Applying makeup, getting a new hairstyle, putting yourself on a diet - that is all body modification. However, there are some people who take body modification to the extremes, some may even class some cases as body mutilation.
I believe there are four reasons for body modification, so far...
Aesthetic
Shock Value
Spirituality
Sexual Enhancement
Elaine Davidson is the world's most pierced woman, she has 8000+ piercings, 500+ on her genitals alone getting her into the world's guiness records for the most pieced woman on earth.
Elaine originates from a Brazilian background and explains that in her culture tattoos and piercings are for prisoners only. She believes that she is beautiful and she strives for attention and fame, she also states that she wants 'to also find out how much my body can take because my mind is very strong and I like to see the balance between my body and my mind.' - For many people who get piercings, they see it as an emblem of empowerment, they like the idea of looking tough.
By most of us, we may consider Elaine's appearance as taboo, however, I believe that societies create certain modes of behaviour or appearance that are expected to be followed. For anyone stepping outside those boundaries, a negative reaction will be generated.
Maria Jose Christerna also known as The Vampire Woman is another example of someone who has taken body modification to the extreme, so much that she is on the edge of looking human. She has 96% of her body tattooed and implants in her head, chest and arms.
Her addiction to body modification started after her period of domestic abuse from ex husband, as a result she uses her body as a statement, she wants everyone to know that she controls her own body and has modified it to resemble the body of a female jaguar warrior.
Japan is known as the centre of the most out worldly trends, artist and photographer Ryoichi Keroppy is a follower of this trend. His art is to hold exhibitions in which the public can watch a series of people get the 'bagel head'. The bagel head is done by injecting saline into the forehead and pressing into the forehead to give the shape of a bagel.
Since the swelling goes away after a 24 hour period, they engage in it because it is only temporary, 'a freak for a day' as Keroppi describes it.
In Asia, there are a lot of girls who like to manipulate their image and create the illusion of 'mix blood', a paler complexion, a higher nose and large double eyelids are preferred and the South Korea is a popular destination for plastic surgery in Asia.
However, meet Xiahn; he has undergone more than ten surgery procedures to look Asian. He was originally a white Brazilian man with blonde hair and blue eyes, ever since his obsession with Korean pop culture, he has desired to have 'slanted eyes' and dark hair.
In the past the relationship between race and physical attractiveness has been investigated in empirical research and analysed in theoretical arguments. In the past, western features were seen as the most beautiful and a lighter complexion were strongly preferred across a range of cultures. Now the definition of beauty is by far more non subjective, possibly due to the increase of political correctness.
Photo References
Human Barbie Valerie Lukyanova: Available From: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1737057/thumbs/o-HUMAN-BARBIE-facebook [5th Oct 2014]
Elaine Davison: Available from: http://files.stv.tv/imagebase/0/623x349/769-elaine-davidson-the-edinburgh-resident-has-retained-her-record [5th Oct 2014]
Bagel Heads: Available from: http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/no-slug/64c9453aa6fa3932dfb3b7374718068e [5th Oct 2014]
Rola: Available from: http://images.gmanews.tv/v3/webpics/v3/2014/07/2014_07_13_15_34_11 [5th Oct 2014]
Xiahn American to Korean: Available from: http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1381689/xiahn [5th Oct 2014]
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