Body Modifications in the Modern Western Society Essay

Body Modifications in the Modern Western Society - Essay causeIt is imperative that considerations with regards to the ideals and beliefs be taken in order to understand as to why not conscionable primitive cultures but modern society in general fully accepts form piercing and alteration as a part of the norm. Body piercings and modifications are components of a long history of cultures that are ordinarily rooted in shamanic and other healing practices (Favazza 2). In the past, and even in the present, blood has been a figure of life, and thus most cultures would be putting emphasis on the importance of life and living by holding sacrifices, blood-letting, scarifications and tattoos to tribal members, whether it is part of a rite of passage or as prayer for healing, among others. The geological fault of the body can be withal seen as a part of a tribes culture, of either as a status symbol or as the ideal picture of be presentable (Cultural Customs). The price of attaining sweetheart with regards to the perspectives of some particular tribes is by altering the general appearance of the body into what is considered beautiful. As compared to the modern societies today, this is not something new, since there are many people who also deepen their bodies by adding piercings, tattoos, even scars to promote their own identities. However, it is not a cultural thing, but a matter of choice, as is also other modifications such as body implants, body building, and other dietetical alterations (Featherstone 1).Body modification is defined as practices that aim to change the natural appearance of the body in any form or means (Featherstone 1). Among such practices would be tattooing of skin, body piercings, the addition of implants in the body as well as the other dietary and exercise regimen such as abstain and body-building. In some primitive cultures, altering the body to some extent is regarded as either a rite of passage or as a beautification ritual. The addition of tattoos and other forms of scarification gives the younger boys their passport to adulthood. In a tribe in Papua New Guinea, the cutting of skin and making it seem like a crocodiles is not just for beautification, but as a part of the transformation of boys into adults, and by know into such a ritual is their recognition of being mature in the eyes of the whole hamlet (Cultural Customs). The Suri tribe in Africa cut their lips and insert a clay pot in it, and according to their customs, the larger the plate, the more one woman is desirable to other men, and she might even get a lot of cattle as dowry for marriage (Cultural Customs). In Indonesia, chiseling the dentition into fine points is considered to be another form of adornment, and women who get their teeth chiseled are seen as having a higher status than those who don normal-looking teeth (Cultural Customs). In a westerners perspective this seems to be cruel, it must also be remembered that modifications of th e body such as breast implants and rhinoplasty are also done my many women in order to become much more charismatic to males. Also, for some people the addition of implants is a way of hastening the process of evolution. Performance artists such as Orlan and Stelarc modify their bodies through implants such as horns, and by altering their bodies they convey the message of critiquing the notion and concept of beauty (Featherstone 9). For most