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Cultural Identity in a Fantasy Setting

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TheMuse Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
#1: Oct 9th 2013 at 1:56:20 PM

So in my setting, people randomly change their appearance and their society has grown to adapt to this. Sometimes, people will get a body that isn't the same race that they were born as. I'm trying to figure out exactly how people would express their cultural identity in a situation that is very different than real life. Any tips for this would be very appreciated :)

Carbonek13 Student Eternal from the Deep South Since: Jan, 2001
Student Eternal
#2: Oct 9th 2013 at 2:25:25 PM

Tattoos or other body markings come to mind. Would they stay in place when the change happens? Maybe they have some religious significance as well as cultural. Maybe they have a complex system of honorifics and pronouns to let you know who they are (think Japanese Honorifics and Japanese Pronouns ). Do their voices stay the same in their new bodies, or do the vocal cords change as well?

Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time, but now that it's the opposite it's twice upon a time. - Moondog
TheMuse Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
#3: Oct 9th 2013 at 3:07:07 PM

Their voices stay mostly the same, (same accents, etc.) but if one happens to change into a body that is much larger/smaller or such, their voice can become slightly higher or lower which can be slightly noticable.

ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#4: Oct 9th 2013 at 5:17:40 PM

Are they ever incarnated into bodies far distant — read: on another continent — from their last? That might complicate holding to a sense of cultural identity.

However, they could still express such an identity through elements that are not specific to the body: clothes, ornaments and body-paints come to mind. As to tattoos and other body modifications, I could see those being taboo in at least some cultures as a matter of respect for whomever gets the body after one (presuming that bodies are re-used).

edited 9th Oct '13 5:19:44 PM by ArsThaumaturgis

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MrAHR Ahr river from ಠ_ಠ Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: A cockroach, nothing can kill it.
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#5: Oct 9th 2013 at 5:20:54 PM

Clothing, hair styles, body altering (piercings, scarring, these are things), accents.

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TheMuse Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
#6: Oct 10th 2013 at 10:47:54 AM

They are nearly always in the same area when they 'change bodies'

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