Body Modification

This fascinating collection explores the growing range of body modification practices such as piercing, tattooing, branding, cutting and inserting implants, which have sprung up recently in the West. It asks whether this implies that we are returning to traditional tribal practices of inscribing identities onto bodies on the part of ′modern primitives′, or is body modification better understood as purely cosmetic and decorative with body markings merely temporary signs of transferable loyalties?

Through an interview-based study, Victoria Pitts has researched the subcultural milieu of contemporary body modification, focusing on the ways sexuality, gender and ethnicity are being reconfigured through new body technologies - not only tattooing, but piercing, cyberpunk and such 'neotribal' practices as scarification. She interprets the stories of sixteen body modifiers (as well as some subcultural magazines and films) using the tools of feminist and queer theory. Pitts not only covers a hot topic but also situates it in a theoretical context.

This volume explores the growing range of practices such as piercing, tattooing, branding, cutting and inserting implants which have sprung up recently in the West.

Under the Skin considers the motivation behind why people pierce, tattoo, cosmetically enhance, or otherwise modify their body, from a psychoanalytic perspective. It discusses how the therapist can understand and help individuals for whom the manipulation of the body is felt to be psychically necessary, regardless of whether the process of modification causes pain.In this book, psychoanalyst Alessandra Lemma draws on her work in the consulting room, as well as films, fiction, art and clinical research to suggest that the motivation for extensively modifying the surface of th.

This captivating book offers readers a wider perspective and deeper appreciation for the art of tattooing than what's typically shown in the media. For those considering getting a tattoo, this will perhaps inform their decision. The book covers the history of tattooing, traveling from ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. It explains the historical reasons for tattooing. It then goes on to investigate current tattoo trends, including calligraphy and the fusion of cultural designs.

This work looks at how the act of looking at our own and others' bodies is informed by the techniques, expectations, and strategies (often surgical) of bodily modification.

This fascinating collection explores the growing range of body modification practices such as piercing, tattooing, branding, cutting and inserting implants, which have sprung up recently in the West. It asks whether this implies that we are returning to traditional tribal practices of inscribing identities onto bodies on the part of 'modern primitives', or is body modification better understood as purely cosmetic and decorative with body markings merely temporary signs of transferable loyalties? Contributors address the question of the permanence of body transformation through fitness regimes and body building; look at the French performance artist Orlan and the Australian performance artist Stelarc who explored Western standard o

Today's youth is bearing witness to increasingly extreme forms of body modification, including tattoos, piercings, implants, and scarification. This high-interest series delves into all forms of body art. What may seem like a rebellious trend actually has roots in various cultural and religious practices from around the world. From ceremonial tattoos, lip discs, and neck stretching to subdermal and transdermal implants, these books explain how physical alterations are used for religious or personal expression. Most important, each book includes cautionary guidance for the intrigued reader about the decision-making process, including what to get, where on the body, the risks, and how to choose a safe establishment. Features include: Extremely high-interest topics with major appeal to specific subcultures and the general public alike. Covers the cultural value of such practices while also addressing health risks and safety concerns in no uncertain terms. Doesn't stop short at the ins-and-outs of getting tattoos and body modifications, but also how to have them safely removed.