“Human* Being: On Otherkin Identity and Digital Community” is an ethnographic exploration of the Otherkin—a technologically mediated community whose members identify as other-than-human—breaking down barriers of identity and calling into question assumptions about what it means to be a human. The book argues that the internet-saturated communities of the industrialized Global North have become open to a relationship for sociality beyond the human, something that might be called “animism” in many parts of the world.

The book approaches this phenomenon through the lens of the Otherkin and their practices of digitally mediated identity and community construction. They recognize their biological humanness, but nonetheless experience the non-human memories, urges, and sensations of animals and mythological creatures: wolves, dragons, tigers, elves and so on. The Otherkin represent a larger shift in body identity, shown by increasing numbers of people identifying as trans, nonbinary, fluid, and neurodiverse; bodies open to nuance, complication, and multiplicity. However anomalistic, even fantastical they may seem, the Otherkin offer a window into our own complex notions of bodies, Selves, and technologies. They experience an incongruence, i.e., “misfit” in the relationship between their corporeal bodies and their Selves, so they turn to internet technologies to facilitate negotiation between the two.

Based on a decade of ethnographic research, Human* Being examines Otherkin engagement with the techno-virtuality afforded by the internet—through chat forums, personal blogs, 3D virtual worlds, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Discord, TikTok and Reddit—troubling conventional notions about our relationships with the virtual and our understandings of the Self. Through an analysis of “awakening narratives” wherein the Otherkin describe the realization of their own non-human natures, a reader comes to know a core group of interlocutors who act as guides through the world of the Otherkin. The book closely examines internal community debates about the limits of non-human identity, avatar creation practices in virtual worlds to approximate inner realities and the policing of identity constructs toward a stable definition of the phenomenon. All told, the result is what anthropologist Katrin Tiidenberg calls, “Such a nerdy book, in the absolute best way.”

Human* Being is published fully open access by : a university press supported by a consortium of institutions including Amherst, Bowdoin, Yale, UT Austin, Vassar, and Claremont, among others. Lever puts all monographs’ full manuscripts through a single blind peer-review process and publishes at platinum access, meaning that the books are all digital-native and free to the public. Physical copies are also available.

In “The Spectrum of Virtuality: Space, Presence, and the Non-Human” in the Internet, Devin Proctor, ������Ƶ assistant professor of anthropology, argues for understanding the internet not simply as a tool or technology, but as a social space that people inhabit in different ways.

He introduces the concept of a “spectrum of virtuality” to explain how individuals experience varying degrees of digital presence across online environments, from video calls and social media platforms to anonymous online communities. The book also explores the role of non-human actors, including algorithms, bots, and artificial intelligence systems, in shaping online interactions. Proctor contends that digital realities are co-produced through relationships between human users and these technological agents, creating what he describes as a “field of internet presence.”

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with the Otherkin community, a group whose members identify internally as non-human and often socialize online, the book challenges conventional assumptions about virtual life, embodiment, and identity. Through this research, Proctor examines how digital environments influence selfhood, communication, and social belonging.

Published as part of Bloomsbury’s Studies in New Media series, “The Spectrum of Virtuality” contributes to ongoing scholarly conversations about digital culture, online communities, and the evolving relationship between people and technology.

“The Spectrum of Virtuality: Space, Presence, and the Non-Human in the Internet” was published on July 9, 2026, by Bloomsbury Academic.

“Grievous Entanglement” explores the most common way that people in the Atlantic world came to understand their personal connection to, and complicity with, slavery in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: consumption. It exemplifies the interdisciplinary approach of American Studies by examining a wide variety of media, including poetry, political cartoons, blackface minstrelsy, slave narratives, and novels produced from the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries.

According to the prize committee, “Grievous Entanglement” “brings new insights to well-trodden topics — from abolitionism to blackface minstrelsy. The new insights may well shape the way that we teach this period of history…”  The committee praised the book’s “rigorous research, creation of a new methodological approach, and the connections it draws between multiple different fields of study” as well as its “clear and engaging prose.”

Pearson is grateful for the many ways ������Ƶ has made this work possible, including financial support from the Department of English, Faculty Research & Development, and the Dean’s Office in ������Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

The volume is a comprehensive introduction to the essential methods, concepts and practices of conducting ethnographic research in and about digital environments. Written by 60 global contributors across 12 chapters with accompanying case studies and concept explorations, it provides both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for digital ethnographic work. The book also examines ethical challenges specific to digital research environments while maintaining a commitment to reflexive, co-present research that acknowledges how our interactions with digital technologies transcend boundaries of citizenship, race, gender identity, age and ability.

