How does Darkfang Archive create categories?
Generally speaking, if someone has written about it (and it is published here), it exists as a category. Some categories (like Feliformia) don't have content specifically of their own, but it made sense to include them because it keeps things tidier.
Darkfang Archive uses an internal heirachial categorisation system known as Morphic ID with Dark Elf Code syntax and references. We may publish information about it eventually if we find it lasts the test of time (which we honestly don't really think it will).
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Categories usually are:
- 'types'/'species' ('elf', 'dragon', 'fox', 'snow leopard')
- Groups of 'types'/'species' ('mythic', 'theriomythic')
- Movements ('Otherkin', 'Therianthropy', 'Real Vampirism')
- Experiences/Offshoots ('sanguinarian', 'vampire donor', 'space elf')
- Umbrella terms/Wide groupings ('[nonhuman]')
'Otherkin' usage
Otherkin itself actually has no universal agreed upon definition, but what it has been used to refer to has generally changed over the years since it's inception in 1990.
Generally speaking, when a writing or a website refers to 'otherkin', they are actually implicitly referring to one of approx. 4 things:
- Mythics and theriomythics. This is (generally speaking) one of the more original uses of the term (ie. usually mythical creatures, creatures that scientifically don't exist in this planet/reality/etc. or derivations thereof).
- The above + therianthropy.
- All of the above + other (normally non-human) experiences/labels, such as phytanthropes, fictives, etc.
- All of the above + real vampirism.
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This is how Darkfang Archive currently does these kinds of groupings:
- [nonhuman] - Mythics, theriomythics, therians + other non-human experiences/labels.
- Otherkin - Mythics and theriomythics.
Why Darkfang Archive uses 'otherkin' in this way
Therianthropy, Real Vampirism and others started as and still are separate movements of their own to otherkin (in the more original sense), so using 'otherkin' as an umbrella term has been contested and disapproved by various people. In addition, this umbrella usage has been used in heavily slanted populations, which has lead to some confusion. Because of these things, Darkfang Archive itself only uses 'otherkin' within the scope of an older meaning.
Because of how ambiguous the use of 'otherkin' has become in certain circles, and the emergence of places that accommodate a broader range of subjects, this site has an additional category, [nonhuman], to accommodate those that use terms like 'otherkin' implicitly in a broader context to be more specific.
Unfortunately, not all of the sources are entirely clear, so some are categorised by educated guesses based on the time period of when that item was published and what kinds of things it refers to (since the use of the word 'otherkin' has largely changed over time). If it's older, it's more likely to be classified as 'otherkin' than '[nonhuman]'.
If you're the owner/creator of that thing and have noticed that this site has got it wrong, please contact us.
Why Darkfang Archive uses '[nonhuman]'
[nonhuman] is used as a placeholder. 'Nonhuman' has been used a few times, but it is not a universally accepted word. It is placed inside square brackets to diminish it - this isn't being used as a serious term.
'Nonhuman' is basically generally the only element that ties it's subcategories together so it seems a good fit for the moment. Feel free to suggest a better one if you can think of one :) .
Other things/Category FAQ
Isn't this entire category system just an opinion or from a particular perspective?
Of course, and it is completely acknowledged. It's a perspective that is trying to respect historical and social contexts, and a perspective that has been informed by outside feedback, but it's entirely from one particular method of seeing things and dividing things down. That's why there's a notice on the category page.
The subjects this site covers are far from uniform experiences, and making a categorisation system is always going to create situations where you have to make clear-cut distinctions between things more than is completely accurate. There are all kinds of subcategories, subgroups, little details to experiences that cannot be completely conveyed, so this system is siding on helpfulness over complete accuracy.
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Isn't it entirely possible using linear heirachies will be problematic?
Absolutely, and it is known that this system will possibly not last long in the future. If so, there are other ideas.
