MyFursona.com

Apr 20, 2008 8:06am

I'm going to go out on a limb and state my opinion on the matter since a few people have asked me about my thoughts on this website.

I support the 'concept' of MyFursona.com for a few reasons. When I talk about the 'concept' of MyFursona.com I'm referring to the idea of a 'networking hub' for the 'furry fandom' built on a foundation of the 'furs'. It's been my experience that many good, valued furries don't actually draw or feel poorly about their current art skills. On gallery-based websites this leaves them feeling very low on the chain even though they might be highly skilled in other areas and, thus, a very important person to have in a person's network. So, the idea that a person's fursona now gets the chance to step into the spot-light and be a focus for them is not only very liberating but it allows us to get a tad more personal.

Why do I feel it's important be to able to get a tad more personal? Well, it's no big secret that I have a very formed, solid view on what it is to be a fur and what it takes to have a fursona. I'm currently working on plans to further my understanding of the 'Furry Fandom' through a reflective 'self-study' aided by a good number of furs that I know. To review my 'personal' thoughts as they stand on the matter of 'furs' and 'fursonas' it is:

A 'fur' or 'furry' is a person with a positive emotional attachment to the idea of anthropomorphic animals. Anthropomorphic being defined as giving human traits to that which is non-human with the broad understanding that human traits involve but are not limited to a developed understanding of the world around them and projected emotion. A 'fursona' is a character representation of a 'furs' emotional bond with their idea of Anthropomorphism and is often used as an avatar to define their place is the 'furry community' aka the 'furry fandom'. The 'furry fandom' being defined as the international community of anthropomorphic enthusiasts primarily dominate over the internet.

Notice that 'artist' and 'art' was left out of the above definitions. I do this because I feel that 'art' is ONE form of expression that a fur's attachment can take. Though, I do not by any means wish to belittle the importance of or under estimate the impact art has on the fanodm I don't want to rope in the idea that being an artist or having art is a requirement for being a 'fur'.

Which brings me back to the 'concept' that I believe MyFursona.com puts out - to let the 'fursona' stand in place for the person absent of the pressures of preforming through art, writing or other means of visual expression. I feel that it levels the playing field and would/will, in theory, give more of a 'face' to a 'fur'.

When I refer to the pressures of preforming through art I realize that I may be alone on feeling everything I have just stated. I'm in no way stating that 'this is how things are, no questions' but offering up my observations. I have made the personal choice to extend my network on this site to include everyone that wishes to interact with me by commenting more, watching more and trying to involve myself on a more personal level. My general out look on gallery sites like Furaffinity.net is that they are a great place for inspiration, feed back and just a wonderful place for someone who is an artist to worm about in the 'fandom'. However, I feel I have missed out on portions of it by becoming a 'mostly known' artist in the fandom, which sometimes shades over me as a 'fur'.

So, here I am. I am a furry, my name is Jennifer Rae Allen and my fursona is the plushie, purple wolf known as Farellemoon. I will share more about my fursona, such as her background, her personal interests and such in time. Not now, though, because this journal is about a mile long as is.