Speaking of Elves, Dragons, and Werewolves

Abstract

Much has been written on how individuals construct and maintain their identities through the stories they tell about themselves and the stories others tell about them. Often, but not always, there is enough convergence between these inner and outer stories not to cause significant conflict. However, it is also the case that certain identities are deemed more acceptable than others, and, while such acceptability may wax and wane for some identities, others remain very much marginalized and excluded. Such is the case of Other-than-human (OtH) identities—Otherkin, therians, vampires, and the like: How is it possible, and what does it mean, for an individual who is human in appearance and acting in the human world to self-identify as Otherkin—that is as an other-worldly, mythical, or fantastical creature such as an elf, dragon, or werewolf—or as therian (i.e., a this-worldly animal such as a dog, wolf, bear)? The visible disjunction between individuals’ experienced identities and the perceived reality of others raises hermeneutical issues. Following general reflections on narrative hermeneutics this chapter explores the process of “awakening”—the realization or coming to understand oneself as Otherkin or therian—and origin stories. The authors discuss OtH identities as “believed-in imaginings,” the limits of narrative acceptability, and how features of unnatural narratives might help in interpreting OtH identity narratives.