The Boundaries of Authenticity in the Context of Furry Fandom

Student: mamutova lola

Faculty: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

Educational Programme: Modern Social Analysis (Master)

Year of Graduation: 2022

This study explores the boundaries of authenticity in the context of furry fandom. Authenticity is an integral part of any community, subculture, fandom. In each of these structures, one way or another, the true member of the group is determined, and the one who does not meet the criteria of authenticity is determined. An important specificity of furry fandom is that the fandom is located at the junction of several communities. Here we can say that furries have the features of cosplay fandom, anime, armor and any communities in one way or another connected with anthropomorphic creatures. The fandom often faces the problem of attribution to the community of bestiality, LGBT content with anthropomorphic creatures rated 18+. Nevertheless, furries separate themselves from other communities through certain boundaries and are a fandom with a strong authenticity.

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