Transformation

2020-05-09T19:47:58Z

2601:18D:4700:5FF0:4DF:C424:7D0D:6652: /* Fandom applications */

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:''This article concerns shapeshifting (also known as "transformation") as an action or state of being. For the artistic metagenre which involves shapeshifting as a plot device, see [[transformation fiction]].''
'''Shapeshifting''' is, in its most basic meaning, a change from one state to another. A '''shapeshifter''' (also known as '''Shapechanger''' and sometimes abbreviated '''TF''' after "transformation") is a term encompassing any sort of being that can change their physical shape and appearance under its own willpower. In fantasy fandoms, these beings may be known as '''polymorphs''' (i.e. a being or creature with the means to change its biological shape into another, commonly by the use of [[Wikipedia:Magic|magic]]; This process is also commonly known as "morphing.")

==In mythology==
Shapeshifters abound in the lore of most cultures. Contemporary examples include [[werewolf|werewolves]], which are [[wolf|wolves]] that turn into [[human]]s (or vice versa, depending on the specific mythos), and [[Kitsune (mythology)|kitsune]] (and related shapeshifters, such as [[kumiho]]), which are typically depicted as the enlightened semi-spirit forms of [[fox]]es which can turn into people.

Hence, if the term 'furry' is taken in its loosest sense, i.e., something which exhibits a mixture of human and animal traits, then these may be the oldest known examples of [[furries]] in human culture.

== Shapeshifting and furry ==

When used in terms of the [[furry fandom]], it is generally in the context of changing from a [[human]] form into an [[animal]] one. Shapeshifting, or [[transformation]], can have several meanings in the fandom. For [[furry lifestyle]]rs, it can reflect an interest in the fantasy of "being" your animal, and the earnest desire to one day wake up and see your human-ness gone. It can have aspects of sexual fantasy, especially in the case of unwanted involuntary transformations forced by others. It can reflect an active spiritual or [[wikipedia:oneirology|oneirological]] state of human-animal changes, as found in [[therianthropy]]. Or it can refer to biological or cybernetic changes, either in real life or in [[science fiction]], to make a person more animal-like.

Shapeshifting is typically a one-way route in furry fan stories and art; the goal is to become animal, often a [[quadruped]], rather than return to humanity. The main difference is in [[were]] stories where, due to traditional genre conventions, an aspect of returning to being human for at least a short time is often included. Transformation stories may have people turn fully into [[wikipedia:bestial|bestial]] animals, rather than [[anthropomorphic]] ones, losing all human level or reasoning and intelligence.

[[File:Aggrobadger Gryphon TF.png|thumb|right|A gryphon TF, art by [[Aggro Badger]]]]
=== Fandom applications ===

A great deal of [[fursona]]s in the [[furry fandom]] are shapechangers. Some of them accomplish this task by "magical" means such as a garter belt or a curse, some using technology (i.e., [[nanite]]s or extreme [[genetic engineering]]), and some furs can shapechange "just because."

Transformation art is created by a wide variety of TF fans, both for themselves and as commissioned work for non-artist TF fans. This art can either be single, 'one-shot' images, or sequences depicting a transformation in as few as three or as many as 15-20 images. There are websites available to view transformation artwork, such as [[Transfur]], [[Stonegate Shadowlord|Shadowlord Inc]] and [[Fur Affinity]]. TF fans communicate through chat, groups, lists and bulletin boards.

Most [[muck]]s also include a [[Morph program|morph program]], which facilitate these changes. The most common program was created by [[Triggur]] for [[FurryMUCK]], although there are others (and indeed, some mucks have multiple morph programs, depending on that user's preferences).{{fact}}

== In works of fiction ==
{{main|Transformation fiction}}

==See also==
*[[Sizeshifting]]
*[[Transformation fiction]]
*[[Therianthropy]]
*[[Wikipedia:Shapeshifting|Shapeshifting]] on Wikipedia

[[Category:Terms]]

[[de:Formwandler]]
[[es:Transformación]]
[[fr:Transformation]]
[[it:Trasformazione]]
[[no:Shapeshifting]]
[[ru:Трансформация]]
[[zh:Shapeshifting]]

