Otherkin as Subculture

by Arethinn
Date unknown, but prior to October 2012, and probably prior to early 2006.
Likely a response to one of those people sending around research questions.

In my mind a "subculture" has most or all of the features of a culture, just on a smaller scale:

1. Language (in the case of a subculture, a specialized vocabulary set)
2. Artifacts
3. Values/interests/ideas.

Otherkin have a good deal of the first ("trueform", "Veil", "sevenstar", "Des'tai"...), none of the second that is actually shared among the majority, and essentially only one of the last that is actually shared among all: the idea of being not (entirely) human. Actually, there are more than just that one, but the fact of their not being necessarily shared by all (or even most) has led to some fracturing over the years. For example, there is the disagreement between those who don't feel magic is important and those who can't conceive of it not being the very lifeblood of existence; another is between those who don't feel that any particular self-exploration or application to current existence is very necessary and are content to go "ok, I was an elf in a past life, whatever" and those who feel it is vital to bring one's "other" existence or essence into this life. In both cases, both sides then tend to say either "I am 'real' otherkin, you aren't", or "if that's what you mean by 'otherkin', then I disown the term and I am going to call myself something else" (either thinking up another group term, like "faeborn", or just reverting to their own species name, "elf" or whatever).

In my experience, to identify as a member of a subculture, one must either already exhibit most or all of its characteristics, or choose to change one's habits and adopt them (although this may be looked down on by existing members as being "a poser"). But with otherkin, there isn't a lot that is specific just to us to begin with (unlike, say, goths, who have tons of shared artifacts and a number of shared valued/interests/ideas, as well as language), and most would say the central thing (non-humanity) is not something you can choose.