Ferality

Suspended between the not-wild and the not-domesticated, the feral creature is liminal: not so much caught betwixt and between as the vital avatar of betweenness itself. Hermes, messenger and shape-shifter, is the ancient avatar of the feral. — Matthew Battles, Tree (2017)

Outside of fiction’s fancies, feral animals tend to be hunted and despised. They kill stock and ruin crops, menace children and pets, spread disease between the domesticated world and the wild. And yet by wit and appetite, spirit and invention, the feral creature survives in an environment that is neither of its own making nor entirely familiar to its habits of perception. — Matthew Battles, “The Call of the Feral” (2011)

Wild and untamed. A departure from the constraints of human influence, in favour of a more spontaneous existence.

Beings that were once domesticated or cultivated but have since escaped or been released into the wild. This results in a reversion to more instinct-driven behaviors, shedding the constraints imposed by human control.

Resourceful, cunning behaviour. Feral creatures, whether animals or individuals, may develop unique survival strategies, keenly aware of their environment. This includes the ability to assess situations, anticipate changes, and make decisions that enhance their chances of survival. Adaptable and resilient, they are able to successfully navigating turbulance and flux.

A dynamic condition rather than a static state? An ongoing process of adaptation to the wild. Not just a response to immediate threats but also a proactive ability to adjust and thrive in dynamic environments.

Can also be applied, metaphorically, to the elements of a culture that resist conformity and societal expectations. A symbol of a more authentic expression that challenges established norms. Might also be used, pejoratively, to describe those whose behaviour is seen as unruly, uncontrollable, or socially undesirable.

Freedom/exile from mainstream society? Those adopting a feral identity seek liberation from constraints, choosing alternative paths. A nomadic lifestyle, moving between spaces and rejecting the permanence of domestication.

Fostering opacity to avoid easy categorisation and control? The feral’s cunning adaptability also equip it to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty. A feral mindset embraces the unpredictable, finding strength in its ability to improvise, responding creatively to unforeseen challenges.

The feral exists between the wild and the domesticated. This condition is not a mere transitional phase; instead, it is the essence of the feral, a continual negotiation of identity and existence. The feral, in its flickering, manifold condition, challenges binary paradigms. A rejection of binary thinking. A condition that problematises, rather than conforms to, established norms and categories.

The feral creature is a traveller and messenger, implying a sense of movement and communication. This adds a dimension of purpose to the feral state, suggesting an active engagement with its surroundings.

Often associated with an aesthetic of rugged, visceral, and untamed qualities.

As a counterbalance to enclosure, “feral” disrupts conventional models of ownership, access, and confinement. Feral plants growing in abandoned urban areas or animals roaming in neglected landscapes defy human-imposed boundaries. Feral species, often considered invasive, disrupt the human desire to manage and manipulate nature, highlighting the unpredictabile dynamism of natural systems.

Feral monads are disposed to participate in provisional assemblages, demonstrating a fluid, dynamic nature. This contrasts with more rigid, systematic (cybernetic?) approaches. This challenges the idea of enclosure not just as physical boundaries but as attempts to structure and control complex systems. Feral assemblages operate on a different logic, resisting the imposition of uniform predictability.

• [?] Could cultivating feral qualities help individuals navigate and thrive in an environment of sustained turbulance and rapid change?
• [?] How can reconceptualising the wild-domesticated dichotomy rework our understanding of nature, and humanity’s relationship to/within it?

• [?] How can feral approaches to technology and innovation disrupt conventional models of ownership and access?

• [&] Compare with: ruderality? (linked by ecological resilience/resourcefulness)
• [&] See also: the baroque? (feral things reflect a world into themselves, carrying their own narrative and context)

Backlinks

: Ruderality