Blog entry: About Monster-Romance (Vol.2)

Let's keep exploring the Phenomenon called Monster-Fucking from a more sexualized and less "romantic literature" point of view.

The fascination with romantic or sexual relationships between humans and non-human intelligent self-conscious beings is nothing new, appearing in myths, folklore, and, more recently, in science fiction and fantasy literature and cinema. This concept, commonly now referred to as Monster Fucking, has evolved over time and found a space within online communities, where it is explored from various perspectives beyond literature and traditional romance.

A Concept Rooted in Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Beauty and the Beast theme has been a main topic in science fiction storytelling for decades. Old movie posters often depicted the beautiful heroine (or just a random woman) in the grasp of an alien or monstrous creature, an image that has remained deeply embedded in our retro-pop culture, being the pulp evolution of the "damsel in distress" archetypal from medieval romances.

However, in recent years, the concept has become way more explicit, less naive than that, growing inside online communities on platforms like Reddit, Tumblr, and DeviantArt; and not only growing through cinema, posters and literature, but also as a means of exploring personal desires and inner fantasies.

Two Main Approaches to Erotic Fantasies with Alien/monster Creatures

For me there are two primary aproaches (but countless different ways to represent them) in the way these stories and representations are structured:

• Power fantasies: In these narratives, the monster/creature assumes a dominant and overwhelming presence, appealing to those drawn to dominant sexual fantasies.

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• Willing submission fantasies: These narratives commonly feature human protagonists who are going to enjoy the intensity of the connection with bigger non-human monster-creatures, either with an innocently/shy approaching by the main character or with a direct approach seeking that connection with the strange creature.

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Of course, there are many variations and nuances between these categories, as different stories and artistic interpretations reflect a broad spectrum of preferences and sensitivities.

Influence of Popular Culture

As I've been reading many people discover their attraction to these themes through mainstream media, often without initially recognizing it. Films such as Star Wars introduced dynamics that hinted at this type of fascination, such as Leia's encounter with Jabba.

Other productions, like Galaxy of Terror, included scenes where female characters found themselves in vulnerable situations with gigantic alien beings, such the infamous scene with the massive alien worm melting Taaffe O'Connell's space suit.

On the opposite monster fantasy spectrum, when the non-human figure is female, the designs tend to be more stylized and conventionally attractive, maintaining familiar feminine aesthetics/structures. This suggests that the subgenre has historically been marketed primarily to a male audience (or weirdos like me... all these gorgeous ladys are aesthetic goals to me).

But this has recently begun to change...

Monster-Romance a Safe Space for Women and Men

As I explained in my previous post, with the recent boom in erotic-fantasy literature, it’s clear that this genre and its bold fantasies are not exclusive to men—they are also widely enjoyed by women. Fortunately, these topics can now be discussed more openly and without stigma.

Many productions have taken note of this phenomenon and have begun designing their male monsters with more attractive features, charming qualities, and the ability to seduce the audience. The truth is, these themes have long been embedded in folklore. It’s not just figures like Medusa, succubi, or nymphs that embody allure in our cultural roots; vampires, for instance, have been seductive since Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The key was simply to reconsider the female audience as demography inside the fantastic genres.

Monsters are sexy once again, regardless of their gender!

Among the notable examples I came across during my quick research, I would like to summarize the experience of one woman who explained that the first time she saw the 2016 Warcraft movie, she realized by then (at the cinema) she was way more attracted to the orc character than the human protagonist. That film became her gateway to discovering her interest in monster romance. This personal story has led me to ask myself what my first unconscious encounters with this subgenre were for me...

As far as I remember my first (by then non-conscious) contact to this genre happened in my highschool years. At the time, I was collecting dark fantasy artbooks, and I remember purchasing books illustrated by Luis Royo, a famous artist from my country. He had published a book called Prohibited, which compiled his erotic-fantasy illustrations. Artistically, I found myself far more captivated by the scenes that combined humans with monstrous creatures than by those that simply depicted beautiful men and women in sensual poses. I couldn't explain why at the time, there was just something mesmerizing for me about the fusion of the grotesque and the beautiful.

A few years later, I discovered the works of H.R. Giger and became utterly fascinated by his art... Also then came Garrus my first time playing Mass Effect, but that's another story!

Xeno: The Primary Kink Behind Monster-Fucking subgenre

I also want to explain that Monster Fucking is a subcategory of a broader concept just known as Xeno (from xeno-philia, from the Greek "xenos" -stranger, unknown- and "philia" -love, attraction-), which is the kink name and sexual interest in relationships between humans and self-conscious non-human beings, including aliens and supernatural entities.

This term, widely used in online communities, has given rise to a subgenre with its own distinct characteristics, exploring relationships that range from romantic to more intense or unconventional dynamics. Related terms include Teratophilia (attraction to monstrous beings, not cute vampires) and Exophilia (a fascination with the strange or unfamiliar).

From the adult comic A Polycule of Mars: https://www.patreon.com/c/garthft/home

Over the years, censorship in social networks has led these online communities to adapt their language and develop new ways of sharing content, ensuring that interest in these narratives continues.

In December 2018, during the Tumblr NSFW Content Purge, Tumblr deleted the teratophilia and xenophilia tags, causing the lost of tracking of all fanart related and blogs sharing those content. In response, fans began using the misspelt tags, teratophillia and xenophillia, to get around the bots. Content tagged exophilia were not affected by the 2018 purge.

                                                                        Illustraton by Hitsuji Goods

Within this kink there are many derivative and very different fetish-y approaches: alien tentacles, furry, reptilian beings, fairy, cat ears, inside the blob, alien hypnosis, etc...
I don't want to dissect every fetish related to fantasies with non-human traits (I'm not an expert), it could take days a lot of research I don't want to do and we wouldn't reach any conclusion beyond the incredible variety that exists.

I don't consider myself part of any of the kink communities I've described, and much of the information I've written today I've discovered while researching for these posts. However, I do admit that I love the aesthetic of the attractive monster, the humanoid alien... When I do blue body paints or alien pinups I don't know why it happens but I do find myself more attractive. For me there is definitely beauty in the grotesque, there is beauty in the monster, so I do empathize with that call for what's different taken to eroticism.

However, at this point, it is essential to emphasize that this attraction exists purely in the realm of the inner fantasy. No one truly desires a relationship with a being that cannot understand or respect you. Within these fantasy narratives, the safety and consent of the fantasy protagonist are always implied one way or another, allowing to engage with these stories without real-world concerns. This is an obvious point, but it should be pointed out again and again, because some people have yet to learn to differentiate between erotic fantasies and artistic perfomances that happen consensually (or in the imagination or art depictions) and real life.

So as a kind of conclusion, the "Monster Fucking" phenomenon have significantly evolved in recent years, finding a dedicated audience thanks to online communities, web comics and also pop culture and many movies as The Shape of Water (2017), Warm Bodies (2013), The Lure (2015), the Chechz version of Beauty and the Beast (1978)...
Beyond its erotic aspects, and from a fantasy dimmesion these stories explore power dynamics, submission, and sex in fantastical settings, allowing enthusiasts to experience new forms of storytelling free from real-world constraints.

Far from being a niche interest exclusive to a particular demographic, this subgenre continues to grow and diversify, proving that the fascination with the unknown is a timeless aspect of eroticism and human imagination.

Disclaimers: all these posts about common science fiction kinks we're talking about today involve conscious-intelligent beings. The non-human traits on these beings are part of each specific fantasy, but none of my posts is trying to talk about sex with animals or other activities outside the legal framework. Please, you have to see the difference between fantasy and reality with these NSFW topics.