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An anthropomorphic vixen, a typical furry character.

Furry fandom is a fandom devoted to anthropomorphic animal characters.[1][2] Since the 1980s, the term furries has come to refer to such characters.[3][4][5]

Fictional work celebrated by furry fandom typically attributes high-level intelligence, human facial expressions and anatomy, speech, bipedalism, clothing, or other attributes to otherwise animal characters. Work in any medium that includes such characters may be considered part of the furry genre, although they are most often seen in comics, cartoons, animated films, allegorical novels, and video games.

Members of the furry subculture are often known as furry fans, furries, or simply furs.[6] They commonly interact online and at furry conventions.

History and inspiration

According to fandom historian Fred Patten, the concept of furry originated at a science fiction convention in 1980,[7] when a drawing of a character from Steve Gallacci’s Albedo Anthropomorphics initiated a discussion of anthropomorphic characters in science fiction novels, which in turn initiated a discussion group that met at science fiction and comics conventions. Patten defined Furry Fandom as "the organized appreciation and dissemination of art and prose regarding 'Furries', or fictional mammalian anthropomorphic characters."

The specific term "Furry Fandom" was being used in fanzines as early as 1983, and had become the standard name for the genre by the mid-1990s.[8] However, fans consider the origins of furry fandom to be much earlier, with fictional works such as Kimba, The White Lion released in 1965, Richard Adams' novel Watership Down, published in 1972 (and its 1978 film adaptation), as well as Disney's Robin Hood as oft-cited examples.[7] To distinguish these personae from seriously depicted animal characters, such as Lassie or Old Yeller, cartoon animals are referred to as funny animals,[9] a term that came into use in the 1910s.

During the 1980s, furry fans began to publish fanzines, developing a diverse social group that eventually began to schedule social gatherings. By 1987, there was sufficient interest to stage the first furry convention.[10]

Throughout the next decade, the Internet became accessible to the general population and became the most popular means for furry fans to socialize. The newsgroup alt.fan.furry was created in November 1990, and virtual environments such as MUCKs also became popular places on the Internet for fans to meet and communicate. One of the oldest and largest MUCKs in existence is FurryMUCK.[11]

Art and literature

Sculpture by Wicked Sairah at Further Confusion

Furry fans participate in the arts as amateur and professional illustrators, comic strip authors, painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, and craftspeople. Furry fans are eager for more material than is available from mainstream publishers, and this demand is met by other fans, who range from amateur to professional. These artists, writers, and publishers[specify] produce a prolific amount of drawings, paintings, stories, comic books, fanzines, puppets, and small press books, as well as sculpture, textile art, fiction, music, and photography.

While most fan-created art is distributed through nonprofessional media, such as personal websites, some is published in anthologies, by Amateur Press Associations, or in APAzines.[12] A few works of furry art have been released in mainstream culture, and furry artwork has appeared on commercial apparel.[citation needed]

There are several webcomics featuring animal characters created by furry fans; as such, they may be referred to as "furry comics". One such comic, T.H.E. Fox, was first published on CompuServe in 1986, predating the World Wide Web by several years.[13]

Although mammals are most commonly depicted, anthropomorphized reptiles, birds or aquatic animals may also be known as furries (or "scalies",[14] "avians",[15] or "aquatics" respectively).

Some furry fans create and wear costumes, commonly known as fursuits, of their characters.

Websites devoted entirely to furry artwork exist,[16][17][18] while other sites contain furry artwork under the term "anthro".[19] Many artists maintain their own independent websites as well.

Crafts

Fans with craft skills create their own plush toys, sometimes referred to as plushies, and also build elaborate costumes called fursuits,[20] which are worn for fun or to participate in parades, convention masquerades, dances, or fund-raising charity events (as entertainers).[21] Many fursuits feature simple construction and resemble sports mascots, and others feature more sophisticated construction that includes moving jaw mechanisms, animatronic parts, prosthetic makeup, and other features. Fursuits can cost upwards of $1,000.[22] Some furry fans pursue puppetry, recording videos and performing live shows such as Rapid T. Rabbit and Friends and the Funday PawPet Show.

