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"Furry" and "Furries" redirect here. For the quality of animal hair, see fur. For the rock band, see Super Furry Animals.
An anthropomorphic vixen, a typical furry character.

Furry fandom (also known as furrydom, furridom, fur fandom or furdom) refers to the fandom for fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics.[1] Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes. Furry fandom is also used to refer to the community of artists, writers, role players and general fans of the furry art forms who gather on the net and at conventions.[2][3]

Therianthropic characters that morph between human and animal form are also considered by some to be part of the genre. Even certain superheroes with animal derived powers are considered of furry interest by some fans. The general idea being a combination of human and non-human animal attributes. Even characters like Josie and the Pussycats are considered of interest to furry fandom, though they only wear costumes with animal ears and tails.[1]

History

According to fandom historian Fred Patten, the concept of furry originated at a science fiction convention in 1980,[4] 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.[5] 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.[4] To distinguish these personae from seriously depicted animal characters, such as Lassie or Old Yeller, cartoon animals are referred to as funny animals,[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Inspiration

Allegorical novels (including works of both science fiction and fantasy) and cartoons featuring anthropomorphic animals are often cited as the earliest inspiration for the fandom.[4] A survey conducted in 2007 suggested that, when compared to a non-furry control group, a higher proportion of those self-identifying as furries liked cartoons "a great deal" as children and recalled watching them significantly more often, as well being more likely to enjoy works of science fiction than those outside of the community.[9]

Activities

Furry fans are eager for more material than is available from mainstream publishers, and this demand is met by other fans who produce a wide range of materials in both amateur and professional capacities. Most furries believe that visual art, conventions, literature, and online communities are strongly important to the fandom.[10]

Art and literature

Sculpture by Wicked Sairah at Further Confusion

Furry artists, writers, and publishers 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 of this fan-created art is distributed through nonprofessional media, such as personal websites,[11][12][13] some is published in anthologies, by Amateur Press Associations, or in APAzines.[14] Furry artwork is also available through websites devoted entirely to furry art produced by multiple artists,[15][16][17] while other sites contain furry artwork under the term "anthro".[18] A few works of furry art have also been released in mainstream culture, and furry artwork has appeared on commercial apparel.[citation needed]

There are several webcomics featuring animal characters created by or for 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,[19] while another, "Kevin and Kell" by Bill Holbrook, has been awarded both a Web Cartoonists' Choice Award and an Ursa Major Award.[20][21]

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

Crafts

Fans with craft skills create their own plush toys, sometimes referred to as plushies, and also build elaborate costumes called fursuits,[22] which are worn for fun or to participate in parades, convention masquerades, dances, or fund-raising charity events (as entertainers).[23] Fursuits range from designs featuring simple construction and resembling sports mascots[9] to those with more sophisticated features that include moving jaw mechanisms, animatronic parts, prosthetic makeup, and other features. Fursuits range in price from $500, for mascot-like designs, to an upwards of $10,000 for models incorporating animatronics.[24] While about 80% of furries do not own a full fursuit,[9][10][25] often citing their expensive cost as the decisive factor,[9] a majority of them hold positive feelings towards fursuiters and the conventions in which they participate.[10][25] Some fans may also wear "partial" suits consisting simply of ears and a tail, or a head, paws, and a tail.[9]

Furry fans also pursue puppetry, recording videos and performing live shows such as Rapid T. Rabbit and Friends and the Funday PawPet Show, and create furry accessories, such as ears or tails.[26]

Role playing

Anthropomorphic animal characters created by furry fans, known as fursonas,[27] are used for roleplaying in MUDs,[28] on internet forums, or on electronic mailing lists.[29] A variety of species are employed as the basis of these personas, although many furries, (for example over 60% of those surveyed in 2007), choose to identify themselves with carnivorans.[9][30] The longest-running online furry roleplaying environment is FurryMUCK, although it has been eclipsed in the area of text-mode roleplaying by Tapestries MUCK. 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.[31] 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.[32] Iron Realms Entertainment is also currently developing an MMORPG, Earth Eternal, which will feature anthropomorphic animals as playable races.[33] The games EverQuest II, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and World of Warcraft have anthropomorphic animals as well.[34][35][36]

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[37] furry convention is Anthrocon, held annually in Pittsburgh in July,[24] is estimated to contribute approximately $3 million to the city's economy each year.[38] Another 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 exceeding 9,900 attendees[39] and raising over US$50,000 in charity.[40] The first known furry convention, ConFurence,[4] is no longer held; Califur has replaced it, as both conventions were based in Southern California. The University of California, Davis survey suggested that about 40% of furries attended at least one furry convention.[25]

Websites and online communities

The Internet contains a multitude of furry websites and online communities. These, with the IRC networks FurNet and Anthrochat, form a key part of furry fandom.[41][42] Newsgroups, while popular from the mid-1990s to 2005, have largely been replaced by topic-specific forums, mailing lists and LiveJournal communities.[43][44]

