Anthropomorphism and Zoomorphism.

Anthropomorphism is the human personification in anything that is not human.(1) Animals with human characteristics (the ability to talk, walk on hind legs, wear clothes, etc.), forces of nature (Mother Nature, Father Time, etc), and anything else you can think to personify. Main uses of anthropomorphism over the past 40,000 years, have been the creation of zoomorphic art, and political satire. 

Zoomorphism is the giving of animal Characteristics to other things.(2) Such as the Sphinx, a centaur, or a harpy. 

(My example of anthropomorphism/zoomorphism)

This is an anthropomorphic drawing of my friend. His hair is big and fluffy, like a lion’s mane, so I drew him that way. But he still has human anatomy from the neck down and wears clothes. which is what makes it anthropomorphic and zoomorphic.

A prime example of anthropomorphism can be found in Aesop’s fables. (3) Stories such as the Tortoise and the Hare are a childhood favourite to many of us, and we can all remember the moral “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Another childhood favourite is the stories by Beatrix Potter, and her beautiful illustrations that go with them. Anthropomorphism and Zoomorphism is an excellent way of making stories with serious meanings and lessons more entertaining and memorable for children.

(Peter Rabbit Illustration, 1902)

References

1) Wikipedia, 2015

2) Yahoo Answers, Xyrsostom, 2009 

3) Phelps, 2015

Bibliography

‘Anthropomorphism’. 2015. Wikipedia. Wikipedia. [Online]. [Accessed 22nd March 2015]. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism

Differences Between Anthropomorphism and Zoomorphism?. 2009. Yahoo Answers. [Online]. [Accessed 22nd March 2015]. Available at: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081217104744AAifZ3O

PHELPS, DOLORES, 2015. AD4003 & AD4004 Visual Culture Modules: Anthropomorphism and the Cute. [Online]. [Accessed 22nd March 2015]. Available at: http://visualcultureillustration.blogspot.co.uk/p/anthropomorphism-and-cute.html

POTTER, BEATRIX, 1902. Peter Rabbit Illustration. [Online]. [Accessed 22nd March 2015]. Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/beatrix-potter-peter-rabbit/