Animal roleplay
Animal roleplay is a form of roleplay where at least one participant plays the part of a non-human animal. As with most forms of roleplay, its uses include play and psychodrama.
Animal roleplay may also be found in BDSM contexts, where an individual may take part in a dominant/submissive relationship by being treated as an animal. The activity is often referred to as petplay. However, not all types of animal roleplay within BDSM are petplay and not all petplay in BDSM involves roleplaying as an animal; some can be referred to as primal play.[citation needed]
Overview
The origins of animal
Some of the equipment that can be used in animal roleplay include
Cultural and ritual use
Non-sexual animal roleplay was a common and integral part of
It is also sometimes used in
Other forms
Some
Peter Shaffer's 1973 play Equus tells the story of a young man who has a pathological religious fascination with horses, but this appears closer to zoophilia than pet play. Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats traces a tribe of urban cats, and in 2007 War Horse used full size puppets to play horses on stage.
Erotic scenarios
This section relies largely or entirely upon a single source.(January 2022) |
Like much of erotic play and roleplay, animal roleplay in an erotic or relational context is entirely defined by the people involved and by their mood and interests at the time of play. It ranges from the simple imitation of a vocal "whinnying" of a horse to the barking, panting or playful nudging of a puppy, or playful behaviour of a kitten, to crawling around on all fours and being fed, or petted, by hand. To the greater extremes of dressing up as a pony in modified horse tack, masks,
Public participation in human animal roleplay is varied. A couple could inconspicuously role-play a pet play scene in public, which would look to the casual observer like one partner is merely stroking the other's neck. In the case of some BDSM
The reasons for playing such a character or animal can vary as much as the physical manifestations and intensity of the play. Some people enjoy being able to "cut loose" into a different, or more dynamic personality (see
Some cases could be considered a type of animal transformation fantasy. They can have strong elements of exhibitionism, be totally enjoyed in the privacy of the home, or lie somewhere between either boundary. While not widespread, erotic human-animal roleplay is still enjoyed by a sizable number of people. However, it is still primarily identified with BDSM practice. Though commonly misinterpreted as being associated with furry or other alternative lifestyle activities, that is generally not the case though some instances may exist.
For most participants, it has no connection whatsoever with bestiality, which is controversial and would usually be considered edgeplay in BDSM circles.
Other considerations
Each type of play can focus on a certain "strength" of an animal character. Pony play often involves the practice and training that a
Just because one partner is playing the "pet" does not necessarily make them the passive or submissive play partner in the
BDSM scenarios
Some people believe that they have certain animal 'instincts' and that they can let them out through animal roleplay. This is especially true in the BDSM communities, where some people 'live' as their chosen animal 24/7.[citation needed] This type of mentality goes beyond roleplay and becomes a full lifestyle for the parties involved. There are also 'hybrids'. These are humans who live part-time as one type of animal, and part-time as another. This is usually determined by the situation.
In the BDSM scene, people engage in animal roleplay to build stronger emotional connections. People develop deep emotional connections with their pets. Petplay, especially pup and kitten play seeks to create the same deep emotional connection between the owner/master and submissive/pet. The dom may demand unconditional love and obedience, but they may also train their pet to be more emotionally perceptive and empathic. This helps the sub feel safe and secure in the relationship.[2]
Types of animal roleplay
The following section lists specific animal roleplay communities centered around a single type of animal.
Pony play
Pony play is where at least one of the participants dresses to resemble and assumes the mannerisms and character of an
Pony play is sometimes referred to as "The Aristotelian Perversion" or "Aristotle’s Perversion", in reference to Phyllis and Aristotle, an apocryphal story where the philosopher Aristotle was persuaded to let a woman named Phyllis ride him like a horse, in promised exchange for sexual favors: an episode depicted in various woodcuts and other works of art.
Kitten play
In kitten play, a person dresses to resemble and assumes the mannerisms and character of a kitten or cat, a characteristic of which is that it keeps some independence and, as part of the fantasy, might retaliate against the partner trying to tame/train them. Some might be trained to do tricks such as bring toys back, to beg, or go on walks. A "kitten" or "cat" that is unowned or
Pup play
Pup play is a form of animal roleplay focused on dressing up as a dog, especially popular in the
HuCow
Human cow or HuCow is a fetish subculture that is focused around roleplaying as a cow and breast lactation.
See also
References
- ISBN 9781573447829.
- ^ "Petplay: Training with Hypnosis and Meditation". June 24, 2019. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Born in a Barn". IMDb.com. February 1, 2005. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
- Salon. Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2020.