Role playing

Furry fans create anthropomorphic animal characters, known as fursonas, in order to engage in role-playing sessions on the Internet; these characters may be used in MUDs, on Internet forums, or on electronic mailing lists. The longest-running online furry role-playing environment is FurryMUCK (although it was predated by the GE-run BBS called The Beastie Board in which conversation occasionally led to role-play).[citation needed] Another popular online furry social game is called Furcadia, created by Dragon's Eye Productions. There are also several furry-themed areas and communities in the virtual world Second Life.[23] An online gaming community called Skotos currently offers a furry roleplaying game called Iron Claw Online and Right Brain Games is currently making a furry massively multiplayer online role-playing game titled Antilia.[24] Iron Realms Entertainment is also currently developing an MMORPG, Earth Eternal, which will feature anthropomorphic animals as playable races.[25] This will not be the first, as other games such as EverQuest II and World of Warcraft have anthropomorphic animals as well.[26][27]

Conventions

Furry fans prepare for a race at Midwest FurFest 2006
Main article: Furry convention

Sufficient interest and membership has enabled the creation of many furry conventions in North America and Europe. The world's largest[28] furry convention is Anthrocon, held annually in Pittsburgh in July.[29] One convention, Further Confusion, held in San Jose each January, closely follows Anthrocon in scale and attendance. In 2006, 19 furry conventions took place around the world, and total attendance exceeded 9,905.[30] The first known furry convention, ConFurence,[7] is no longer held; Califur has replaced it, as both conventions were based in Southern California.

Such conventions feature auctions or fundraising events, with the proceeds often donated to an animal-related charity. For example, Further Confusion has raised more than $62,000 (USD) for various charitable beneficiaries throughout its nine-year history,[31] and Anthrocon has donated more than $66,000 (USD) to animal-related charities since 1997.[32] In September 2004, Mephit Furmeet raised more than $15,000 for an organization known as Tiger Haven.[33]

Furry conventions also provide economic benefits to the communities in which they are held. Anthrocon contributes $2.5 million to the economy of Pittsburgh each year.[34]

Furry lifestylers

The phrases furry lifestyle and furry lifestyler first appeared in July 1996 on the newsgroup alt.fan.furry during an ongoing dispute within that online community. One group within furry fans believed that any peripheral interest not directly relating to furry art, literature and fantasy should not be directly associated with the fandom, while others believed that the definition of what constituted furry could only be decided by the individual. The dispute was resolved by the creation of the newsgroup alt.lifestyle.furry in August 1996, created to accommodate discussion beyond furry art and literature. Members of this newsgroup quickly adopted the term furry lifestylers, and still consider the fandom and the lifestyle to be separate social entities.[35]

Subcultures such as the were or therian and otherkin communities share similar beliefs with furry lifestylers, but wish to distance themselves from the term furry, as their beliefs are not necessarily connected to furry fandom. Furthermore, they perceive association with what they describe as a "cartoon fandom" as "trivializing" their beliefs.[36]

Sex and furry fandom

Differing approaches to sexuality have been a source of controversy and conflict in furry fandom. Examples of mainstream sexual aspects within furry fandom include erotic art, a style known as yiffy art (from the subculture term "yiff" referring to sexual activity or arousal), and furry-themed cybersex.[37][38] According to The Pitch, examples of present usage of the word yiff include "a yiffy fur", meaning a furry who is sexually aroused or active, "yiffy artwork", meaning sexually explicit furry artwork, and "to yiff", meaning to have sex.[39] Yiffy art often depicts humanoid animals in poses and outfits similar to those in standard erotic art.