Proctor began this project because he found selecting readings for his courses on internet culture difficult. The classes had constantly been torn between well-researched and theorized but dense and jargon-laden articles on one hand and readable popular “think pieces” without any basis in research or evidence on the other. This left a gap between the two. This book hopes to bridge that divide, seeking to be approachable and useful but also theoretically and methodologically rigorous. The objective is to provide practical advice on the methods, concepts, and themes of digital ethnography, so that students can effectively conduct their own studies, whether in or out of the classroom. To this end, it’s presented in an approachable style ideal for students and researchers in anthropology, media studies, science & technology studies, and communications who seek to understand contemporary hyper-mediated environments, as well as professionals outside academia who need practical, accessible guidance for conducting rigorous digital research.

The main chapters are a deep-dive into themes such as “virtual reality research” or “digital ethics.” These are paired with short “case studies” that feature different digital ethnographic studies being done currently, written by the researchers doing the work. These involve research on shamanic use of selfies in the Amazon, Iranian feminist social media collectives, GIS use in Cameroon and Polish dark net drug markets, along with many others. Each chapter also includes a “micro-chapter” about a central concept, e.g., “affordance,” “platform,” “meme,” and so on.

All programs in the series “Abolition as Presence in Higher Education and Beyond” are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Nov. 4

A “snack-and-learn” on mandated reporting will feature investigator and strategist Margaux Lander of at 12:30 p.m. in Lindner Hall 206. The discussion aims to understand the current models of mandated reporting with Emancipate NC, an organization that supports people as they free themselves from mass incarceration and structural discrimination. Lander will share strategies to navigate the mandated reporting system while reducing harm and supporting families.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

The series concludes with the annual Reynolds Lecture on Political Theologies of Criminalization, Political Spiritualities of Abolition at 6:30 p.m. in the McBride Gathering Space featuring a conversation with author Andrew Krinks on the religion of criminalization and the religion of abolition from his book “White Property, Black Trespass.”

Assistant Professor Maria Mejia, who is currently teaching a philosophy senior seminar on abolition, helped organize the 2025 series with Assistant Professor Archie Crowley in the Department of English and Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop in the Department of History and Geography.

“Abolition does not just mean getting rid of harmful systems. It also means building lifegiving practices, structures, and communities that help us flourish while reducing and transforming harm,” Mejia said. “We hope this series will nourish connections between the ������Ƶ community and abolitionist organizers through which we can redefine safety and foster well-bring for all.”

The series is sponsored by the ������Ƶ Fund for Excellence, Turner Theatre, the Division of Inclusive Excellence, ������Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, the Title IX Office, and the departments of English, philosophy, and public health, as well as the Women’s and Gender Studies and American Studies programs, the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture & Society, and the Gender & LGBTQIA Center.

Previous activities in the fall series included a “snack-and-learn” led by Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop; a session titled “Thinking Like an Abolitionist to End Sexual Violence in Higher Education” by visiting scholars Chris Linder and Nadeeka Karunaratne; and a documentary screening of “One Million Experiments” followed by a panel discussion with directors Daniel Kisslinger and Damon Williams of Respair Production & Media, along with local organizers Mona Evans of Benevolence Farms, Amanda Wallace of Operation Stop CPS, and Associate Professor Stephanie Baker.

In the article, Monteith argues that the Heritage Foundation’s Christian nationalism has driven federal intrusions into higher education. The organization is most famous for Project 2025, but Monteith argues we must look beyond this to see what they actually want. Monteith shows how President Donald Trump’s education reforms mirror the strategies Heritage has long advocated.

According to Monteith, the Heritage Foundation suggests that federal and state governments ought to target weak points in universities’ financial systems, using this as leverage to compel orthodoxy, end DEI, reduce admission rates for international students and increase American birthrates.

The article appears in “,” an online magazine published by The Center for Religion and Media at New York University.

“On its face, it’s a sport literature course,” says Walker, an assistant professor of sport management. “But I take it a little bit further.”

The course centers around a text titled “The ABCs for College Athletes,” with each letter — A for Autonomy, B for Business, C for Communication — offering a new discussion point. Paired with longform articles, blog posts and media clips, these materials spark rich classroom discussions. One day students might analyze a Stephen A. Smith rant; another day, they’re critiquing a social media trend or reading a provocative Deadspin article.

