Justin Carpenter

2006-07-17T17:29:31Z

131.247.22.49: Inaccurate summary of his 2004 announcement modified.

'''Justin Carpenter''' is an early-fandom [[furry]] artist and writer better known by his [[Furry fandom|fandom]] name '''Dusty Rancourt''', not to be confused with fellow early fandom mainstay [[Don Rhoades|Don "Dusty" Rhoades]]. Justin became active in furry fandom in 1990 with contributions to the [[Tezuka]] and later [[Avatar Archive|St. Norbert College Avatar]] furry archives, and appeared at several mid-Nineties furry [[convention]]s as a dealer. Justin's art is best known for its judicious use of the "triangle eye" (made famous by such artists as [[Michele Light]] and [[Eric W. Schwartz]]), and for portaits of early [[FurryMUCK]] personalities such as [[Stash]], [[Midori Hatamoto]] and [[Telzey Amberdon]]. Justin has been cited as an influence for such artists as [[Jessica Willard]], [[Randy Entinger]], [[Patrick Little]], and [[Waccoon]].

His formerly gregarious [[MUCK]] love life has earned his such dubious titles as "The Good Time Had By All Online" and "FurryMUCK's Liz Taylor", as well as his place beside MUCK personalities [[Lochiel]] and [[Cinnamon DeWolf]] as "The Big Bad Wolves Of FurryMUCK". He approaches these "distinctions" with some degree of embarrassment today, and has since written a number of essays and articles criticizing the casual-sex-themed cultures of many circles in furry fandom, such as certain [[MUCK]]'s, conventions and "fur meets."

== Dusty Rancourt ==

Justin's primary [[character]] contribution to furry fandom, [[Dusty Rancourt]], is a high-risk entrepreneur and venture investor who runs an independent music label, [[Equinox Records]]. Dusty has been described as "equal parts Hugh Hefner and Hugh Grant," both everyman and wish fulfillment self-cipher, and his life serves as equal parts vicarious fantasy wish fulfillment and externalized reflection and critique of the same.

A science fiction adaptation of the character also exists with a slightly modified life story, as does a gaslight fantasy adaptation on [[FurToonia]]. Dusty's IC entrepreneurial projects over the years have included [[The Mind's Eye Artist Lounge]] ([[FurryMUCK]] and [[FurToonia]]), [[Visions]] ([[FurryMUCK]] and [[House Rancourt MUCK]]), the [[Gypsy Theatre]] ([[FurToonia]]), [[Equinox Records]] ([[Tapestries]] and [[House Rancourt MUCK]]), and [[The Original Four Star]] gentleman's club ([[House Rancourt MUCK]] and [[Tapestries]]).

Dusty performed for several years at the [[Fur-Le-Dance]] club on [[FurryMUCK]], and is best remembered for his performances of Julee Cruise's "The Nightingale" and Iam Siam's "In The Common Tongue."

== Jeancrest ==

Justin's longest-running story arc (1993-2003) featured Dusty Rancourt as a dissident in a near-future Earth who, at the time a 'companion dimension' was discovered, staked claim to a large parcel of land he named [[Jeancrest]] and created private transportation channels prior to legislation catching up with his actions. Over time, Dusty grew from merely an eccentric wealthy figure with an odd choice in summer homes to the dictator of a tiny dimensional "island nation," and in the end, the god-king of an atavistic nation-state. Two novellas, both unfinished, were written chronicling key events in the history of Jeancrest, titled [[Grace Under Fire]] and [[Come What May]], as well as years of notes and roleplayed scenes. When Justin separated from his collaborator and now ex-wife in late 2002, he retconned the entire Jeancrest story arc, planning to rewrite the story from the beginning. In 2004, at the time of his departure from furry fandom, he announced that he had no plans to write any future Jeancrest stories, though some of the Jeancrest characters have found their way into the [[San Paolo]] stories.

== San Paolo ==

Justin's current story series is being written entirely interactively on [[House Rancourt MUCK]], and has been named for the mythical California coastal town of [[San Paolo]] which appears in them, even though the town and its residents occupy merely a small corner of the storyscape. These stories take the "circles of acquaintanceship linking multiple otherwise unrelated substories" approach to storytelling that past furry serials such as [[Omaha the Cat Dancer]] and [[Shanda the Panda]] have employed. These stories focus less upon Dusty's achievements, and more upon the lives he's touched, and changed for his presence, over the years. At the moment, these stories are available only to members of [[House Rancourt MUCK]], but early plans have been discussed for a future short story collection of San Paolo stories.

== The Fandom Essays ==

Justin announced his discomfort with the fandom in late 2004 due to a series of grievances with furry fandom social dynamics, outlined in a series of highly volatile treatises (some would say rants) referred to by the collective title "The Fandom Essays". He suggests that furry fandom has taken a collective affirmative stance on alternative [[lifestyle]]s and sexualities, and argues that affinity for "animal-people" is the only common point of agreement for [[furry fan]]s. Critics of these essays have argued that the author's bitterness has damaged the points he hoped to make by writing them, and some have compared his beliefs to the [[Burned Fur]] movement. Others cite that the essays' circulation today is a testament to the endurance of the points made in them, and argue that Justin cites personal discomfort with certain practices and alternative lifestyles in his essays, but does not suggest censure of these lifestyles on moral grounds or any other, only a code of conduct to be courteous to non-[[lifestyle]] [[furry fandom|furry fans]].

Justin himself has said that he did not expect the essays to receive the circulation they have, and while he stands by the arguments they represent, he acknowledges they were circulated in rawer and more emotive form than he would have preferred, having foreseen the response they would receive. He is aware of his reputation as a controversial figure, and states that he's comfortable with such a stigma.

== Other Notable Works ==

Justin's is perhaps best known for collaborative [[character]] and plot development with such better-known furry fandom luminaries as [[Tim Johnson|Tim "Ravenwolf" Johnson]] (Lyssk and Rusted Earth realms), [[Randy Entinger|Randy "Tremaine" Entinger]] and [[Dragon of the North|Dragon of the North]]. He is the owner and webmaster of the [non-lifestyle] furry-friendly community web site [[House Rancourt]] (named for his primary [[fursona|furry alter ego]]), and the grandwiz and site administrator of [[House Rancourt MUCK]]. He also serves as co-writer and editor for his wife [[Stacie Carpenter]]'s literary projects, including the furry-themed ''Snowdrifts'' and ''One Man's Trash'' novellas.

== External links ==

* [http://houserancourt.sytes.net House Rancourt]
* [http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=rancourt&keyword=Fandom+Essays&filter=all The Fandom Essays]
* [http://houserancourt.sytes.net/faq/faq.php?num=3&f_id=4 Justin Carpenter's FAQ]

[[Category:People]][[Category:Artists]][[Category:Writers]]

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Justin Carpenter