NY Times on Avant-Garde Russian Art Collection in Nukuz, Uzbekistan

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Luciano Di Cocco wrote:

>>> shape-shifter?
>>
>> Yes. Also called "metamorph" on one Star Trek episode.
>
> In an American context, I would also like skin-walker, a term from
> Native American culture. It is specifically a term for therianthropy
> (metamorphosis of humans into other animals), while shape-shifter and
> metamorph are more generic. But from an Italian point of view both
> shape-shifter (mutaforma) and metamorph (metamorfo) sound a bit too
> science fiction for the context.

FWIW, "shape-shifter" is also used on the HBO series /True Blood/ (and 
in the original Charlaine Harris books) for entities such as werewolves. 
These don't feel very sci-fi to me, they're more in the 
fantasy/paranormal realm.

<http://true-blood.net/2009/07/20/what-is-shape-shifting/>

"... Shape shifting is the act of causing transformation of one body 
into another. In the world of mythology, Werewolves and Vampires are 
both creatures who can shift their shape. But Shape shifting has its 
roots in shamanism, a form of spiritualism that causes the shaman or 
priest/ess to take on the spirit of the animal or being needed for a 
ritual, thus changing their shape. ..."

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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