Cosplay: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The overarching objective of the present study is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of recent research trends in cosplay from 2000 to 2023, as well as to identify the research gaps. This study employed a systematic literature review combined with qualitative interpretations and bibliometric visual analysis (VOSviewer and CitNetExplorer). This mixed-methods approach can identify the evolution of cosplay research, major publication outlets, key research topics, geographic distribution, commonly used methodologies, influential scholars, and leading academic institutions, therebfy providing valuable insights into the study of popular culture and fandom through the lens of cosplay. A comprehensive literature search in the Web of Science database yielded 114 relevant journal articles for subsequent analysis. The findings of this study provide insights into the trends and evolution of cosplay research while also highlighting several significant areas which need further investigation, such as cross-national and non-Western studies, cosplay and tourism, cosplay and well-being, cosplay and religion, and research involving diverse demographic groups.