The term yiff is most commonly used to indicate sexual activity or material.[40] This applies to sexual activity and interaction within the subculture whether online or offline; it is also applied to sexual arousal and to erotic material causing it.[41] A common explanation offered for the etymology of the term within the subculture is that it is an onomatopoeia for the sound foxes make when mating.[42] Efforts to identify the origin of the term suggest that it was a term in "Foxish" (a language invented circa 1990 by a FurryMUCK participant) that originally was meant as an expression of happiness but over time and through popular usage came to acquire the sexual connotation now commonly associated with the term.[43]

In cybersex, also known as "TinySex" and "TextSex", yiffing is the act in which one or more players engage in the interactive writing of erotica, describing their "tinybodies" or fursonas engaged in sexual activities.[44]

'The Sociology of Furry Fandom' survey results

Furry artists drawing at a convention

The Sociology of Furry Fandom, a survey conducted by David J. Rust which examined social and sexual attitudes in furry fandom, encompassed interviews of 360 respondents (325 in person, 35 online).[45] Rust's results indicated that in regards to sex:

  • furries "report a rather non-judgmental attitude" to some aspects of sexuality
  • the fandom contains a relatively large proportion of people reporting homosexuality, bisexuality, polyamory, or other forms of alternative sexual relationship
  • 48% reported bisexuality, 25% reported heterosexuality, 19% were homosexual, and 8% were uncertain. From this sample, 2% stated an interest in zoophilia, and fewer than 1% stated an interest in plushophilia
  • furries have "a higher tolerance for variety in sexual orientation and activity"
  • heterosexual furries "participate in mixed-gender social body language between members of the same sex without any apparent threat to their sexual identity"

Rust cited these findings as reasons why inaccurate perceptions of furries arise. However, the accuracy of such statistics is questionable for two reasons: Rust's survey required respondents to submit their legal names, and 90% of the respondents answered in person, so the reluctance to answer some questions truthfully may have resulted in a statistical bias; furthermore, the constantly increasing size of furry fandom may render these statistics obsolete (the research was based on data compiled in 1997 and 1998, and published in 2002).

Fandom survey

In 2007, a brief survey was conducted by University of California, Davis Department of Psychology. Over 600 people took part in the survey, although not everyone completed it.[46] This survey not only looked into the sexual aspect of the fandom but also examined pastimes and political views.

Survey results included:

  • 37.3% of respondents were bisexual, 32.7% heterosexual, 25.5% homosexual, and 8% uncertain
  • about half of the respondents were in a relationship, and 76% of those in a relationship were having a relationship with another furry
  • most respondents (82%) do not own a fursuit
  • around half engaged in furry-related Internet friendships, chat rooms, and blogging
  • 42% attended conventions
  • a third attended parties
  • around a sixth took part in art auctions

The sample group consisted of predominantly white (89%) and "American" (83%), males (81%), with "student" the most frequent occupation (38%). Nearly all respondents (90%) reported earning less than $50,000 per year.

Politically, 40% of respondents described themselves as "Liberal" or "Very liberal", contrasting with 7% who were "Conservative," or "Very conservative". 35% were "Not political" or "Other", and 16% were "Moderate".

Media coverage

Early portrayal of the furry fandom in articles such as Loaded,[47] Vanity Fair,[48] and the syndicated sex column "Savage Love" focused sharply on the sexual component of certain furries. Fictional portrayals of furry fandom have appeared on television shows such as ER,[49] CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,[50] The Drew Carey Show,[51] Sex2K on MTV,[52] and Entourage.[53] Most furry fans claim that these media portrayals are misconceptions,[54][55][56][57]and recent coverage focuses on debunking the myths and stereotypes of furries.[34] A reporter attending Anthrocon 2006 noted that "despite their wild image from Vanity Fair, MTV and CSI, furry conventions aren't about kinky sex between weirdos gussied up in foxy costumes", that conference attendees were "not having sex more than the rest of us",[58] and that the furry convention was about "people talking and drawing animals and comic-book characters in sketchbooks."[40]

