The study employs a qualitative approach using Pierre Bourdieu’s social practice theory as the analytical framework, emphasizing the concepts of habitus, social capital, cultural capital, symbolic capital, and field to understand the community dynamics and economic opportunities formed. Data were collected through participatory observation at various cosplay events, in-depth interviews with community members, and documentation studies of the community’s social media. The data analysis was conducted thematically, referring to Bourdieu’s concepts to explore how social structures and individual practices interact to shape experiences and economic opportunities. The results show that the Mirai Kameko community carries out structured social practices in the form of photography ethics, collaboration among members, and utilizing social media as a digital arena to build networks and professional image. The community’s habitus is reflected in the habit of asking for permission before photographing cosplayers and the collective sharing of tasks (job sharing), which supports solidarity and knowledge transfer among members. The community’s social capital is built through active relationships with other communities and event organizers, while cultural capital is obtained from technical and cultural knowledge acquired both formally and informally. Symbolic capital emerges through social recognition that is not in the form of formal competition but through equal social interaction and appreciation of shared works. Furthermore, these social practices clearly open new economic opportunities for community members, such as securing photography projects beyond cosplay events, collaboration with other photographers, and serving as instructors in workshops. Social media plays a vital role in expanding networks and attracting clients, which strengthens the community’s position within the local creative industry. This study reveals that the Mirai Kameko community is not merely a hobbyist group but also an effective space for producing social and cultural capital that creates creative economic opportunities.