JFTW
Posted 4 years agoJFTW Soonish, looking forward to trying a new con.
If any one is going give me a shout....Hope meet some new furries and have a blast....
Not sure if there any vore meets there...If anyone knows of one hook me up.
E
If any one is going give me a shout....Hope meet some new furries and have a blast....
Not sure if there any vore meets there...If anyone knows of one hook me up.
E
Goin To CFZ soon
Posted 7 years agoCan't wait until Confuzzled, only a few days now.
Who else is there? hoping to do some drawing and just generally chill out.
Hope it's going to be great, see ya there.
E Wolf
Who else is there? hoping to do some drawing and just generally chill out.
Hope it's going to be great, see ya there.
E Wolf
Anthromorphised Culture : Furlosophy Towards A Manifursto
Posted 7 years agoAnthromorphised Culture : Furlosophy Towards A Manifursto
by Alfureid Lycan- Bayer (another furry alter ego)
In this essay I would like to discuss what anthropomorphic creatures are and how they are represented in culture such as in art, myths and analyse how these creatures have played different roles in both ancient and modern cultures.
Part of this essay will also look into the advent of Furry fandom.
I aim to discuss; what is a Furry , how does it differ from an Anthropomorphised creature, what is the thinking behind being a ‘Furry’ and is there any relation to old cultures.
In the modern era there has been many technological innovations allowing humans interact with anthropomorphic creatures in new ways. However I aim to consider how the media image of the Furry Fandom on the internet , TV shows, tv documentaries has had an effect on our perception of this unique sub culture.
With the ever changing nature of technological innovation and media, I aim to question what is the future of the furry fandom and how will advances change how we engage with anthropormphisms.
What is an Anthropomorphic creature?
According to the oxford dictionary the word ‘Anthropomorphic is defined as: ’having human form or attributes’ and ascribing human characteristics, behaviour, form’ to a non human thing ie :a animal and or god.
Anthropomorphic creatures are often imagined as the famous human bodied animal hybrids that are found in many ancient cultures such as Ancient Egypt, Aztec Culture, Indian Culture, Ancient Greece..... They also play a large role in the Furry Fandom which I shall write about later.
In some cultures there are human headed animals such as the lion bodied sphinx with a human face or centaurs which have horse lower bodies and have humanoid upper bodies.
In some cultures such as Native America, people were believed to have animal souls. There are also fables where animals which are described to have human characteristics and or humans who are described to have animal characteristics.
This shows that anthropomorphised creatures could be be portrayed in different ways: both in form and in concept.
Ancient Egypt: Anubis the Jackal and other Deities.
In Egypt :roughly 4000 BC or more, myths about anthropomorphic creatures played a large role in ancient Egyptian religious culture. The Egyptians used these myths to provide an understanding of their world :how does the sun rise and fall, what created us, where do we get knowledge from...and lastly what happens to us once we died.
Egyptians may have created anthropomorphic deities because they were intrigued by the different qualities of the animals that surround them and. They melded human and animal together to make something that is not a human and not an animal, something which melds man and nature together creating a perfected form that is other worldly and powerful.
In Egyptian culture there were many gods and goddess , too many to assess within this text. However some of the the most well known anthropomorphic are Anubis, Re, Sebek, Bastet ....
Anubis: is know by his human body and jackal head. His role was to guard the necroplolis and oversee the embalming of the dead ready judgement before the afterlife .He is most often seen in funerary pictures.
Re: is recognisable by his human body with a falcon’s head. He known as the sun god as part of his role was travelling across the sky in a boat with the sun in hand ,supporting sun rise.
Bastet: was first shown as a lioness,but later became a feline headed woman. Her role was a devine mother and nurse to the king and also represented female fertility.
Horus: usually depicted as a falcon-headed man wearing the pschent, or a red and white crown, as a symbol of kingship over the entire kingdom of Egypt.
Sebek: is either represented the form of a crocodile or as a human with a crocodile head. Sobek was also associated with pharaonic power, fertility, and military prowess and also protected against the dangers presented by the Nile river.