Transformation fiction

2020-05-09T19:36:18Z

2601:18D:4700:5FF0:4DF:C424:7D0D:6652: /* Induction and immediate reaction */

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[[File:Monchiken shapeshifting classification chart.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A chart by [[Monchiken]] showing a variety of tropes in transformation fiction, written both in English and Japanese.]]
'''[[Shapeshifting]]''' can be a rich symbolical and narrative tool. Today, the theme appears in many [[fantasy]], [[science fiction]] and [[horror]] stories; some would even recognize a distinct subgenre of '''shapeshifting''' or '''transformation fiction''', with its own genre conventions. Fantasy and science fiction occasionally feature [[wikipedia:race (fantasy)|races or species]] of shapeshifters, and both magic and technology can be used to impose a change in form. Some of the more popular themes include [[werewolves]], [[wikipedia:vampires|vampires]], and [[wikipedia:age regression|age regression]]. In a broader sense, the trope includes stories about characters who [[sizeshifting|shrink or grow in size without changing their form]].

Transformation in this regard is physical, as opposed to the ''character development'' common to many stories, even with no fantastic element, which typically involves characters changing mentally, psychologically or spiritually.

== Psychology of transformation fiction ==

===Induction and immediate reaction===
Science fictional transformation fiction tends to feed a sense of discovery and suggest the unlocking of potential. This may be an analogy for the idealization of the experience of a teenager who discovers that puberty has changed his body, including increased strength and physical ability. [[wikipedia:Jack L. Chalker|Jack L. Chalker]]'s ''Wellworld'' series is an example of this sort. The eponymous planet is populated by hundreds of different species, each in its own territory, and visitors become residents by being forcibly transformed at the polar immigration entry points into a member of a randomly selected resident species.
Fantasy transformation fiction is often mystical or dynamic, focusing on the change of the person's identity when transformed. This may be an analogy for learning to take a different perspective. [[wikipedia:Patricia A. McKillip|Patrica A. McKillip]]'s ''Riddlemaster of Hed'' series includes transformations of wizards into mountain sheep, ancient trees, ravens, and even the wind; each change leaves its mark on the essence of the wizard who transforms. In [[wikipedia:T.H. White|T.H. White]]'s ''[[wikipedia:The Sword in the Stone|The Sword in the Stone]]'', the wizard Merlyn transforms young Arthur into a variety of animals so he can learn from the animals the lessons he will need to be a good king.

Horror transformation fiction captures a feeling of fear, of people suddenly becoming monsters, of yourself becoming a monster, of things prowling in the night that used to be human. This is possibly an analogy for emotions that are so strong, they rip away one's rationality and leave one a beast. ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' is an example of horror-centered; a young man is bitten, and without his permission or desire, becomes a creature of darkness that exists to kill.

===Impact on self-perception===
Transformation can also be viewed as a metaphor for [[wikipedia:puberty|puberty]] and budding sexuality, such as in the [[Disney]] film [[wikipedia:The Shaggy Dog (1959 film)|The Shaggy Dog]]. In the story, the teenage protagonist Wilby Daniels finds himself under the curse of a ring reputed to having belonged to [[wikipedia:Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia Borgia]] that causes him to randomly transform into a [[wikipedia:sheepdog|sheepdog]]. This happens concurrently with the arrival of a beautiful and exotic neighbor that Wilby has a crush on; throughout the film he finds himself helplessly transforming into a dog, frequently in her presence. Most tellingly, this happens at a dance where he is slow-dancing with her — an activity that might cause the average adolescent [[male]] to find himself getting an erection; though this gets filtered into him growing shaggy hair and becoming a beast, essentially his animal instincts take control of him and he rushes away from the social activity humiliated.

In some stories, an unexpected but welcome transformation (especially various forms of [[lycanthropy]]) plays a thematic role similar to the plot device of the [[wikipedia:protagonist|protagonist]] being a commoner who finds out they are actually royal, or have unsuspected magical talent, or have some other wonderful unsuspected destiny. In others, a transformation imposed from without by a hostile entity is a challenge to be overcome; the protagonist seeks a way to reverse the transformation and regain their original form. In many such stories, the final resolution involves the unwillingly transformed protagonist coming to terms with their new shape and turning it to their advantage rather than finding a way to return to "normal".
===Impact on relations, wider society and class identity===

The main character's shift into an alternative inner and/or outer incarnation usually results in the character's disadvantage against other characters who are intended to interact with the character in the aftermath of the transformation (usually without suitable preparation for the character's alternative incarnation). Often, the character may start the alternative life in isolation from those who were closest to the character's heart prior to the shift, or may start life with only one other (human or non-human) who may best understand the situation and assist the protagonist into the new life through various obstacles; either way, the larger human society around the character usually treats the character with various negative reactions ranging from shock and fear to sadism and obsession. As a result, the character may not be able to interact with the dominant society for fear of violent reaction.