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. The Usenet newsgroup alt.lifestyle.furry was created to accommodate discussion beyond furry art and literature, and to resolve disputes concerning what should or should not be associated with the fandom; its members quickly adopted the term furry lifestylers, and still consider the fandom and the lifestyle to be separate social entities. They have defined and adopted an alternative meaning of word "furry" specific to this group: "a person with an important emotional/spiritual connection with an animal or animals, real, fictional or symbolic."[45]

In their 2007 survey, Gerbasi et al. examined what it meant to be a furry, and in doing so proposed a topology in which to categorise different "types" of furries. The largest group, at 38% of those surveyed, they described as being interested in furry fandom predominately as a "route to socializing with others who share common interests such as anthropomorphic art and costumes."[9] However they also identified furries who saw themselves as "other than human", and/or who desired to become more like the furry species which they identified with.[9] This distinction can be viewed in light of the findings of the larger Furry Survey, according to which a majority of furries consider themselves to be predominantly human, while about 6% do not consider themselves human at all.[10]

Sexual aspects

Differing approaches to sexuality have been a source of controversy and conflict in furry fandom.[citation needed] Examples of sexual aspects within furry fandom include erotic art and furry-themed cybersex.[46][47] The term "yiff" is most commonly used to indicate sexual activity or sexual material within the fandom—this applies to sexual activity and interaction within the subculture whether online (in the form of cybersex) or offline.[48][49]

The majority of furries report a non-judgmental attitude towards certain aspects of sexuality and a high tolerance for variety in sexual orientation and activity[citation needed]. 19-25% of the fandom members report homosexuality, 37-48% bisexuality, and 3-8% other forms of alternative sexual relationships. About 2% state an interest in zoophilia, and less than 1% an interest in plushophilia.[25][50] Initial figures were collected by David J. Rust in 1997, but further research has been conducted to update these findings. About half of furry fans are estimated to be in a relationship, with 76% of those having a relationship with another furry.[25][50]

Furry characters are sometimes associated with paraphilias, with online communities dedicated to art and stories featuring macrophilia, vorarephilia, infantilism (babyfurs) and maiesiophilia, among others.[51][52][53] Some fans argue that various paraphilias normally considered illegal in certain jurisdictions, such as pedophilia or extreme pornography, are legal when no humans are depicted. This is, however, the subject of debate. Softpaw Magazine, an erotic "cub" fan magazine, has been banned by furry conventions Eurofurence and Further Confusion due to fear of legal action.[54][55]

Public perception and media coverage

Early portrayal of the furries in articles such as Loaded,[56] Vanity Fair,[57] and the syndicated sex column "Savage Love" focused mainly on the sexual aspect of furry fandom. Fictional portrayals of furry fandom have appeared on television shows such as ER,[58] CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,[59] The Drew Carey Show,[60] Sex2K on MTV,[61] Entourage.[62], and most recently 1000 Ways to Die. Most furry fans claim that these media portrayals are misconceptions,[63][64][65] while the recent coverage focuses on debunking myths and stereotypes that have come to be associated with the furry fandom.[66] 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",[67] and that the furry convention was about "people talking and drawing animals and comic-book characters in sketchbooks."[48] 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, and reported that the scandalous behavior she had expected was not evident.[68]

Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Jim Powell was sharing a hotel with Anthrocon 2007 attendees a day before the convention and reported a negative opinion of the furries.[69] Several downtown Pittsburgh businesses welcome furries during the event, with local business owners creating special T-shirts and drawing paw prints in chalk outside their shops to attract attendees.[70] Dr. Samuel Conway, CEO of Anthrocon, said that "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".[71]