Khunum :depicted as a ram headed man.He was believed to have shaped all living creatures from clay.He was also said to have created precious mineral stones, and plants.
Egyptians engaged with these gods in different ways. Writers / religious men used the myths to guide their religious practice, artists and craftsmen would have painted or sculpted the gods to form real life representations of the gods to support religious rituals.
Similarly in Indian culture especially Hindu religion there are anthropomorphised gods like the elephant headed goddess Ganesha.
Anthropomorphised figures have been found in Aztec culture, African culture, as well as in western culture.
In Native America, people believed in people possessing animal spirits as they everything being linked together via the spiritual magic of nature and the universe. People may have believed that their previous life was lived as an animal and or they may live on as an animal in another life, which is partly what Therions are interested in.
An animal spirit is believed to be a supernatural power that embodies, attaches or conveys influencing a person to have connections with a specific animal. The animal spirit is also regarded as a guide that appears in dreams to guide a person. This spirit is also said to be a life companion, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances protecting them.
Animal spiritual energy is said to derive from the animal on earth. The animal spirit ,soul or being greater than the actual animal. The native Americans thought that an animals real characteristics comes from animal spirit itself. For instance with a wolf spirit, it is the voice of all the wolves that have ever lived. It is the Medicine Wolf. It is the wolf that can see itself and speak. A spirit animal is believed to connect to a Medicine Man, or Shaman, to guide him to give a message.
Each Native American tribe has a group of Spirit Animals and are often depicted in Tribal Totems. The tribal spirit animals are often spirit animals are believed to great medicine power. These tribal spirit animals are important in tribe life such as :finding sources of food ,essential items or supporting the people through changing seasons.
It is interesting to see how the different cultures used Anthropomorphic gods or animal spirits to try to explain their environments and connect better with nature .This not only enables people to explore a spiritual connection with nature but it has also been a source of inspiration for ideas, social stories, myths, art etc….
Modern Culture: Consumerism and Anthropomorphic Creatures.
In Modern time’s anthropomorphic creatures play a different role .In ancient times there was a fetish for these creatures being deities , where as now they’re consumer icons such as: printed cartoon characters in magazines, advertising mascots, animated cartoons, and video games characters ...etc.
The cartoon animators Disney are well known for their anthropomorphised cartoon characters such as Micky Mouse and friends , Robin Hood etc... .They have created films where animals have human like qualities such as Lady and The Tramp, Oliver and Company to name a few. Other animators have also used Anthropomorphised characters such as Hanna and Warner Brothers etc...
Animal puppets and people dressed in costumes have also been used to present fictional animal characters such as Barney and friends, Jim Hensons ‘ Kermit the Frog and Big Bird’....All of these characters have gained a celebrity status by being stars in popular children’s TV shows.
The popularity of all these characters has gained so much consumer interest that some characters have even become symbols for the franchise which made them and have drawn in interest from other franchises such as fast food businesses to boost their family friendly image.
Some Brands have adopted anthropomorphised creatures to help sell their products because an animal character may possess number of different positive qualities: safety, care, universality, strength etc.
These creatures appear the front of a range of products: Kellog’s the cereal brand used a healthy young tiger Cartoon called ‘Tony’ as a mascot to sell their cereal Frosties, Camel Cigarettes adopted a camel to represent a young and hip image, Charmin toilet paper adopted a bear to resemble softness of their product etc...
There also an number of writers who make reference to animal characters to inspire the reader to connect with the animals within the story as if seeing through an animal’s eyes but through a human perspective brining emotions such as love, hate, despair etc... There are stories such as George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Beatrix Potters Peter Rabbit, Watership Downm, Brian Jacques ‘s Red Wall to name but a few.
The Furry Fandom is a modern take on anthropomorphised creatures. Wikipedia suggests ‘The furry fandom is a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics.[ Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes’.
Furry Historian Fred Patten suggests that the Furry Fandom was born 1980 at science fiction convention. This was apparently started by Steve Gallacci who started a discussion on anthropomorphic characters in science fiction novels. This then expanded into more discussion groups at other science, comics conventions. The conventions became so popular that there is now ‘Furry’ conventions all over the world.