“We talk about the text or the segment, but also the students’ lived experiences,” Walker says. “It allows us to have meaningful conversations.”

For most students in the course, many of whom are first-year student-athletes, Playing in the USA is their first college course. Walker makes it rigorous yet accessible, with quizzes, group presentations and emphasis on communication and critical thinking.

“Some of them feel like they know what sport is,” he says. “But even in their own sport, there are so many things they don’t know yet or understand. So, it’s an opportunity to show them this is bigger than your viewpoint — so let’s talk about it.”

As the course examines topics like social media, Walker encourages students to think critically about how they use digital platforms — not just for personal expression, but as part of their public identity. In today’s evolving landscape of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), student-athletes are challenged to view themselves as brands and present themselves accordingly.

For Walker, the power of that first college classroom experience isn’t theoretical; it shaped his own path. An ������Ƶ alumnus, he took his first ������Ƶ class the day after graduating high school. The course with longtime ������Ƶ faculty members Joyce Davis and Eric Hall left a lasting impact and later inspired him to teach. “It was such a great opportunity for me to learn what college classrooms were like,” he says.

Today, Walker brings that same mindset to his summer offering. He focuses on engagement from the moment students walk in, often fresh from workouts and carrying the same lunch item every day. The routine builds familiarity and helps Walker foster trust before class begins.

“It’s about helping students grow and setting the stage for what lies ahead,” Walker says.

About the Professor

Assistant Professor Khirey Walker ’11 joined the Department of Sport Management in 2022. The former Phoenix defensive lineman now serves as a broadcast analyst alongside Taylor Durham for ������Ƶ football games.

Recommended Materials

“The ABCs for College Athletes: A Practical Guide to College Sports” by Briana DuBose

Tradwives are a growing collection of women on social media who embrace what they consider attributes of the “traditional wife,” including not having a job, keeping the home, raising children and being obedient to their husbands. While involvement and interest in the group has grown exponentially on TikTok and Instagram in recent years through influencers like Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm, it has not been able to shake off an undercurrent of initial connections to alt-right networks and white supremacy.

The article, “” (in English, “Understand the ‘tradwife’ wave of beautiful, modest, and housewifely right-wing influencers”), discusses how the movement—which originated in the UK and US several years ago—has begun popping up in Brazilian social media spaces, and questions whether it is linked to Brazil’s recent political turn to the far-right under Bolsonoro.

When asked about whether the movement is misogynist or racist, as many critics argue, Proctor argues that there is, rather, “implicit misogyny and racism in this trend, which stems from the valorization of a perfect past.” Proctor goes on to explain that: “there are probably many tradwives who do not view themselves as racist, don’t say any overtly racist things, and would be offended if someone suggested otherwise. On the other hand, they are acting out this past that was quite oppressive to people of color. The idea that the 1950s in the US was an idyllic, perfect, peaceful time of prosperity is a myth that can only be realistically applied to a specific segment of white middle-and-upper class people.”

The article in Folha de S.Paulo is the most recent in a series of international pieces Proctor has contributed to about tradwives. He initially wrote about tradwives in a in 2022, but as the trend widened beyond the UK and US, he has been interviewed by and (both Dutch) as well as .

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation began its annual observation of the  in 2017, commemorated on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The event is a call to action that works with the national Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort, which is a community-based process that seeks to bring transformational and sustainable change. The luncheon will give participants time to reflect on shared values and collaborate on crafting the blueprint for #HowWeHeal at ������Ƶ.

“Over the past year, members of our community have witnessed or experienced harm and marginalization based on race, shared ancestry and other aspects of identity due to local, national and global events.,” said Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development. “This Community Building and Healing Luncheon will provide a space to share stories, raise awareness, repair harm and restore a sense of community. ”

The luncheon, hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Education Development (OIEED) and the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE), is an opportunity to unite individuals in their shared humanity and create action toward building a more equitable world.

“This event offers a space to engage in meaningful conversations, discover shared values across communities and explore practical strategies to promote racial healing at ������Ƶ,” said Anna Matawaran ‘25, executive intern for the Division of Inclusive Excellence.