According to Furry survey, about half of furries perceive public reaction to the fandom as negative; less than a fifth stated that the public responded to them more negatively than they did most furries.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Staeger, Rob (July 26, 2001). "Invasion of the Furries". The Wayne Suburban. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  2. ^ Kurutz, Daveen Rae (June 17, 2006). "It's a furry weekend". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  3. ^ Anthrocon.org. ""What is Furry"". Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  4. ^ a b c d Patten, Fred (February 2, 1999). "Chronology Of Furry Fandom". YARF! The Journal of Applied Anthropomorphics. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
  5. ^ Patten, Fred. "The Yarf! reviews". Anthrozine. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  6. ^ Sandler, Kevin S. (1998). Reading the Rabbit: Explorations in Warner Bros. Animation. Rutgers University Press.
  7. ^ Patten, Fred (2006). Furry! The World's Best Anthropomorphic Fiction. ibooks.
  8. ^ Stamper, Chris (1996-03-29). "Furry Muckity-Muck". The Netly News. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Gerbasi, Kathleen (2008). "Furries From A to Z (Anthropomorphism to Zoomorphism)". Society & Animals. 3: 197–222. doi:10.1163/156853008X323376. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Gerbasi2008" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c d e Alex "Klisoura" Osaki. "Furry Survey". Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  11. ^ The Furry Art of TaniDaReal - a personal artist website
  12. ^ Toonapalooza! - a personal artist website
  13. ^ BLOTCH: Art of screwbald spotcat - a personal artist website
  14. ^ "An Overview of Selected Furry Fanzines". The Furry Animal Liberation Front (FALF). Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2007-08-08. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2008-02-12 suggested (help)
  15. ^ Fur Affinity - a furry community website with unmoderated all-ratings art and story archives
  16. ^ VCL - an unmoderated all-ratings furry art and story archive
  17. ^ ArtSpots - a quality-moderated PG furry art archive and forum
  18. ^ deviantArt - an art community website
  19. ^ 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)
  20. ^ "2001 Winners and Nominees". Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards. 2001-02-19. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  21. ^ "Award Winners 2003". Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  22. ^ Riggs, Adam (2004). Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits. Ibexa Press.
  23. ^ Larson, Alina (January 23, 2003). "Animal Instincts: Fans of Furry Critters Convene to Help Mankind". Tri-Valley Herald. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  24. ^ a b "Furries Descend On Pittsburgh". KDKA-TV. June 16, 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  25. ^ a b c d e University of California, Davis Department of Psychology (2007-05-05). "Furry Survey Results". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  26. ^ Irwin, Charles; Watterson, Summer (2002-04-24). "A 'furry' tale for a foxy college student". The Olympian. Retrieved 2008-09-03.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Gaudio, Greg (August 23, 2008). "Lions and foxes and cat-dragons walk on two legs in Beach". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  28. ^ Mitchell, Don (March 23, 1995). "From MUDs To Virtual Worlds". Social Computing Group, Microsoft. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  29. ^ Howells, Shelley (October 01, 2002). "Secret lives of strange and furry". The New Zealand Herald. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Werner, Christian. "Och, sind die süüüüß!". Zeit Online Zuender (in German). Zeit Online. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  31. ^ Peralta, Eyder (May 28, 2006). "In Second Life, the World is Yours". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  32. ^ "Games". Right Brain Games. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  33. ^ "FAQ". Earth Eternal. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  34. ^ "EverQuest II Home page". Sony. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  35. ^ "Vanguard Home page". Sony. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  36. ^ "WoW -> Info -> Races". Blizzard. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  37. ^ editor-in-chief, Craig Glenday (2007-08-07). Guinness World Records 2008. Guinness. p. 123. ISBN 1904994199. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  38. ^ Brandolph, Adam (June 28, 2008). "Furry convention a $3 million cash cow for city businesses". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  39. ^ Cooksey, David. "Anthropomorphic Fandom Convention Information Sheet". Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  40. ^ Anthrocon: $8407; Further Confusion: $15000; Midwest FurFest: $13049; Morphicon: $556; Mephit FurMeet: $12121; FurFright: $1631 - see WikiFur's timeline of charity donations for other years
  41. ^ "FurNet IRC network". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  42. ^ "Anthrochat IRC network". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  43. ^ "About alt.fan.furry". Google Groups. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  44. ^ "List of furry LiveJournal communities". WikiFur. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  45. ^ "alt.lifestyle.furry - Frequently Asked Questions". 2001-05-08. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  46. ^ Bardzell, Jeffery, and Shaowen Bardzell. Sex-Interface-Aesthetics: The Docile Avatars and Embodied Pixels of Second Life BDSM. Indiana University, 2005.
  47. ^ 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)
  48. ^ 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.
  49. ^ Padva, Gilad. Dreamboys, Meatmen and Werewolves: Visualizing Erotic Identities in All-Male Comic Strips. Sexualities 8:5 (2005). 587-599
  50. ^ a b 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)
  51. ^ "Macrophile online community". Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  52. ^ "Pregfur online community". Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  53. ^ "Eka's Portal". Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  54. ^ The Chained Wolf (2008-12-18). "One Fur, One Vote: The Politics of the Fandom". FurteanTimes.com. {{cite web}}: Text "accessdate-2009-05-06" ignored (help)
  55. ^ "News:AAE bans Softpaw from Further Confusion 2008 over legal fears". WikiFur. 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  56. ^ Loaded magazine, March, 1998
  57. ^ Gurley, George (March, 2001). "Pleasures of the fur". Vanity Fair. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "Fear of Commitment". ER. Season 7. Episode 20. 2001-03-05. NBC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ "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)
  60. ^ "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.
  61. ^ MTV. "Sex2K Fursuit Video". Retrieved 2006-08-26.
  62. ^ "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)
  63. ^ 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)
  64. ^ Belser, Ann (June 18, 2006). "All about 'furry fandom' at confab". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  65. ^ "We're at it like rabbits". The Sun. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  66. ^ Togneri, Chris (July 6, 2007). "Furries purr over Pittsburgh reception". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  67. ^ Meinzer, Melissa (February 2, 2006). "Fur Ball In The Works". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  68. ^ Abel, Jennifer (2007-11-01). "Hell Hath No Furries". Hartford Advocate. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  69. ^ "The Brewers Meet the Furries". Deadspin. July 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-07. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  70. ^ LaSalle, Mike (July 17, 2007). "Anthrocon 2007 draws thousands to Pittsburgh for furry weekend". Wikinews. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  71. ^ "Furry Convention Creates Wild Scene In Pittsburgh". WPXI News. June 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-04.

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