Wikipedia also suggests in early 1983 the word ‘Furry Fandom’ was being used in magazines specifically targeted at people who were interested in Furries. By the 1990s, the Furry Fandom was defined as "the organized appreciation and dissemination of art and prose regarding 'Furries', or fictional anthropomorphic characters. Some fans consider the origins of furry fandom to have started earlier with the 1965 animation Kimba the Lion. There are also examples of Animal cartoons go back even further. In 1865 John Tennie illustrated the ‘White Rabbit’ from Lewis Carol’s novel Alice and Wonderland.
The question of whether or not anthros are furries is then open to debate.This question was influenced when I overheard people discussing the 2016 animated film ‘Zootropolis’ which stars a anthropomorphized rabbit and many other animal characters. It became apparent the link been animal cartoons and The Furry Fandom‘is because Furries are influenced by Anthropomorphic creatures and the two things are interlinked. Despite the obvious similarities in character form, one could question two things: Can the character be named a ‘Furry’ if it existed before the term furry was invented .I would also raise the question can an anthro character be named a ‘Furry’ if the character’s initial conception wasn’t to be part of the Fandom?
Furry Culture …Most Furries are often associated by their Fursona which is a character, furry persona, alter ego, avatar or identity. A Fursona consists of a name (usually fictitious) and a species, as well as distinctive colors, markings or body features.
Some Furries will create characters based on pre existing characters from myths or from popular culture. Characters can are sometimes mammals such Canids, Felines, Cervidae… there are even non furred or Malian animals such Avians and reptiles. Anything seems fit into the umbrella category of furry including nonexistent hybrids or mythological creatures.
Although there are similarities between the choices of character species, a person who identifies as a Furry will adopt a furry alter ego called a fursona .
The fursona as is usually completely customizable and unique to that person. Some furries enjoy suiting, however not all furries want or have suits of their characters, but will often be recognized by their Fursona names.
The word fursona itself is one example of the transformation language in different sub cultures. Other common words used are Popofur which is defined as a Popular or celebrity character, a con is a Convention... All these have their own meaning within the context of the Furry Fandom , however some words or themes can give a negative impression of the fandom.
Throughout history there have mis- understanding and sometimes negative labeling alternative cultures because it is outside the norm.The fandom is not an exception to this.... tbc
by Alfureid Lycan- Bayer (another furry alter ego)
In this essay I would like to discuss what anthropomorphic creatures are and how they are represented in culture such as in art, myths and analyse how these creatures have played different roles in both ancient and modern cultures.
Part of this essay will also look into the advent of Furry fandom.
I aim to discuss; what is a Furry , how does it differ from an Anthropomorphised creature, what is the thinking behind being a ‘Furry’ and is there any relation to old cultures.
In the modern era there has been many technological innovations allowing humans interact with anthropomorphic creatures in new ways. However I aim to consider how the media image of the Furry Fandom on the internet , TV shows, tv documentaries has had an effect on our perception of this unique sub culture.
With the ever changing nature of technological innovation and media, I aim to question what is the future of the furry fandom and how will advances change how we engage with anthropormphisms.
What is an Anthropomorphic creature?
According to the oxford dictionary the word ‘Anthropomorphic is defined as: ’having human form or attributes’ and ascribing human characteristics, behaviour, form’ to a non human thing ie :a animal and or god.
Anthropomorphic creatures are often imagined as the famous human bodied animal hybrids that are found in many ancient cultures such as Ancient Egypt, Aztec Culture, Indian Culture, Ancient Greece..... They also play a large role in the Furry Fandom which I shall write about later.
In some cultures there are human headed animals such as the lion bodied sphinx with a human face or centaurs which have horse lower bodies and have humanoid upper bodies.
In some cultures such as Native America, people were believed to have animal souls. There are also fables where animals which are described to have human characteristics and or humans who are described to have animal characteristics.