Among the non-human society which surrounds the character without dominance, the character may often find oneself among "kindred spirits" who resent the human society's abuse of dominance through denial of the validity of non-humans; in such a society, the transformed character may find it unsafe to reveal the former human status to the non-human society for fear of mobbing or revenge, whereby the character can be used as a channel for the non-human society's fears and rages. In some works, this may not be as much of a problem as the ability to integrate into the non-human society or surroundings (e.g., a wild wolf pack) while struggling to retain human intelligence in the absence of a human body, as is the case in Whitley Strieber's ''[[The Wild (novel)|The Wild]]'' (1990).

==Transformation enthusiasts==
Many children have animal transformation fantasies and shapeshifting is a well-known feature of [[wikipedia:fairy tale|fairy tale]]s, such as the story of [[wikipedia:The Frog Prince (story)|the Frog Prince]]. Interest in transformation isn't limited just to them, though; the concept captures some imaginations of all ages. The subject is rather obscure and there's no established term for those who like transformations; the general expression is just "TF fans". Note that having an interest in shapeshifting is distinct from belonging to [[therian]]s, [[otherkin]] or any other group that actually identifies with or wishes to become something else.

It is possible for this interest to be sexually charged, or to accentuate other fetishes; for instance, forced shapeshifting can lend itself well to themes of [[wikipedia:dominance|dominance]]. The result is a transformation fetish.

Websites and online communities about transformation exist, both clean and otherwise, although for someone who e.g. just likes coming across shapechanges on TV, a site dedicated for appreciating them might be entirely too much. The [[Transformation Story Archive]] is a prominent example of its kind.

Two currently prominent [[webcomic]]s feature transformations for their own sake: [[El Goonish Shive]] is technology- and magic-based and more character-driven, while [[The Wotch]] is somewhat younger, magic-based and considerably more madcap.

==Subgenres==
* transformation detective/mystery/police-procedural fiction
* science fiction/*-punk transformation fiction
* occult/magic transformation fiction
* slice-of-life/coming-of-age transformation fiction
* horror transformation fiction
* erotic transformation fiction
* comedy transformation fiction

==See also==
*[[TSA|Transformation Stories Archive]]
* [[Physical transformation]]
* [[Furnetics]] - a fictional website that offers to transform [[furry fans]] into [[anthropomorphic]] [[animal]]s
* [[Sizeplay]]
* [[Inflatophilia]]
* [[Photomorph]]
* [[Therianthropy]] - a belief (of [[were]]s) that one can shift physically or spiritually into an animal

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://furrventure.yiffstar.com/ Furrventure] - An ongoing "choose your own adventure" type story that anyone can add chapters to.
* [http://www.cyoc.net/ Choose Your Own Change] - Similar to Furrventure, but there are several different storylines that can be added to.
* [[TFCentral]] [http://www.tfcentral.com/] - Free Web host and art/writing archive for the transformation community.
* [[Transfur]] [http://www.transfur.com/] - Transformation artwork gallery
*[http://transformationlist.com The Transformation Stories List]
*[http://www.jamiehall.org/portal.htm Portal of Transformation]
* [http://tsat.transform.to/ Transformation Stories, Art, Talk (online magazine)]
*[http://www.dogpawz.com/barken/index.html Stories set in fictional town "Barken, TX"]
*[http://www.thesirensong.net/ The Siren Song]
*[http://www.jeannelaws.com/articles.htm Shapeshifters in Love] - A series of articles about shapeshifting characters in romance and speculative fiction.
* [http://shifti.org/Main_Page Shifti] A large archive of transformation stories.
* [http://doc.tf-media.net/storytable.html Doc's Lab Story Table] Story list
* [http://tftales.deviantart.com TF Tales] A DeviantART group that features furry-themed transformation stories.
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Fiction]]

WikiFur - User contributions [en]

Transformation

Transformation fiction