The Milwaukee Brewers had a run-in with a group of furries at Anthrocon 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when they were staying in the same hotel for a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and departed the day that the convention started. The team claimed that they found the furries "creepy" and both "players and staff reported neighboring rooms generating loud animal noises, barking and other, deep into the night."[59] Jim Powell stated, "going up the elevator is unsettling when you are packed in with a bunch of people who look like they hadn't left their mother's basements since the last convention".[60]

Most in Pittsburgh have welcomed the furries, with local business owners creating special t-shirts and drawing pawprints in chalk outside their shops to attract attendees.[61] "For the most part, people give us curious stares, but they're good-natured curious stares. We're here to have fun, people have fun having us here, everybody wins." says Sam Conway, CEO of Anthrocon.[62] Anthrocon brings an estimated $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy[63], and plans to return to the city every year "for the foreseeable future".[64][34]

In October 2007, a Hartford Advocate reporter attended FurFright 2007 undercover because of media restrictions. She learned that the restrictions were intended to prevent misinformation. She reported that the scandalous behavior she had expected was not evident.[65]

References

  1. ^ Kurutz, Daveen Rae (June 17, 2006). "It's a furry weekend". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Anthrocon.org. ""What is Furry"". Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  3. ^ Thomson, Desson (May 19, 2006). "Critters Offer Consumer Retorts in 'Over the Hedge'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Dagna, Justin (2005). Fera Vita: Pax Draconis. Technicraft.
  5. ^ Tatara, Paul (June 22, 2001). "Furries funny, humans not in 'Dolittle 2'". Retrieved 2007-01-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Staeger, Rob (July 26, 2001). "Invasion of the Furries". The Wayne Suburban. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c Patten, Fred (February 2, 1999). "Chronology Of Furry Fandom". YARF! The Journal of Applied Anthropomorphics. Retrieved 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Patten, Fred. "The Yarf! reviews". Anthrozine. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Sandler, Kevin S. (1998). Reading the Rabbit: Explorations in Warner Bros. Animation. Rutgers University Press.
  10. ^ Patten, Fred (2006). Furry! The World's Best Anthropomorphic Fiction. ibooks.
  11. ^ Stamper, Chris (1996-03-29). "Furry Muckity-Muck". The Netly News. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  12. ^ "An Overview of Selected Furry Fanzines". The Furry Animal Liberation Front (FALF). Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  13. ^ The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable. "Interview with Joe Ekaitis". Retrieved 2007-01-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateyr= ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Al Kratina (2007-07-26). "Finally comfortable in their own fur". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  15. ^ "Avians.net". Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  16. ^ Fur Affinity - a furry community website with unmoderated all-ratings art and story archives
  17. ^ VCL - an unmoderated all-ratings furry art and story archive
  18. ^ ArtSpots - a quality-moderated PG furry art archive and forum
  19. ^ deviantART - an art community website
  20. ^ Riggs, Adam (2004). Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits. Ibexa Press.
  21. ^ Larson, Alina (January 23, 2003). "Animal Instincts: Fans of Furry Critters Convene to Help Mankind". Tri-Valley Herald. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "'Furries' Descend On Golden Triangle". WTAE-TV. June 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Peralta, Eyder (May 28, 2006). "In Second Life, the World is Yours". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-08-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Games". Right Brain Games. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  25. ^ "FAQ". Earth Eternal. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  26. ^ "EverQuest II Home page". Sony. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  27. ^ "World of Warcraft Home page". Blizzard. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  28. ^ Guinness World Records 2008. Guinness. 2008. p. 123. ISBN 1904994199.
  29. ^ "Furries Descend On Pittsburgh". KDKA-TV. June 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Cooksey, David. "Anthropomorphic Fandom Convention Information Sheet". Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  31. ^ Anthropomorphic Arts and Education. "AAE, Inc. - What we do". Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  32. ^ Harris, Brian, Anthrocon Charity Auction Director. "Anthrocon Charity Auction FAQ". Retrieved 2006-08-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Mephit Furmeet website". Retrieved 2005-02-04.