This shows that anthropomorphised creatures could be be portrayed in different ways: both in form and in concept.
Ancient Egypt: Anubis the Jackal and other Deities.
In Egypt :roughly 4000 BC or more, myths about anthropomorphic creatures played a large role in ancient Egyptian religious culture. The Egyptians used these myths to provide an understanding of their world :how does the sun rise and fall, what created us, where do we get knowledge from...and lastly what happens to us once we died.
Egyptians may have created anthropomorphic deities because they were intrigued by the different qualities of the animals that surround them and. They melded human and animal together to make something that is not a human and not an animal, something which melds man and nature together creating a perfected form that is other worldly and powerful.
In Egyptian culture there were many gods and goddess , too many to assess within this text. However some of the the most well known anthropomorphic are Anubis, Re, Sebek, Bastet ....
Anubis: is know by his human body and jackal head. His role was to guard the necroplolis and oversee the embalming of the dead ready judgement before the afterlife .He is most often seen in funerary pictures.
Re: is recognisable by his human body with a falcon’s head. He known as the sun god as part of his role was travelling across the sky in a boat with the sun in hand ,supporting sun rise.
Bastet: was first shown as a lioness,but later became a feline headed woman. Her role was a devine mother and nurse to the king and also represented female fertility.
Horus: usually depicted as a falcon-headed man wearing the pschent, or a red and white crown, as a symbol of kingship over the entire kingdom of Egypt.
Sebek: is either represented the form of a crocodile or as a human with a crocodile head. Sobek was also associated with pharaonic power, fertility, and military prowess and also protected against the dangers presented by the Nile river.
Khunum :depicted as a ram headed man.He was believed to have shaped all living creatures from clay.He was also said to have created precious mineral stones, and plants.
Egyptians engaged with these gods in different ways. Writers / religious men used the myths to guide their religious practice, artists and craftsmen would have painted or sculpted the gods to form real life representations of the gods to support religious rituals.
Similarly in Indian culture especially Hindu religion there are anthropomorphised gods like the elephant headed goddess Ganesha.
Anthropomorphised figures have been found in Aztec culture, African culture, as well as in western culture.
In Native America, people believed in people possessing animal spirits as they everything being linked together via the spiritual magic of nature and the universe. People may have believed that their previous life was lived as an animal and or they may live on as an animal in another life, which is partly what Therions are interested in.
An animal spirit is believed to be a supernatural power that embodies, attaches or conveys influencing a person to have connections with a specific animal. The animal spirit is also regarded as a guide that appears in dreams to guide a person. This spirit is also said to be a life companion, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances protecting them.
Animal spiritual energy is said to derive from the animal on earth. The animal spirit ,soul or being greater than the actual animal. The native Americans thought that an animals real characteristics comes from animal spirit itself. For instance with a wolf spirit, it is the voice of all the wolves that have ever lived. It is the Medicine Wolf. It is the wolf that can see itself and speak. A spirit animal is believed to connect to a Medicine Man, or Shaman, to guide him to give a message.
Each Native American tribe has a group of Spirit Animals and are often depicted in Tribal Totems. The tribal spirit animals are often spirit animals are believed to great medicine power. These tribal spirit animals are important in tribe life such as :finding sources of food ,essential items or supporting the people through changing seasons.
It is interesting to see how the different cultures used Anthropomorphic gods or animal spirits to try to explain their environments and connect better with nature .This not only enables people to explore a spiritual connection with nature but it has also been a source of inspiration for ideas, social stories, myths, art etc….
Modern Culture: Consumerism and Anthropomorphic Creatures.
In Modern time’s anthropomorphic creatures play a different role .In ancient times there was a fetish for these creatures being deities , where as now they’re consumer icons such as: printed cartoon characters in magazines, advertising mascots, animated cartoons, and video games characters ...etc.
The cartoon animators Disney are well known for their anthropomorphised cartoon characters such as Micky Mouse and friends , Robin Hood etc... .They have created films where animals have human like qualities such as Lady and The Tramp, Oliver and Company to name a few. Other animators have also used Anthropomorphised characters such as Hanna and Warner Brothers etc...