Following the luncheon, there will be a screening of the Emmy-award winning documentary “Talking Black in America: Roots,” followed by a panel discussion with producers and sociolinguists Walt Wolfram (N.C. State University) and Tracey Weldon (University of South Carolina). ������Ƶ’s Corey Roberts, assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies, will moderate the discussion. The documentary connects the stories of the peoples and societies of Ghana, the Bahamas, the Gullah Geechee people in the Southeastern United States and more to show how African American Vernacular English and Black culture developed.

“We organized the event for our Core Capstone courses, which explore the legacies of linguistic variation, like African American English, an English dialect spoken by African Americans and developed over time because of the history of the African diaspora,” said Amanda Kleintop, assistant professor of history. “We hope that it helps raise awareness of the importance of linguistic variation and how the interdisciplinary study of chattel slavery’s legacies can teach us to respond to racial inequity in new ways.”

Kleintop and Archie Crowley, assistant professor of English, organized the screening with sponsorship from African & African-American Studies, American Studies, Center for the Study of Religion, Society and Culture, Museum and Public History Studies, ������Ƶ’s Fund for Excellence in the Arts & Sciences and collaboration by the School of Communications.

The National Day of Racial Healing brings a clear understanding of racial healing and racial equity and the process helps individuals learn how to build relationships, trust and understand community

“National Day of Racial Healing represents hope for a future where BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities feel whole, valued and supported. It’s a day that encourages individuals to share their stories, reflect on their lived experiences and feel empowered to advocate for change,” said Matawaran.

The focus of National Day of Racial Healing aligns with ������Ƶ’s commitment to being a community that supports belonging and well-being. ������Ƶ first hosted an event for the National Day of Racial Healing in 2022.

“As a campus community that values relationships and respect for human differences, we acknowledge the National Day of Racial Healing as an opportunity to continue building and strengthening connections across differences” said Fullwood.

Upcoming Events 

National Day of Racial Healing Community Building and Healing Luncheon
Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. McEwen Dining Classroom
The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism. Spots are limited. Registration is required.

Talking Black in America: Roots
Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Turner Theatre
A screening of “Talking Black in America: Roots” followed by a panel discussion featuring Tracey Weldon, Walt Wolfram and moderated by Corey Roberts.

“Writing Home: Selected World War II Letters of Leslie A. Fiedler” was . Pardini compiled and edited the book from letters left to him by Fiedler’s family.

Among many contributions, Fiedler authored what is considered one of the greatest essays ever written about American culture, “Come Back to the Raft Ag’in, Huck Honey,” and a book of literary criticism, “Love and Death in the American Novel.”

He worked in the Office of Naval Intelligence as a cryptologist and translator from May 1944 to December 1945 and wrote of his experiences in various locations of the Pacific Theater to his wife and two sons. Fiedler couldn’t write directly about his intelligence work. Instead, he wrote about themes, events and situations that include the ethical contradictions of war. The letters offer a glimpse into a formative period in his life, shed new light on the contribution of Jewish servicemen in WWII, and a view into modern world history by a man who would become a prominent figure in American intellectualism and literary culture.

“He’s a legendary figure,” Pardini said. “The letters are an historical document in and of themselves, but they’re also the result of an unfortunately forgotten but crucial moment in our country’s history and WWII, which is the NAVY’s creation of a Japanese Language School to train super gifted university students to learn Japanese and become code breakers and intelligence officers. They eventually were essential to help defeat Japan.”

Pardini came to know and was eventually mentored by Fiedler during post-graduate studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. They became very close, and Pardini once lived with Fiedler and his wife. When Fiedler died at 86, Pardini was the only non-family member to carry his coffin at his funeral.

He hopes the book will bring attention to overlooked passages of WWII history, as well as the sacrifices made to win the war and preserve democracy, the role Jewish servicemen played in the war, and a “counternarrative to the celebratory myth” of the Greatest Generation.

“The fact of the matter is, as the letters made abundantly clear, that war is a tragedy no matter what, soldiers were depressed, they wanted to go home, the horror was immense, including the unnecessary one they inflicted on civilians, which is what happens in wars. And that after a war people must and can learn to live together in peace again.”

At ������Ƶ, Pardini teaches courses in American Studies, Italian Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies and the Core Curriculum. His areas of expertise include 20th century modernity, comparative American Studies, Italian and Italian American studies, African American literature, literary criticism and popular culture. Among his other books, “In the Name of the Mother. Italian Americans, African Americans and Modernity from Booker T. Washington to Bruce Springsteen” won the 2018 Italian American Studies Association Book Award.