  34. ^ a b c Togneri, Chris (July 6, 2007). "Furries purr over Pittsburgh reception". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2007-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "alt.lifestyle.furry - Frequently Asked Questions". 2001-05-08. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  36. ^ Orion Sandstorrm. "Catalogue of nonhuman communities". Retrieved 2006-07-11.
  37. ^ Bardzell, Jeffery, and Shaowen Bardzell. Sex-Interface-Aesthetics: The Docile Avatars and Embodied Pixels of Second Life BDSM. Indiana University, 2005.
  38. ^ Stuttaford, Thomas; Godson, Suzi (2007-12-08). "I like dressing up as a bear during sex". The Times. Retrieved 2007-12-11.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (further details)
  39. ^ Miller, Joe (July 5, 2001). "Critter Camp Out: A little raccoon from Kansas City finds friendship in the Furry Fandom". Kansas City Pitch Weekly
  40. ^ a b Meinzer, Melissa (June 29, 2006). "Animal Passions: The furries come to town — and our correspondent tails along". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Padva, Gilad. Dreamboys, Meatmen and Werewolves: Visualizing Erotic Identities in All-Male Comic Strips. Sexualities 8:5 (2005). 587-599
  42. ^ Nast, Heidi J. "Loving... Whatever: Alienation, Neoliberalism and Pet-Love in the Twenty-First Century" (pdf). ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies. 5:2 (2006) 300-327. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  43. ^ Yiff and Foxish at WikiFur; Foxen (Revar) describes the Foxish language at Everything2.com
  44. ^ Dery, Mark. Escape Velocity: cyberculture at the end of the century. New York: Grove Press, 1996. (ISBN 080213520X) 205
  45. ^ David J. Rust (2000-2002, based on data 1997-1998). "The Sociology of Furry Fandom". Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ University of California, Davis Department of Psychology (2007-05-05). "Furry Survey Results". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  47. ^ Loaded magazine, March, 1998
  48. ^ Gurley, George (March, 2001). "Pleasures of the fur". Vanity Fair. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ "Fear of Commitment". ER. Season 7. Episode 20. 2001-03-05. NBC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Fur and Loathing". CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Season 4. Episode 5. 2003-10-30. CBS. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "Mama Told Me I Should Come". The Drew Carey Show. Season 8. Episode 6. 2002-10-21. ABC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help) See The Drew Carey Show on WikiFur for more information.
  52. ^ MTV. "Sex2K Fursuit Video". Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  53. ^ "The Day Fuckers". Entourage. Season 4. Episode 7. 2007-07-28. HBO. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  54. ^ Kelly, Tim (May 31, 2006). "Get Furry". The Corner News. Retrieved 2007-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ Baldwin, Denis (August, 2006). "Walk With the Animals: Local furries explain it's not about perversion, furpiles and plush". Ann Arbor Paper. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ Belser, Ann (June 18, 2006). "All about 'furry fandom' at confab". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ "We're at it like rabbits". The Sun. 3 April, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ Meinzer, Melissa (February 2, 2006). "Fur Ball In The Works". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ "The Brewers Meet the Furries". Deadspin. July 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-07. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ Powell, Jim (July 5, 2007). "A Hair-Raising Time In Pittsburgh". Journal Broadcast Group. Retrieved 2007-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ LaSalle, Mike (July 17, 2007). "Anthrocon 2007 draws thousands to Pittsburgh for furry weekend". Men's News Daily. Retrieved 2007-08-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ "Furry Convention Creates Wild Scene In Pittsburgh". WPXI News. June 26 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ Brandolph, Adam (June 28, 2008). "Furry convention a $3 million cash cow for city businesses". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2008-07-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ Carpenter, Mackenzie (July 7, 2007). "Anthrocons convention turns city into 'real zoo'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ Abel, Jennifer (2007-11-01). "Hell Hath No Furries". Hartford Advocate. Retrieved 2007-11-01.

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