Animal puppets and people dressed in costumes have also been used to present fictional animal characters such as Barney and friends, Jim Hensons ‘ Kermit the Frog and Big Bird’....All of these characters have gained a celebrity status by being stars in popular children’s TV shows.
The popularity of all these characters has gained so much consumer interest that some characters have even become symbols for the franchise which made them and have drawn in interest from other franchises such as fast food businesses to boost their family friendly image.
Some Brands have adopted anthropomorphised creatures to help sell their products because an animal character may possess number of different positive qualities: safety, care, universality, strength etc.
These creatures appear the front of a range of products: Kellog’s the cereal brand used a healthy young tiger Cartoon called ‘Tony’ as a mascot to sell their cereal Frosties, Camel Cigarettes adopted a camel to represent a young and hip image, Charmin toilet paper adopted a bear to resemble softness of their product etc...
There also an number of writers who make reference to animal characters to inspire the reader to connect with the animals within the story as if seeing through an animal’s eyes but through a human perspective brining emotions such as love, hate, despair etc... There are stories such as George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Beatrix Potters Peter Rabbit, Watership Downm, Brian Jacques ‘s Red Wall to name but a few.
The Furry Fandom is a modern take on anthropomorphised creatures. Wikipedia suggests ‘The furry fandom is a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics.[ Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes’.
Furry Historian Fred Patten suggests that the Furry Fandom was born 1980 at science fiction convention. This was apparently started by Steve Gallacci who started a discussion on anthropomorphic characters in science fiction novels. This then expanded into more discussion groups at other science, comics conventions. The conventions became so popular that there is now ‘Furry’ conventions all over the world.
Wikipedia also suggests in early 1983 the word ‘Furry Fandom’ was being used in magazines specifically targeted at people who were interested in Furries. By the 1990s, the Furry Fandom was defined as "the organized appreciation and dissemination of art and prose regarding 'Furries', or fictional anthropomorphic characters. Some fans consider the origins of furry fandom to have started earlier with the 1965 animation Kimba the Lion. There are also examples of Animal cartoons go back even further. In 1865 John Tennie illustrated the ‘White Rabbit’ from Lewis Carol’s novel Alice and Wonderland.
The question of whether or not anthros are furries is then open to debate.This question was influenced when I overheard people discussing the 2016 animated film ‘Zootropolis’ which stars a anthropomorphized rabbit and many other animal characters. It became apparent the link been animal cartoons and The Furry Fandom‘is because Furries are influenced by Anthropomorphic creatures and the two things are interlinked. Despite the obvious similarities in character form, one could question two things: Can the character be named a ‘Furry’ if it existed before the term furry was invented .I would also raise the question can an anthro character be named a ‘Furry’ if the character’s initial conception wasn’t to be part of the Fandom?
Furry Culture …Most Furries are often associated by their Fursona which is a character, furry persona, alter ego, avatar or identity. A Fursona consists of a name (usually fictitious) and a species, as well as distinctive colors, markings or body features.
Some Furries will create characters based on pre existing characters from myths or from popular culture. Characters can are sometimes mammals such Canids, Felines, Cervidae… there are even non furred or Malian animals such Avians and reptiles. Anything seems fit into the umbrella category of furry including nonexistent hybrids or mythological creatures.
Although there are similarities between the choices of character species, a person who identifies as a Furry will adopt a furry alter ego called a fursona .
The fursona as is usually completely customizable and unique to that person. Some furries enjoy suiting, however not all furries want or have suits of their characters, but will often be recognized by their Fursona names.
The word fursona itself is one example of the transformation language in different sub cultures. Other common words used are Popofur which is defined as a Popular or celebrity character, a con is a Convention... All these have their own meaning within the context of the Furry Fandom , however some words or themes can give a negative impression of the fandom.
Throughout history there have mis- understanding and sometimes negative labeling alternative cultures because it is outside the norm.The fandom is not an exception to this.... tbc