Interaction of online identity and subculture in the contemporary post subculture of the furry fandom.

Abstract

This research explores the way participants interact inside the furry fandom; a relatively new online subculture. Participants create a fursona, bridging the gap between themselves and the fandom through an intermediately anthropomorphic persona and avatar. The subculture is fragmented and unsure of the conditions one had to meet to be a furry and be a member of the fandom, showing a lack of consensus on what is a furry and how you become one. The subculture's use of assimilating content into the subculture and general approval of business involvement in creating more content in which to enjoy and use inside the fandom along with the heavy use of sexualisation inside the fandom and the way in which individuals don't identity and agree with all areas of the fandom, combine, and cause a disconnect between the overall label of the fandom and what the members personally feel represents them. This makes the fandom more fluid where members don't become the fandom; rather, the fandom alters and changes with the participants, in accordance with contemporary post subcultural theory.